OMC

OMC (Outboard Marine Corp.), a company with an interesting history, was a major player in the engine and sterndrive market in the mid-1980s. In 1985, Outboard Marine introduced the world to the Cobra, a sterndrive designed after the expiration of a number of Volvo Penta patents. The Cobra was connected to a complete range of well-built OMC engines. MerCruiser, at that time, was the industry leader in engine and sterndrive packages, controlling 75 percent of the market. Thanks in part to the initial popularity of the Cobra, that number soon dipped to 50 percent.

The Cobra, however, was not problem-free. First shipped on a wide-scale basis in 1986, the Cobra soon earned a reputation for unreliability. While these issues first pointed to the gearsets on these models, the actual culprits were the shift cables (which caused damage to the gear sets). This widespread malfunction eventually led to a complete recall of Cobra sterndrives in 1989. OMC foundered after the recall, and stopped producing engines and sterndrives in 1998 after its "arrangement" with Volvo Penta (from 1989 to 1997) dissolved. OMC's marine engine assets were acquired by Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. (BRP) in March of 2001. BRP sold OMC's former Andrews, NC machining facility to TEAM Industries in October of 2004.

There are, however, a vast number of engines and Cobras still in existence, many of which operate quite well with a bit of tweaking. Many OMC users have found luck with Volvo Penta replacement parts (dating from when Volvo Penta used to supply OMC with both engine and sterndrive parts), including those who use conversion kits designed specifically to easily replace a Cobra with a Volvo SX. Others are perfectly happy with their OMC engines and sterndrives, but have a hard time finding genuine replacement parts for their discontinued equipment. While these parts are no longer produced, the initial popularity of the OMC engine has left its legacy and created a market for readily available replacement equipment.

OMC Cobra Parts Online
Here at Marine Parts Express, we have made a concerted effort to stockpile OMC engine and Cobra-compatible parts. Many of our customers have found parts on our site that they never thought they would see again, and our inventory of engine and sterndrive products has allowed many boaters to upgrade or repair their OMCs. If your OMC is in need of reconfiguration or repair, talk to the experts here at Marine Parts Express, by calling (877) 621-2628 or sending an e-mail to us at info@marinepartsexpress.com.