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Random Quote: BE ALERT---The world needs more Lerts !!
I am looking at this boat tomorrow, I know nothing about Sunbird boats. Any one have one or have any opinions? My last boat was a 20ft 1976 Mako, just looking to get back on the bay to fish with something I can trailer.Whats the difference between an Ocean Pro and regular engine? Is it small enough to tow around with a Jeep Liberty? Thanks.
that a ok price make sure you get it checked out.compression,gear oil,start motor make sure both side of the cylinder head are coming up to temp.boat wise check for excessive cracking around stern & other places or soft places...
Look at the floor for soft spots around the seat pedestals..... I had one and floor rotted in that area on both sides. May not have been MFG fault, seats were not OEM. The previous owner may have installed improperly. Ran reasonably well in light chop in the Pamilco Sound.
I have a 1991 Sunbird 20 CC and while it isn't the top tier of boats, I really can't complain much. Structurally it is still in great condition and the only major thing that I did (and you should too) was to rewire the entire boat. It rides nice and sometimes even surprises me with nice, soft landings in rough water. My understanding is that the company and/or the hull design ended up becoming HydraSports boats, which is a good thing, in my opinion. Being as old as she is, she has her share of nicks and cracks, but nothing serious. it just means that i don't worry about the boat as much. wax and polish once or twice a year, that's it.
like the others have said, check everything that you would on any other boat. if all goes well, i wouldn't hesitate with it. Buy the boat, sell the engine for a decent amount, and get a new E-TEC 90. You could still use your controls to save money, the weight should be about equal, and you will cut gas consumption in half. The boat wasn't designed for 4-stroke weight, hence my choice with E-TEC.
good luck, let us know what happens.
My first boat was a 1990 20' cuddy with a 1990 120hp johnson. I paid $4k six years ago for the boat and trailer. The boat held up well for me for the three years that I had it, I was the third owner. I did need to redo some of the wiring though. It was a great first boat for me. Based on what I paid, the price is probably a little high. I sold mine for $4,500 three years ago.
__________________ 2004 Striper 2101 W/A with 175 Evinrude
I had a 98 Sunbird --the model was the 160 Center Console which was 16' 8" long--it had a 70 Johnson. It was a great little boat with bad wiring like others have said. It was very solid in rough water and the hulls were sound designs which explains why they are still around in the form of the Hydrasports Lightning series. With all that said--for a boat of that make, age, and power, I think 4k is a bit high. The owner should be happy to part with her for around $2500 to $3000. JUst my opinion. Good luck.
I had a 98 Sunbird --the model was the 160 Center Console which was 16' 8" long--it had a 70 Johnson. It was a great little boat with bad wiring like others have said. It was very solid in rough water and the hulls were sound designs which explains why they are still around in the form of the Hydrasports Lightning series. With all that said--for a boat of that make, age, and power, I think 4k is a bit high. The owner should be happy to part with her for around $2500 to $3000. JUst my opinion. Good luck.
thats what i was thinking this time of year offer him 2500 to 3500 those are so bullet proff motors if it was taken care of.luvs it some fuel though
I had the exact same boat - 1989 Sunbird Center Console but with a 1990 90hp Johnson
I purchased it new as a left over in 1990 and used it hard for 11 years with no problems.
As was said before the those OMC engines were not as fuel efficient as todays motors but they were tough. You could work on them youself without hooking a computer up to them.
I pulled my boat most of the time with a 1994 S-10 2wd pickup with no problem so I would assume a Jeep Liberty would have no problem also.
While I had no signs of structual problems with the boat other than spider cracks I knew there were better built boats on the market. Grady was building a 17' boat when I purchased my Sunbird and it felt much more solid but at twice the price I just couldn't afford it at the time.
My boat spent most of its time in Barnegat Bay in NJ and made a few trips a year into the ocean on hand picked days. The sides are low, making in more like what most makers now call Bay Boats and the V in the hull is shallow but that helps to make it light and efficient.
I was happy with the boat given the same situation I would buy the boat again.
i have the same boat with a 1990 motor on it. motor rebuilt with new pistons in 2005.
its not a bad starter boat which is why i bought mine . price 3800.00 in march of 2006
check the motor out completely, compression, voltage generation, sparking, idle speed,
the boat has handled 5-6 foot seas in 20 knot headwinds.
on calm day with calm water it can push 42 mph @ 5400rpm with the old motor.
do like some else suggested. sell the motor and buy a new Etec 90 or 115 for it.
the boat has a 33 gallon alum tank in it and with the 90 you should get double+ mpg over the 96 evinrude. and give you about a 190- 200 mile range with 90% fuel
its a stable boat - a good 3 man fisher for bay or close in offshore fishing say 25 miles out.
one man can handle the boat fine..
check the softness of the deck spots. stringers in the boat are of wood
check all the gauges make sure they work.
I agree with amr72 on the $ amount I would look at many other boats and do some comparisons ie, boatraderonline.com see what else is out their available in the price range your wanting to spend. It is also winter time, Don't be in a hurry. You just may find something better.
OOOOOH MY LORD! that look EXACTALLY like the first boat my wife (finance'eer back then) bought together. it was named the Hambone. we did more out of that lilttle boat than anyone could imagine. we fished inshore, offshore and scuba dove out of it regularly. can you imagine 4 divers with gear and 8 tanks 20 miles off shore in that thing?!?! we had a blast with that little boat. ive still got an ooold pic of it--see below (its a pic of a pic).
that little boat did everything we asked of it. we loved it. no troubles ever with it, or the 88 hp johnson on the back. it was a DREAM first boat for us. we did replace the captains chairs with a 'fit over the pedastal' leaning post from west or boaters world or someplace. gave us more room and was more functional.
1989 17.5 Sunbird 1996 90hp Ocean Pro 
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