Hey folks, advice needed. I have an opportunity to purchase an early 90's Donzi classic 18. Low hours. Well maintained. Good shape. Not a turd -- 65 at 4700.

However, it has a 350 with a King Cobra stern drive.

My concern is the King cobra outdrive? On light inspection, I found a broken exhaust bellows. It was oily on top and the risers were ugly-rusty.

I'm worried by things like where do I get parts? Where do I find someone to work on it. Yeesh. There's probably more problems.

Whaddya think?

Buy, or Don't buy????

TIA

Parts are getting tough to find for the " king "

If it's in nice shape, fresh water only and you can get it for somewhere around 6k you'd be alright with it. As mentioned above, parts are going to be a problem but you could swap it over to a Mercury drive. It's the same transom cut-out.

Its in nice shape, upholtery is good, no stress cracks on the hull, everything works, but run mostly in salt water, so some things are rusty -- like the risers and manifolds -- the four bolts holding the port side riser on are fairly rusty where they enter the top of the manifold, for example.

Current owner has owned for about 5 years. PO was original owner and was a friend of their family -- so history is known back to the original sale. Reports absolutely no problems with either the power or the outdrive. Has done only PM, no breaks or repairs. Price is well under the 6k you mention and includes a couple-year-old single axle trailer with working brakes on one axle. White with teal...

If indeed the King is a straight swap with a Merc alpha (?is this so), than I'd be a lot more comfortable with a King. Run it til it drops, then swap out for a Merc?

Thanks for your comments...

under 6K???

wtf ya waiting for???

JH

you bought already right?
if not wtf are you waiting for

Positives: Good hull, good drive..
Negatives: Drive parts & omc stuff is getting to be a real bitc# to get..

Other than that if the $ is good grab it. You can always repower & upgrade it later... Jamie / Lakeside

Those old Kings are tough drives. Defiantely better than an alpha or even a bravo from what I have seen. I have two friends with them and they have never have had to touch them. One of them has around 1200hrs on a heavy Liberator and a healthy 460. I think he has been through 3 motors but has never touched the drive.

WTF are ya waiting for is a good question. Better yet if you did pass on it, could you give the heads up on the location of this find.

Go for it !!!