Although the Outboard Marine Company (OMC) no longer exists, many of its engines and sterndrives remain in operation around the world. Fortunately, the owners of these products may still buy replacement OMC marine parts for many OMC products such as its once popular Cobra sterndrive system. Various distributors have purposefully established themselves as stockists of original OMC or OMC-compatible items.
OMC was established during 1929 and based just north of Chicago at Waukegan, Illinois on the shore of Lake Michigan. It was a leading boat, engine and sterndrive producer. Its boat motors included the well-known Johnson and Evinrude brands. In 2000, OMC made about 100,000 motors and had almost a third of outboard market in North American. Its boat brands included Stratos, Lowe Boats, SeaSwirl, Chris Craft, Four Winns, Javeli, and Princecraft.
A sterndrive motor is a form of marine propulsion. Its design positions the motor as a hybrid system with features resembling both inboard motors and outboard motors. For this reason, sterndrive units are sometimes also referred to as inboard-outboard (I-O) drive systems.
The cause of it woes was the Cobra sterndrive engine, launched in 1985. This unit was combined with all its OMC motors. So the sale of those units represent a large legacy population that remains in operation today that needs to be maintained. Sterndrive motors are a substitute for outboard and inboard motors to provide water propulsion. Their design is a hybrid system drawing features from both inboard and outboard motor designs.
At the time of the Cobra launch during the late 1980s, MerCruiser was the dominant industry leader in engine and sterndrive packages with 75 percent of the market. Cobra quickly eroded that market share to less than 50 percent.
The Cobra product began to form a bad name for malfunctions. Its shift cables damaged the gear sets. The problem caused OMC to announce in 1989 a recall of all Cobra units. The recall placed severe financial pressure on the company. Its fortune soon waned and never recovered. Production of its engines and sterndrives was discontinued during 1998. Associated production facilities, including a machining facility in North Carolina, were divested to Bombardier Recreational Products. It sold that facility to TEAM Industries in October 2004.
To recap, OMC products owners can source OMC marine parts from Volvo Penta (VP). This seems to be connected with OMC having had a tight commercial relationship with VP from 1989 through to 1997. Additionally, product owners may search out several distributors that have chosen to gather and stock OMC original OMC items plus OMC-compatibles, including Cobra-compatibles. These distributors play an important role for owners of OMC products. Some of these distributors have a Web presence.
OMC was established during 1929 and based just north of Chicago at Waukegan, Illinois on the shore of Lake Michigan. It was a leading boat, engine and sterndrive producer. Its boat motors included the well-known Johnson and Evinrude brands. In 2000, OMC made about 100,000 motors and had almost a third of outboard market in North American. Its boat brands included Stratos, Lowe Boats, SeaSwirl, Chris Craft, Four Winns, Javeli, and Princecraft.
A sterndrive motor is a form of marine propulsion. Its design positions the motor as a hybrid system with features resembling both inboard motors and outboard motors. For this reason, sterndrive units are sometimes also referred to as inboard-outboard (I-O) drive systems.
The cause of it woes was the Cobra sterndrive engine, launched in 1985. This unit was combined with all its OMC motors. So the sale of those units represent a large legacy population that remains in operation today that needs to be maintained. Sterndrive motors are a substitute for outboard and inboard motors to provide water propulsion. Their design is a hybrid system drawing features from both inboard and outboard motor designs.
At the time of the Cobra launch during the late 1980s, MerCruiser was the dominant industry leader in engine and sterndrive packages with 75 percent of the market. Cobra quickly eroded that market share to less than 50 percent.
The Cobra product began to form a bad name for malfunctions. Its shift cables damaged the gear sets. The problem caused OMC to announce in 1989 a recall of all Cobra units. The recall placed severe financial pressure on the company. Its fortune soon waned and never recovered. Production of its engines and sterndrives was discontinued during 1998. Associated production facilities, including a machining facility in North Carolina, were divested to Bombardier Recreational Products. It sold that facility to TEAM Industries in October 2004.
To recap, OMC products owners can source OMC marine parts from Volvo Penta (VP). This seems to be connected with OMC having had a tight commercial relationship with VP from 1989 through to 1997. Additionally, product owners may search out several distributors that have chosen to gather and stock OMC original OMC items plus OMC-compatibles, including Cobra-compatibles. These distributors play an important role for owners of OMC products. Some of these distributors have a Web presence.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about OMC Marine Parts, then visit Sean Edwards's site on how to choose the best Marine Parts for your needs.
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