Re: 90 HP Mercury 1998 Used value
I swapped out my 1987 50-Hp Yamaha for a 2003 75-HP Merc, the newer Merc I bought for $3500 with $1600 trade-in for the Yamaha. I also had the used motor dealer throw in a set of 90 HP carbs as the engines are identical with only carbs and timing being the difference. The used boat dealer mounted the new controls and the motor for that price. NIX just outside Winnipeg is where I got this deal.
The new Merc is 10 times quieter than the Yammy although the Yamaha was a great motor. I was initially disappointed with the build quality of the Merc compared to the Yamaha as the integral block (no heads) and general appearance of the under hood components looked cobby and more Briggs and Stratton than the typical japanese tidyness.
However the new motor runs great once I got the timing and carbs setup, it starts well and even idles smoothly down to 600 rpm around the dock in gear. I had one failure with the starter motor this year when I found out there are no drain holes in the starter motor housing and condensation from winter storage had filled the starter with water. I rebuilt the starter myself and recoated the stator with Glyptol and drilled two small drain holes in the bottom of the housing to prevent it happening again.
The nice thing is the motor is 1500cc's so it has lots of torque off idle and parts are easy to find and inexpensive to buy compared to Yamaha parts. Fuel mileage also went way up as I can cruise at part throttle and do the same speed I needed WOT for before. WOT fuel usage is exactly the same but I just get there twice as fast!
I would buy another 75/90Hp ELPTO Merc again, the quiet factor would be a major decision and parts availability the clincher. Best part is my insurer sees the 75 HP factory sticker and my boat has a 80HP max rating so its a win situation for me getting 90HP performance.
