OMC Saildrives

plk · #1 03-03-2002

I am considering the purchase of 1975 boat with a 1975 15 h.p. OMC Saildrive system. What are the pros and cons of such an auxilary system? Are parts available for repair? Are mechanics available for maintence and repair? In other words, will I regret this purchase because of the OMC Saildrive system?

Jeff_H · #2 03-03-2002

From what I can tell from other discussions,some key parts for the 70''s era OMC Saildrive system are next to imposible to get. In one discussion a sail drive casing was damaged lifting a boat out of the water and ther could not get a new housing to repair it. In that discussion another person commented on removing one from his boat because he could not get some kind of bearing for the transmission.

Jeff

mikehoyt · #3 03-04-2002

Plk,

My best friend has a 1974 C&C 25 with 1980(approx) 15hp OMC Zephr Saildrive. It is a great little engine if you are mechanically inclined but it is also old. He had a galvanic corrosion problem last fall which holed his lower unit. The lower unit may not be salvageable although the gears are all still working. We both looked far and wide and eventually found an entire saildrive unit from someone who replaced theirs with a an inboard deisel. His cost on the used saildrive was $550 Cdn I believe. This unit included folding SS prop. Between the two engines he will likely have two useable lower units and lots of spare parts. There are virtually no new parts available.

These are a dandy little engine but you should look around for a spare engine for parts. Your other option is to be prepared to convert to outboard on transom in the future.

Essentially the value of a boat with an OMC Saildrive from that era is less than that of a similar boat with an outboard (IMHO).

Regards,

Mike

pmills42255 · #4 03-05-2002

My 79 S2 had a saildrive. In the process of removing it and selling it to a sailor who wanted it for parts, I found most everything worn out. If the boat is alright, figure on glassing over the hole from the saildrive and adding an outboard. Forget the Saildrive.
I got 250.00 for mine and no way would it ever have run again.
Paul

bobneidhardt · #5 03-05-2002

plk,
I owned a 1984 Montego 25 for 10 years that had an OMC Sail Drive. It was hard to find anyone to work on it then. It was hard to get parts, then. To change the water pump impeller, something you should do on a regular basis, the boat had to be hauled and the powerhead removed. Stay away unless it is an absolute bargain and you can afford to glass over the hole and put in a new inboard diesel or hang an outboard on the transom.

Bob