268DA and Weekenders

about a month ago I picked up an 86 268DA t4.3omc cobra to connect with with my family a little. My Carreras were a little loud and unsafe for my wife and 4 year old.

I was initially looking for a 270 but hauling and storing this big of a boat the 268 won out.


It needed a little work here and there from sitting but its only got about 90 original hours and with minor repairs everything has came back into almost new shape.

I took her out for the first test run last weekend and she is surprisingly fast for a fat girl, planes almost instantly when you crank the throttles. I'm a little scared after reading up on OMC but I'll have to live with it. I'm a noob when it comes to big boats so I'll have lots of questions in the future but my first is where can I get factory measurements for the original bimminis? I have the front Bimini cover and framework and the camper sides and back but the rear top and frame is missing.

 
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Your best bet is to look at another 268 and take pictures and give them to a top shop. I know that there are several 268's at Lake Meade Marina or at the Boat Harbor. Where do you launch from? You are the first person I have found so far that is here in Vegas. I have an 84 260 that I just bought and am bringing it back.
Good luck.
 
I guess ill have to peek around the docks at Hemmingway and see what I see. I switch up launches all the time but for the most part I go out of the dock where Lake Mead Marina used to be north of Boulder beach. We might try to get a quick spin in today if the weather doesnt start up again like last night but I havent been outside this morning yet to see what it looks like.

I was also curios about the 260, whats the difference between it and the 268?
 
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just me said:
JAB , thats one clean looking boat you have , I LIKE IT !
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thanks, its in good shape for as old as it is but definitely needs a little work here and there. Ive got a different plan for this boat so I'm not concerned with dumping money into it to get her the way i want and never getting it back. I think my 4 year old will let go of mommas butt long enough to hang out with dad a little on this boat so its well worth it.
 
I have heard that the only real difference is a few inchs in length. Although, my 260 is set up with only a single 260 hp engine. If you get over to Hemmingway Sun. let me know and I will meet you at Lake Mead Marina. There is a vacant slip next to mine and you can look for yourself. I go out really early and usually leave around 11:00 in the a.m. due to the heat. Your boat is really good looking. Mine is older and was neglected for years, but I use her to help me get some exercise and stay alive. It was the boat or cardiac rehab and the boat is more fun
 
just mike said:
I have heard that the only real difference is a few inchs in length. Although, my 260 is set up with only a single 260 hp engine. If you get over to Hemmingway Sun. let me know and I will meet you at Lake Mead Marina. There is a vacant slip next to mine and you can look for yourself. I go out really early and usually leave around 11:00 in the a.m. due to the heat. Your boat is really good looking. Mine is older and was neglected for years, but I use her to help me get some exercise and stay alive. It was the boat or cardiac rehab and the boat is more fun
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We might go for another test run today but it wont be until afternoon. Will you be out there later this week?
 
I'm usually out there three or four days a week and if the clouds hang around, I'll be out till one or two in the afternoon. I got out there today at 6:30 and left between 1:00 and 2:00. You can give me a call at 702-279-9350 when you are out there.

Mike
 
Wipe New

After going back and forth on if I should or not, I used "Wipe New" on the blue insets of my Radar Arch today. So far I am very impressed. Instead of chalky dull blue they are now shiny and new. I am now considering trying it on the large blue bow strips. Any one tried this?
 
Has any one problems with tripping the shore power? I have had problems on and off and thought I had it solved when my shore power plug on the boat had a loose ground. Now I can some times have it stay on while all the other breakers are off and sometimes it trips immediately. I had three NYSEG (New York State Electric and gas) guys look at it and couldn't find out what was tripping the shore power 30 amp GFI. I switched to a different position on the marine power pole. Didn't do anything. Went to a different pole and was able to turn on refrigerator, outlets and converter. When I tried to turn on my A/C it tripped. I was just on a couple day trip at two different marinas and was able to run my A/C through the boat with no problems. The NYSEG guys checked the power pole and said it look OK, Two other boats plugged into the power pole (gang of four). I don't think they run anything other than maybe a converter. I checked my ground in the back engine compartment and cleaned up the connection. Scratching my head.

Any clue?
 
What's a slip there run a month and is it a lease or month to month deal?
I've had this out 5 times now (Calville, Hemingway twice, the launch by the water intake and Willow Beach) and maybe its just me getting older but its a pain to launch by myself especially if there's any wind, it acts like a huge sail, i can keep her under control around all the other boats and get the truck parked with minimal help from the wife but I'm paying the price in aches and pains. Saturdays are nuts and the launch is full of tards I wouldn't trust to launch a kayak and I think I'd be better off just parking the thing down there and not dealing with it.

just mike said:
I have heard that the only real difference is a few inchs in length. Although, my 260 is set up with only a single 260 hp engine. If you get over to Hemmingway Sun. let me know and I will meet you at Lake Mead Marina. There is a vacant slip next to mine and you can look for yourself. I go out really early and usually leave around 11:00 in the a.m. due to the heat. Your boat is really good looking. Mine is older and was neglected for years, but I use her to help me get some exercise and stay alive. It was the boat or cardiac rehab and the boat is more fun
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It's $10 a foot. You will probably have to have a 30 ft. slip like I have. It is probably the best $300 I have spent. I know a few people who take their boats out in the winter, but most of them just keep the boat in year round. There are enough good days thru out the year to make it worth while. I can assure you that just driving to the marina and walking down to your boat is pure heaven.
 
