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Used boat motors – what to look for? |
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Planning to buy a used boat motor? There are plenty of sites on the Internet that offer a wide selection of boat motors from marine engine manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, and Mercury Marine.
But before you go shopping for a used boat motor, it is wise to first stay back and assess the things that you should look for in a boat motor. This way, you can have better chances of getting a good deal even if you are not the first-time owner of the boat motor.
Questions to Ask
There are several basic things that you must find out about the used boat motor that you are eyeing. First, find out the year of the boat motor. Experts suggest that it is best to get boat motors that are less than five years old.
Another thing to consider is its number of hours. Try to stay around 500 hours as 1000 hours is already considered high.
You may also ask the seller why the boat motor is for sale. Have there been any repairs done on the motor and for what reasons. Who did the repairs? Also find out if the boat motor is still under warranty, and if so, for how long.
Boat motor experts recommend checks on the following:
· Compression on each cylinder
· Rod end play on each cylinder
· Vacuum and pressure test gearcase.
· Waterpump and thermostat operation.
· Check over-heat buzzer for proper operation.
· Check ignition for spark on all cylinders.
Whenever possible, you must ask the boat owner to take you for a ride and run at high-speed. While inside the boat, closely monitor the sound of the boat motor and watch out for buzzers, noises, and other abnormal sounds.
Pre-ownership categories
Dealers of boat motors usually offer great deals on models that may not be brand new but still offering high performance and functionality. Some of these boat motors may be on sale because they were used by the manufacturers for promotional activities for a season and then refurbished before they were put on sale.
IBoats.com, an online retailer of boat products including boat motors, have access to hundreds of quality pre-owned boat motors. Usually late model versions, these products are often substantially discounted, guaranteed to be working properly, and carry a 60-90 day warranty.
Boat motors that have been used only for few seasons and then traded-in by their owners for newer models, are also often good buys when looking for a boat motor. Dealers also team up with rebuilders to provide rebuilt boat motors, wherein the powerheads are rebuilt and extensive tests are done to make sure that the boat motors are working properly.
Most online retailers maintain a rich inventory of used outboard motors and they update their lists regularly, if not daily. They also provide information about the motor's condition and existing warranties.
To purchase used boat motors, you can check out iBoats.com boat motors section, Steven's Marine, Marine Source, Marine Mall.
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