I have an old boat with an outboard from the 50’s that’s stuck in gear and I can’t even find anyone willing to look at it. So I started looking at outboard motors to replace it and what I’m finding is either really old motors under 10 hp for 700 dollars or newer motors that cost more than buying an entire boat with the same motor and everything else including. I don’t understand this at all. Why do motors cost more than buying an entire boat with the motor? Am I better off just getting a newer boat? 

I just bought a 1998 17.5 ft Smoker Craft deep V aluminum fishing boat. It came with a 2015 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke EFI outboard motor with only 40 hrs on the engine and still under warranty. The motor cost 13 K brand new. I paid 13 K for the boat, motor, and 2002 EZ load trailer. So yes the motor is usually more than the boat and trailer. I saved over 10 K from what a new package would cost. Fortunately the boat is leak proof and came with two Lowrance fish finders, a trolling motor, ancors, rod holders, etc. The point is that new motors cost a premium. But if you can find the right used boat and motor you save $$$. Brand new is fine but you will still be paying mafority of cost for the motor unless you go with much smaller engine/hp. Just my opinion, not sure about smaller boat and motor combos.

 

yeah, I agree, check the price of a 250 or 300. why are they more expensive than a new car engine with the rest of the car included? the reason is that boaters, and especially fishermen are born suckers. as long as we buy them  whatever the price, they will never become cheaper. of course this includes yours truly.

Like most anything else, as the cost of new increases to stupid prices, so do the value of good used.

11 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Like most anything else, as the cost of new increases to stupid prices, so do the value of good used.

What I’m seeing though is crap used like 40 year old 5 hp motors for the same price as used boat with a 40 hp motor, trolling motor, sonar, trailer, and everything else to go with it. And new motors alone are not worth buying at all. It’s crazy really.

13 hours ago, Cak920 said:

What I’m seeing though is crap used like 40 year old 5 hp motors for the same price as used boat with a 40 hp motor, trolling motor, sonar, trailer, and everything else to go with it. And new motors alone are not worth buying at all. It’s crazy really.

What 50 year old engine do you have? The small older outboards are fairly easy to work on, parts is another story. Most boat rental landing usually have a good mechanic and stock pile of parts available.

Tom

9 hours ago, WRB said:

What 50 year old engine do you have? The small older outboards are fairly easy to work on, parts is another story. Most boat rental landing usually have a good mechanic and stock pile of parts available.

Tom

Mercury mark 55A. I called a couple places to see if they would look at it and they said they won’t even look at an outboard that old. Thinking about taking it apart myself to see if I can figure it out.

I have a hard time getting used to the idea that motors made in 1968 are 50 years old...

 

I can't accept that these:

 

 

...are that old.  Call it denial if you want...but be gentle...

Good news is I got it out of gear now and shifting good. Bad news is in the process a piece in the control box broke and now I’m on the hunt for a new piece or new control box which isn’t going well.