Help value this SC please.

[PlayD0h]

So I’m selling a travel trailer and someone offered to trade his boat. I’m guessing it’s a 70’s Holiday or Chieftan and has what looks like a 90’s 125 hp Merc outboard on it.
I’m asking $5500 for my trailer and I guessed $3k-$4k for the boat, but he says he values it at $7k which seems quite high.
Looks like someone took a quick attempt to restore it, and even welded up a console. Or more likely modified one to fit.

 

[racerone]

Are you sure it is a Mercury outboard?----Or is it a FORCE motor ?

 

[PlayD0h]

Are you sure it is a Mercury outboard?----Or is it a FORCE motor ?

Meaning what? That buddy put a Merc hood on it? Force only made a 120hp, and this motor has the “blue water” decal which is the 2+2 design.
Is it a known tactic to make a Force engine appear as a Merc? I don’t think Force engines are fairly judged as I’ve known some people who have used them for ages and haven’t had issues, yet I’m no expert. I don’t suspect that this guy pulls many shenanigans, and he’s not even advertising it.

 

[MNhunter1]

Hack job for sure. I'd look at the value of the trailer and motor. Hull looks to be a '70s era inboard that was converted to an outboard. Windshield/console is non-standard. Scrap value aluminum as it will likely need a complete rebuild/inspection. I'd say maybe $500 for the trailer and $500 for the motor assuming compression and spark test out okay, maybe a bit more. I wouldn't put much more than a $1k value on the package with a complete rebuild in mind.

 

[redneck joe]

Meaning what? That buddy put a Merc hood on it? Force only made a 120hp, and this motor has the “blue water” decal which is the 2+2 design.
Is it a known tactic to make a Force engine appear as a Merc? I don’t think Force engines are fairly judged as I’ve known some people who have used them for ages and haven’t had issues, yet I’m no expert. I don’t suspect that this guy pulls many shenanigans, and he’s not even advertising it.

Force made a 150 as well iirc, and that cowl is 100% a force. Get serial number and look up. I am and force fan but it is now a parts issue. Serial number tells the truth.

$2k tops based on pics.

 

[redneck joe]

Get hin on the boat and research that. Bet money rotted floor is the reason for those diamond plates below the seats if not that would most likely accelerate rot.

I do kida like the extra tall console.

 

[redneck joe]

Yes, Force Outboards absolutely made 150 horsepower outboard motors, particularly during the late 1980s and early 1990s, often utilizing Chrysler/Mercury technology for these powerful, budget-friendly options, with specific models for various years like 1989-1992 and 1992-1994.

 

[redneck joe]

And as stated, it is a force. Those are not original decals


Branding: Some models were explicitly labeled as "Force by Mercury" or "Mercury Force" to indicate that they were backed by the Mercury manufacturing organization

 

[redneck joe]

Get better pics of the transom cap, in the one here looks like it was hammered into shape.

Also get better pics of the bilge area, if it was in fact an sterndrive need to ensure proper modifications were completed to support the outboard.

 

[redneck joe]

Force was discontinued in 99, the same year the merc bluewater series stared


And yes, easy to buy stickers. Again, get serial number. Google pics of a Force and a bluewater series.

Hopefully he was just oversold and not trying g to pull anything but def not 7k

 

[PlayD0h]

Thanks guys. There’s a similar boat way closer that’s still inboard and there asking $4k but I’d bet they’d take $3k or less as it’s butt ugly interior wise. Like mustard yellow and might be original seats.

 

[matt167]

Repairable, but it’s a pile of scrap the way it is.

 

[racerone]

Force motors are OK----But only if you can do the work on them at home.---And locate parts yourself.-----Many dealers refuse to help folks with them.