What's it worth?

Hookup · Postby **Hookup** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:26 pm

I have a question maybe someone here can help me with. There is a guy who is selling a 1987 Mariner 25hp with electric start for 650.00. Is it worth it? He has a good rep. as a mechanic, but I don't know motors. He said the compression was 125 on both cylinders. What do you think?

sondance · Postby **sondance** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:27 pm

I am not a boat mechanic but it sounds reasonable. I would want to see the compression check myself and hear it run, even better would to be to run it under load if it is mounted on a boat.. Take the cowling off an make sure you don't see anything obvious and pull a plug to see what the fowling looks like on the plugs. Use the same guidelines you would use for a car. Why not call a boat repair place and ask what they would give for the motor. If in line and you like it make the deal. New that is probably a $4k or better motor.

ruger0771 · Postby **ruger0771** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:38 am

I agree with hearing and seeing it run ... I bought a 10 hp motor a while back for $200 -- it was an older motor but ran great.... or so I thought -- it would start up and run great without a load then I put it on a 12 ft flat bottom that I borrowed from a friend -- started it up and put it in gear-- it was like hitting a kill switch on the motor -- I talked to the guy that sold it to me and didn't get any help -- $200 down the drain!-- be careful on older motors they can bite you in the a#$ :shock:

Hookup · Postby **Hookup** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:41 am

Thanks for the reply. I never thought to ask if he would let me put it on my boat and try it out. Where I come from, $650 is alot of money and I just want to make sure I'm getting my money's worth! Duck hunting cost and I don't need any give-aways!

the doctor · Postby **the doctor** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:12 am

It aint worth nothing if you dont want one.

Listen to it run, take it out on the lake. If you like it and it runs good and you are in the market for one...buy it.

the doc

RedEyed Duck · Postby **RedEyed Duck** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:35 am

the doctor wrote:Listen to it run, take it out on the lake. If you like it and it runs good and you are in the market for one...buy it.

You gotta run the motor before buying it for sure! I would never purchase a used motor before taking it for a test drive/ride!

Jeff · Postby **Jeff** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:48 am

IF you do go look at it another few tips to look at. Bring enough lower unit oil to refill the motors lower unit. Then if you take it out on the lake and run it on your boat, when you get back drain the lower unit oil and look for two things, one choclate colored oil wich means your lower unit seals are bad and that you prolly don't want the motor. Secondly pour the oil out of whatever you put it in and look in the bottom for metal debris that would be from the clutch wearing, if that's started your are about to loose your clutch and you don't want the motor as you gotta pretty much replace the whole lower unit in that case and a lower unit is gonna run near what you are paying for the motor. Also see how much it has been worked on. When you take the cowling off look at all of the screws, normally they have that paint over the slot for the screwdriver, if that is gone, you know you prolly have a rebuilt motor which if the guy has been up front with you about that is no big deal, but if it has never been mentioned might be another red flag for a lemon. That's my suggestions.

quack fiend · Postby **quack fiend** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 5:07 pm

get you a compression tester at an auto parts store for 20 bucks, or borrow one--no way i'd buy one without testing that, you could have one cylinder with marginal compression that runs fine now but the motor won't last 2 years--trust me, been there :evil:

What's it worth?

What's it worth?

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