Hello rec.boats---

I hope that I'm not violating the rec.boats charter here, but I'm not
sure where else to take this. In any case....

My partner and I have developed a new product and are trying to get a
feel for the demand. We're in the endurance testing stage of
development (the boat floats and runs, we're trying to break it right
now) and feel that we are very close to production. Our goal is utter
simplicity and supportability (if that's a word) by means of off-the-
shelf products. Basically, install it and forget it.

A bit of background: In 2007, I purchased a 24' express cruiser with
an OMC Cobra rig (260hp Chev). Within 20 hours or so, we had a
catastrophic lower unit failure (we think it stemmed from a prop hit,
but can't confirm it). After a complete lower unit rebuild (new gears,
bearings, shafts, etc) we put about 10-12 hours on the unit before we
suffered another gear failure. I decided at that point my choices
we repower with a Volvo SX (very easy, but super expensive),
complete repower with a Mercruiser rig (more complicated, potentially
less expensive, but still pricey), scuttle the boat and hope that
insurance would pay my losses....

After a number of sleepless nights and hopeless conversations with
clueless marine dealer "techs", I powered through a six-pack and
headed to the shop. In a moment of lubricated enlightenment, I came to
conclusion that the OMC transom assembly could accommodate a Merc
drive assembly.

To make a short story long, we've developed a kit that allows you to
mate a Mercruiser Alpha (or equivalent) outdrive to an OMC Cobra
transom assembly. We've worked hard to make the kit easily installed,
exceedingly durable, and simple to maintain and support. All normal
maintenance items are standard Mercruiser parts from the transom out
(rubbers, bearings, ujoints, shift cable, etc).

As I said, the kit is pretty simple and could be produced and sold for
a very reasonable price (a few hundred bucks, at most). But, before we
start production estimates, we need to figure out what the real demand
might be. The kit can adapt an alpha-style drive to either a Cobra
transom rig or to a Volvo SX-style rig (the engine mounted water pump
becomes optional at this point). No loss of function occurs - it's
just as though the factory intended it to happen. Some Merc phantom
black paint on the OMC plate and ring and most people would not even
notice the difference.

So, if you've made it this far (and not nodded off into a coma), I'd
very much like to hear from you. Please feel free to post here, or
email me at my webmail address: tautog -at- rocketmail.com (that's
right, I don't even have a website yet).

While we do have patents pending for the design, I'll try to answer
your questions as best I can, without compromising our position. Rest
assured, my goal is to recoup our investment only and make this
solution available to as many people as possible. I missed a big chunk
of the boating season and took a pretty big hit to the pocket, and I
hope I can help the community in a reasonable manner.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from you.

Chris West

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:16:27 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I hope that I'm not violating the rec.boats charter here, but I'm not
sure where else to take this. In any case....

It's an interesting discussion starter I guess. I've owned a Merc
Alpha (actually a pre-Alpha) in the past. It didn't have the kind of
major issues you describe with the OMC but it did require a lot of
work several different times. One of my neighbors owns a brand new
Regal 34 with twin Volvo outdrives. They have been a disaster with
more down time than up. I presently own a Searay with a Merc Bravo 3
and so far so good. There are several other Bravo 3s around here that
seem to be doing well also.

All this by way of saying that the Alpha and Volvos are far from ideal
either.

On 2008-04-23 22:27:45 -0400, Wayne.B said:

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:16:27 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I hope that I'm not violating the rec.boats charter here, but I'm not
sure where else to take this. In any case....

It's an interesting discussion starter I guess. I've owned a Merc
Alpha (actually a pre-Alpha) in the past. It didn't have the kind of
major issues you describe with the OMC but it did require a lot of
work several different times. One of my neighbors owns a brand new
Regal 34 with twin Volvo outdrives. They have been a disaster with
more down time than up. I presently own a Searay with a Merc Bravo 3
and so far so good. There are several other Bravo 3s around here that
seem to be doing well also.

All this by way of saying that the Alpha and Volvos are far from ideal
either.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

I don't have any qualms with the quality or design of the volvos,
cobras, or alphas. Fundamentally, they are all very good designs. Of
the bunch, I like the bravo the most and we have plans for a kit that
will accommodate the bravo, but we have both time and financial
limitations.

But, the cobra is an orphan, volvo's sales department was smoking crack
when they priced the units and the bravo is priced on par with the
volvo. The Merc-branded Alpha is way over-priced, just the same.

The advantage to the alpha is that they are plentiful and you can buy
an aftermarket replacement with a warranty that has mercruiser spooked.
It's a good unit, too, as we are doing our endurance testing with one
of them.

Our goal is to provide a repower alternative to the Cobra and Volvo for
about $2,000 with a NEW drive that has a great warranty and a good
company standing behind them. Even if you stick with Mercruiser-brand
drives, the conversion costs should stay below $5,000.

Thanks again for the feedback!

Chris