Wanted WANT: Cuddy Cabin Aluminum Outboard: Sabre, Eagle, Islander, Lund, Sylvan Etc.

[firedome]

Well after working on both OBs and I/Os as a "professional" for 20 yrs, we'll have to agree to disagree I guess. Nothing to do with manufacturing cost, it's driven by the market all right, ie: what people want to buy. I get "Trade Only"  magazine from "Soundings" exclusively for the industry every month, and sales of big bigger biggest OB boats are going crazy. People buying $350k boats with 4 or 5 300hp outboards are buying them because they want them, not because they are force fed them, I/Os are sittng unsold on dealer lots, but because they've figured out they are better all around: easier to maintain, lighter, more power per pound, easier to change if necessary, better on gas. &c.  Numerous mfr's that were all I/O before are bringing out new O/B models, many offshore makers, plus even Cobalt & Fountain for example, because that's where sales are going. ...TEHO, but I see 30-40yr old outboards still being used all the time, and they are increasingly power of choice for boat makers previously exclusively I/O, for many reasons, but mostly because people want them.

Edited April 19, 2018 by firedome

[RMan]

I have a 1988 starcraft Islander 190V w/ mercury 115 outboard if your still looking

Sent from my SM-G930V using Lake Ontario United mobile app
 

Edited June 8, 2018 by RMan

[Brudenship]

Currently looking for the same, any links, references, leads greatly appreciated.   Thank you in advance.   Largest cuddy cabin is my preference.  

[rolmops]

maybe you should start a new thread instead of using an 8 year old one

[Brudenship]

Thank you, but don't new responses come up the same as a new post?  Appreciate any info, insights, and corrects.   Is there a time frame that threads get achived?   

[MCF]

To answer the two questions from Brudenship, yes the responses would come up the same on this one or a new one.   To my knowledge old posts aren't achieved, you found this old one.   Now the caveats on the aluminum cuddys.    Inboard/outboards dwarfed outboards in terms of sales.   The newest ones from the major brands are around twenty years old give or take.   I had a Sylvan for 8 years quite a while ago so I went through the search a couple times in their heyday.    I don't know what is available from the West Coast like Hewescraft etc, but these have only entered the east coast markets in the last few years.     I look at boats on-line all the time, I can say so far this spring is has been very sparse in terms of what has been out there and right now I can say that I have seen nothing lately.   That includes Detroit, Sandusky, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Rochester.       

[rolmops]

There are Islanders and Sylvans for sale , with I/Os , but it is not very hard to reshape and strengthen the transom so it will fit a 25 inch outboard and conceivably a kicker next to it. This , by the way would also give you an opportunity to clean out the wiring and the dashboard. I am currently doing exactly that to one of my Islanders. 

The rig in question is a 1989 V221 Islander and the engine will be a 175 Suzuki outboard. The Islander itself is in good shape and engineless worth about $1000 . The engine ,new steering and Transom changes cost about $14000. But it is something you can do.

[Shakemsam]

On 4/7/2026 at 1:54 PM, Brudenship said:

Thank you, but don't new responses come up the same as a new post?  Appreciate any info, insights, and corrects.   Is there a time frame that threads get achived?   

You are better off with a new post. Your comment was on the 2nd page after a lot of fluff. You're counting on someone reading all the comments before seeing yours.