Buying another outboard engine.

[bonz_d]

Looking for a little feedback from all you wiser than me people.

I've located a 1983 Evinrude 60hp 2 cylinder that I've been looking for to put on the Alumacraft Classic 16 I picked up this past fall. Now here is the catch. It's 5hrs away, which the trip doesn't scare me but the seller hasn't been very forthcoming with much useful information. They have sent me some photos that weren't very clear though it looks clean.
They have said that the compression was good but couldn't give me numbers. Also said that it was run last summer and ran good.

Who out there would take a chance? The price is low to my way of thinking but w/o any real info and being blind to it's real condition I'm thinking it's really nothing more than a parts motor. Would hate to make that drive only to come home empty handed.

Opinions please.

 

[JB]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Ask them for a demo in a tank or on the muffs. Ask for a new compression test with numbers. If they agree to those things and supply the results it is probably worth the trip.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

well first we'd need to know the price and I guess you know the value of 10 hours of your time plus gas.

So let's say the cost is between 0 and $300. If it's a motor you really want and can't find others, and you have lots of time, and you like fixing/rebuilding, sure. It sounds like a good match for the boat.

Otherwise I can't see risking 10 hours of driving on a $500 anything.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

I did a 6+ hour drive on what really could have been a waste of time and money.
Very little info, so-so communication.

Turns out the guy is a great mariner !! Just maybe a little ADHD in his veins.

Got a great motor for a very reasonable price.

Turned out to be Ken Simonsen, one of the guys that bought the molds from Cobra bass boats.
He has since sold then, but not before making some.

Here is his current repair shop. SHRINKWRAP..$7.00 PER FOOT (INCLUDES STORAGE) - YouTube


Here he is in his purple sparkle "cobra", spying on the pros during the Bassmasters tourney in Green Bay.
bassmasters green bay ..from r/c heli - YouTube


Anyways, he's a great standup guy.
My point is, some people just are not motivated, or care, to be salesmen.
Maybe they don't even care if they sell their stuff.
Maybe they have been through the wringer and are fed up with tire kickers and bottom feeders.

Take the drive, take the misses, spend the night and have a nice dinner. Maybe you buy a motor, maybe not.

Sooo, where is this motor?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Just got home from work, sorry but I work in a different time zone than most. Day starts at 9pm and ends around 2pm!

Well I know for sure that those 60hp 2 cylinder engines are not very common which is why I'm interested to begin with. As for the price he's asking only $300.00 so I'm betting they don't want to spend a lot of time fooling with it just by the impression I've gotten in the few emails we've had. It's outside the Twin Cities, so Roscoe don't you be rushin out to beat me to it!

My fear is that I get it and then find that it's worn out, low compression, the electrical or the lower unit is out of it. Also with the thinking that in this area there are a good number of 55hp Johnnyrudes that usually show up throughout the year while this is the 1st 60hp that I've seen in some time. So I'm still debating it.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Most powerheads look very clean whether it runs properly or not. So pictures really wont be much help. Except, a clean looking motor at least will keep your interest whereas a beat up one wouldn't. I would at least get the compression numbers before I made the trip.......

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

I understand what you mean by clean doesn't mean anything. Could still be junk or could be a diamond in the rough. I have thought about offering $200.00 but don't want to sound insulting. Though really w/o knowing anything about it and not getting much info, they really sound uninterested in answering questions, it still seems to be a parts motor at the very least.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Also, what's that 10 hour trip going to cost? Gas, food? Day trip, or, an overnighter? Lodging? Might as well add those costs to the price of the motor.....

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Time wise, day trip with the wife away from the kids! Gas I figure about $140.00 roung trip. Food, I owe the wife a dinner anyways!

Actually we made the trip from Lake Geneva to Sparta to buy the boat and that was a 7 hr trip with pulling the boat back.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Time wise, day trip with the wife away from the kids! Gas I figure about $140.00 roung trip. Food, I owe the wife a dinner anyways!

Priceless! lol

Actually we made the trip from Lake Geneva to Sparta to buy the boat and that was a 7 hr trip with pulling the boat back.

I drove around 5hrs one way, day trip, to buy a snowmobile. It was in immaculate condition. Saw it the day before at the local drags. Guy had left the next day before I could contact him that I wanted to buy it(after I talked to the wife. lol).

Just saying, your boat and my sled was a lot more than $300. Just seems to be a long ways for a $300 motor. Not trying to discourage you. Sometimes a road trip is just what the doctor ordered.........

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Well it's all mute now. Emailed an offer and was emailed back that it's been sold! Either an omen or a missed deal.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

I would look at it that it wasn't meant to be, for whatever reason..............

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Not to frett something always comes up on craigslist. The name of the game is patience!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

You mentioned that you sometimes see old 55's. I'd grab one of those. They are good motors and practically speaking no different from a 60.

As for the 'risk" factor the nice thing about buying old OMC's (except electric shifts) is that they are relatively easy to fix and find parts for. However, in my world, I have to beware of salt-frozen bolts. I have learned the hard way that even clean looking motors can have that fatal issue. And the only way to really know is to remove all the bolts, not a practical solution, but every DYI knows that it's always the last bolt that's frozen.

As for the drive, there's a difference between a water haul and road trip. If you get a good road trip then the motor is the excuse.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

There is a 79 55hp Johnson just an hr away that can be had for 500.00, been for sale sense end of last summer. Has an issue with running rough after it warm and won't go over 3000rpm., so I don't know what that's all about.

No hurry, I've already aquired a nice running 75 50hp Johnny and then there is the broken 1988 70hp Rude that came with the boat. Just though that the 60hp would be sweet on this boat.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

$300 outboards around the cities, are usually junk.
Be glad its sold. Everything around the cities is usually priced very high.

Now, something out in the woods, near Iron Mountain, may be a good find.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

$300 outboards around the cities, are usually junk.
Be glad its sold. Everything around the cities is usually priced very high..

I've noticed that but like everywhere else there are bargins to be found.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

I would look at it that it wasn't meant to be, for whatever reason..............

Now it is really for the best.
Got called tonight and woken up to be told not to go into work. The whole building is on fire. Said to have started about 6pm and at 10:30 is still burning. They have 25 different fire depts on scene from 4 different counties! So far everyone is accounted for and no serious injuries. I am in shock! The news camera footage is horrific.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Wow, sorry for the bad news.

Gonna be a rough couple of weeks with all the unknowns.

Hang in there.

I read they brought in help, all the way from Dane county.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Buying another outboard engine.

Thanks Roscoe, From the new video I've seen the whole production and office areas are totally destroyed. 13+ hours and it's still burning! reported that 25 different dept. have responded some even up from Illinios.

From what I understand at the time it started it would have been during the shift change and there would have been minimal people present. Seeing the damage in the morning light just makes we want to cry for all my friends who will now be out of work.