"Mark" wrote in message
th.net...


I've recently gotten back into boat ownership after a couple
decades away. I purchased a '90 I/O with the Ford 2.3 and
Cobra stern drive that hadn't been used in two years.

15-year old OMC Cobra, thats your problem right there.
I was in your same exact situation - got a nice Zodiac,
and some outboards, but wanted a bigger boat, and
did tons of research on used boats. (almost boat a
90 Bayliner too) Anyways, research OMC, and the
Cobra, and it will make you run. Against my gut feel,
I went and bought a 2005 Bayliner 175 3.0L I/O
with Merc outdrive. Is it want I wanted? Well, no,
its not a Zodiac. But I do have a 2 year warranty.


Replaced the complete ignition system as well as assorted
other parts to get everything running well again.


Thats IT ? Dude!. Look it, if you had a 15-year
old 4 banger Ford car, (or any car for that matter),
you'd be replacing **** too!


I have yet to be able to bring it back home after a day
(usually less) of boating without it being in need of some
sort of repair.

Engine or outdrive? If not the engine, wait till
that OMC catches up with you.



Today, a trailer hub disintegrated just as we got to the
ramp, and as we were preparing to make a final run after

On a 15-year old car, you'd probably be replacing
wheel bearings too. Bearings are $10 at Wal Mart.



snack time, the starter Bendix failed (starter was replaced
when I purchased the boat 2 months ago).

The Bendix just failed last winter on my 1996 F-150.


I'm about to give this up out of pure frustration and the
appearance of it being a money pit.

I hears ya. (and if I had an OMC, I'd do the same)



When I was young and growing up in the Northern hinterlands,
snowmobiles were just becoming popular and were going thru
rather rapid growth (think the boom era of Scorpion, Arctic
Cat, Ski-Doo, et. al.). A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?

You need to put this into perspective. You're talking
about a FIFTEEN year-old boat for God sakes. And
you didn't even say what type of boat it is. I do know
that its not a Bayliner, cause I was "this" close to buying
a 90 Bayliner, and I know that in 1990, Bayliner switched
from the OMC (and Cobra) to Merc cruiser, and they
used the GM 3.0L 4-cylinder, 4.3L V-6, etc...

Go price the new 15' SeaDoo Sportster. Then a SeaRay,
and while yer at it, a Boston Whaler. *Then* come back
and tell me what you paid for this 15-year old unnamed
boat that you "bought some parts for". Either dump it,
or put a few grand into it and get her going and have fun.






--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.