Saturday we peeked around the docks at Lake Mead marina,didn't see your boat but I didn't realise how big the slip area was. I did see a green 268 with an arch, I like the idea of doing a snap on top to the arch but this one looked pretty half assed.
just mike said:
It's $10 a foot. You will probably have to have a 30 ft. slip like I have. It is probably the best $300 I have spent. I know a few people who take their boats out in the winter, but most of them just keep the boat in year round. There are enough good days thru out the year to make it worth while. I can assure you that just driving to the marina and walking down to your boat is pure heaven.
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I'm over on b dock. It's white with blue pin striping. It still needs a lot of work, but hopefully I have the time. I know of atleast two 268's over on A dock.
 
New on here but a question for those 268's with twin 4.3l and alpha drives. Trying to determine what prop size/pitch I should be running. Current props are 14.25' 17p stainless, boat leaps out of water ok and lowrance shows 1.9ml per gallon at 26mph and just over 3000 rpm. I see other on here others with twin 4.3 motors. Can I ask what size props are you running on 185 or 205hp engines with alpha drives, typical rpms/speed/economy on a trip assuming reasonable sea/lake conditions? I know these boats will not sip fuel but premium gas is now effectively $ 6.77 US a gallon here in NZ, so I do wonder if maybe I should change props. Unsure what my current wot is - will need to check next trip. Had the 268 for 6 months now - love the boat and getting ready for its first 200 mile trip at Xmas. Your input is appreciated. Thanks Darrell
 
Darrell, May be of some help. Noticed this is your first post, in which it is mine as well. Sort of getting both our feet wet at same time. At any rate I have a 1986 268 with twin 205hp and the alpha drives as well. This boat I bought new and still own and run it today, you might say I love this boat. Will post some pic's when I pull her out of the shop this summer, I think she is a beauty and most people on the site want pictures. Cruised this site for many years and nearly all seem to be very good people with a wealth of info. its like reading a good book when I have the time. Have the time now ten degrees outside and making white, so enough on my rant. As to your questions. When I bought the boat it came with 14x19 merc aluminum cupped props. Do not take long for me to put the hurt on them. So I replaced them with mercury 14x19 stainless cupped and this seemed to be the sweet spot. The boat flat performs, on plane within 4 secs and loaded, 4800 rpms wot. Now I guess I will have to shut up, I do not exactly remember rpms at cruise, or fuel use, and if I told top speed, I would have many crying foul. So bottom line is you can swing the 14x19 easily, and I will install a flow meter and gps for top speed, its up there. Have a Merry Xmas trip! Ron
 
NZ268,

I've been running a set of Michigan wheel 15x19 SS props with 1.98 out drives engines properly timed but carburetors jetted for sea level. At an elevation of roughly 3600 ft. and cruise at 34-3600 rpm (more 3400 than 3600) on fairly calm water with full fuel, water and gear for 5 people I've averaged 2.39 mpg for 5 consecutive trips over a 78 mile round trip per GPS.
 
I am thinking of deepening the anchor locker on our 268. I have a Lewmar V700, 30 feet of chain and 300 feet of Yale Super Plait. The setup works well but every once in a while I get a jam either going out or coming in and everytime this happens it is because the rode has piled up under the windlass. The jam isn't a problem with other people on the boat, but it has happened a couple of times when I am by myself in a crowded anchorage with some wind. Where we anchor I can't go shorter on the rode so the only option I see is deepening the anchor locker. I am wondering if anyone has ever cut into the floor of the anchor locker before.

Thanks and I welcome any and all comments or suggestions.

John
 
Hey John, I haven't heard of anyone trying this stunt. Some concerns I see would be one, you would need to reinforce the wall between the V berth and the Locker, and 2, where would you route the locker drain?
JohnGordon said:
I am thinking of deepening the anchor locker on our 268. I have a Lewmar V700, 30 feet of chain and 300 feet of Yale Super Plait. The setup works well but every once in a while I get a jam either going out or coming in and everytime this happens it is because the rode has piled up under the windlass. The jam isn't a problem with other people on the boat, but it has happened a couple of times when I am by myself in a crowded anchorage with some wind. Where we anchor I can't go shorter on the rode so the only option I see is deepening the anchor locker. I am wondering if anyone has ever cut into the floor of the anchor locker before.

Thanks and I welcome any and all comments or suggestions.

John
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Thanks for the reply.

I am thinking I will remove the existing anchor locker floor and cut the perimeter so it drops down about 6 inches. After I get it right I will glass it back in the same as factory which will tie in to the wall between the locker and vee berth. With the drain I will simply plug and gelcoat the old plug, drop down and put in a new one. I have searched all over the place trying to find anyone that has done this. I have found a few sailboat owners that have, but no power boats. The sailboats are a little easier because of the decreased angle of the bow. Anyway, I think I am going ahead with this and not really seeing any problems except I will have to be more careful putting the boat on the trailer and make sure I don't smash the clam shell drain cover.
 
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