What are peoples opinions on this boat and propulsion
1979 24' Sea Ray SRV Sedan flying bridge twin Mercruiser 165 6 cylinders with type R (pre alphas) outdrives. The boat looks good has normal wear for a 30 year old boat. the motors started right up and ran smooth. (the motors were cold). Hull looks good. Bilges look clean. I'll poke around the transom area and the stringers some more next time I inspect the boat again. Any body have one of these boats before and what good and bad things can you tell me about it

Buy boat, replace engines w/ 1075's & # 6's & U will B good 2 go!!!!! Sorry, could not help myself!!! Work'n on it though!!!!

Back in the day that was a pretty good engine.

Does anybody have an opinion on the type R outdrive?

That drive and engine was popular and well matched. I would check all the normal things like gear lube, bellows, shift cables ,transom and stringers. Given its fresh water and if its well maintained I think it could serve you well.

How could anyone say anything bad if its still going after 30 years? Must be a pretty reliable set up.

Jimmy, I thought the R drive was still an Alpha, just an older case design and no oil holes and slightly different shift mechanism....and stood for "Recent"... the MR was "More Recent"...then the Alpha 1 and Alpha II????

Alpha designated new lower gear design. The gears repelled and the older came together when the rotated. Alpha or MR have the cover nut under the water pump base and no pin on driveshaft..

"R" stands for Revision and "MR" is major revision

I guess 10 years being out of the field has finally taken its toll on my memory!