Would you go backwards

[KIRCHNER]

YEAH tell us what it is or were not gonna talk to you

[KIRCHNER]

To the OP, no I would not buy that old of a boat as a primary and expect to be able to use it as is. It will need some work. Motor might be fine, but what about the transom, stringers and the core? Thats the stuff that takes a bunch of time and or money to fix.

maybe its a sw....r c...t?????? S&F secret code]

[Li'l Toy]

I have run OMC all of my life. I love the different and unique. Thus I run an '85 Eliminator with an '85 OMC V-8. And I have finally had my fill of trying to keep a 1985 motor built with 1970 technology running. It would be soooo nice just to turn the key and it starts, and never leaves me stranded. If you love the boat, and I will take you word on condition and not give my usual speech where it is a Hydrostream and I chant that it will need a core and transom, buy the boat but upgrade the power. It would take something really special (classic 60's hull with a 75 McCullough or the like) for me to want to go with an older motor given what the new ones are doing.

[altamate]

He probably knows this is a terrible idea and is looking for some sense to be knocked into him.

^^^^This above is truth^^^^

I’m in love with the hull, willing to do the core, transom, stringers and floor if need be for the right boat and color combination, but I need it to be origional gelcoat as spraying metalflake gelcoat is a talent I don’t possess.

The boat in question happens to be nice enough that it actually may not need any of the hull work.

[nitro_rat]

I’m in love with the hull, willing to do the core, transom, stringers and floor if need be

Sounds like you answered your own question.

I run an unrestored ‘81 Hydrostream with a ‘79 motor. It’s my “only” boat. Make sure the hull is solid and have fun.

[racervboat]

Still won't say what the mystery boat is ???? Maybe try a new thread to make all the S & F members to try and guess what boat you don't own yet

[gotboostedvr6]

/Thread

[revlimiter]

I'd love to share all the info. I am undecided and don't have a deposit on the boat at this point. I'd like to not have a bunch of competition in the buying process if possible. If I don't buy it, I'll gladly help advertise the boat at that point.

Is that a fair reason? Can we still have a good discussion about an exact motor, where I have most of my concern. Well and also I guess the big picture talk about going backwards.

Not gonna get any meaningful help if nobody knows what you're talking about. Some boats are good, some are not. Some boats have certain problems that even if they look immaculate they'll still need work. Who knows if you can put a 250 on it if we have no idea what boat we're talking about. I know you wanna be hush hush but you're not gonna get any help that way.

[Da Bull]

This site has always been about personal preferences and if you like the boat/motor then that's all that counts. You are the only one that has to like it.
That 235 won`t use any more fuel as anything else in it`s hp range as long as you keep your foot out of it. At WOT they all drink the fuel. I would always use 93 octane non ethanol premium with non synthetic oil.
If one day you want more power the options are endless. Good power can be made from that old cross flow but it will become less reliable. There are many motors around that will be way faster it just depends on what the boat and driver can handle.

[gotboostedvr6]

Cross flows are definitely less fuel efficient than loopcharge motors.

[BOATMANBLUES]

If you are semi-mechanically inclined,own a ball peen hammer and some vice grips, then you can run that old crossflow the rest of your life...buy all the gas and oil you can stand , put a piston in it every couple of years and run it ...you will never spend as much money as what any new technology outboard will cost you up front...you cannot up grade to a four stroke or dfi two stroke if you own a carb two stroke....you can buy one, but it won't be an upgrade....

[altamate]

If you are semi-mechanically inclined,own a ball peen hammer and some vice grips, then you can run that old crossflow the rest of your life...buy all the gas and oil you can stand , put a piston in it every couple of years and run it ...you will never spend as much money as what any new technology outboard will cost you up front...you cannot up grade to a four stroke or dfi two stroke if you own a carb two stroke....you can buy one, but it won't be an upgrade....

This post is both encouraging and funny.

[Velocity72]

Some great posts here...

The Velocity in my avatar was a 1990 that I bought on 2003. Updated electronics and other things, and it needed major cleaning, but gel, interior, floor and transom were all still in amazing shape. It had been inside all it’s life. The one major thing I did was repower it. It spent it’s life with a 2.5 EFI 260, but I knew the boats do better with a load with a 3.0. Sold the 260 to a S&F member and dropped a new 250 on it. Ran it trouble free for 9 years before other factors forced the sale.

The boat was 22 years old and still original when I sold it. For me, the motor swap was a good choice.

[gotboostedvr6]

Motor life is typically variable. It has to do with the number of years on the impeller, multiplied by total inches of fuel line, divided by the amount of experience the skipper has mixing oil ratios. Add 177 hours if you don't use VRO oil injection. Subtract 300 hours of your dumb enough to use last year's fuel. Subtract 50 hours of you don't clean your carbs every other year. Add 25 hours if the chick riding on your left looks good in a bikini.

The result is at least twice what an etec lasts.

[specboatops]

No one wants your old ass boat - so tell us what it is so we can give you some honest advise - there may be someone on here that can give you some solid points on what to look for - but trying to keep this a secret yet ask questions is kinda stupid.