Your best Deal or find

[ultra353]

I was looking on E-bay today and someone was selling a brand new in the box model #98 merc-o-otronic. You don`t see that too often anymore! It started out a $5 and it went for $ 226. A little too steep for me but that would be a nice unit. My "almost" best deal was i called on a 1980ish evinrude 15 hp short shaft, the ad said best offer , so i called and he said $40.00. He said it ran great and shifted fine. I told him I`d be there in 30-35 minutes, i was 10minutes from his house and he called and told me just sold it! AHHHHH, another person called and told him he was just around the corner from the sellers house and convinced him that i might not show and he was a sure thing. Man that pissed me off!

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Empty House down the street from me had an old 18ft Smokercraft sitting in the back yard for about 3 years. House finally sold and the new owner parked the boat out front with a big ol free sign on it. I went down and had a look at the boat and drug it home. Had a 1976 Johnson 85hp V-4 and a 1988 Johnson 9.9 kicker motor. Put the 85hp Johnson on my Starcraft and sold the 9.9 on eBay for $995.99. Hauled the boat to the scrap yard and got $50.00 for the aluminum then sold the trailer to my neighbor for $100.00.

Not bad for a free boat


Went to the dump one Saturday this past summer and drug home a Craftsman Cat Track Snowblower. It was upside down in the metal srap dumpster. Got it home, filled the oil and Gas, and it fired on the third pull. I have used it on my driveway a few times so far this winter.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Your best Deal or find

we cannot haul stuff out of our dump.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Your best Deal or find

We are not supossed to either, but I figure on doing it until then stop me.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Your best Deal or find

180yds of 2oz fiberglass mat for $90 shipped off ebay. Best boat related deal so far

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Deal #1 (2007) Had ta cut up a fiberglass boat n' haul it to the transfer station, $80.00 to $100.00. Got a good 1978 complete PT, and very fine virgin 1150 powerhead that my son now runs as a "frankenmerc" after he grenaded his 1981 115 n' got water in his PT that also laid down. A semi had torn off the LU in 1985 a few months after the feller had bought it, Yikes He put it in his back yard and let it sit fer 22 years, the power head and PT were in very fine shape, the trailer was recycled.

Deal #2 (2008) $150.00 fer boat, (15' very nice Bayhole, [Bayliner]), with new layer of gel coat n' interior, freshly painted trailer, (needed another axel), with new hand winch n' roller jack fer the tongue, n' a 1250 that needs a plastic part fer the dissy. (Put me 1967 950 on it, see below.)

Deal #3 (2008) $400.00 fer a 18'Reinell T-180 with good tranny n' hull that needed interior that I gave away, Calkins trailer that I sold fer $350.00, n' a very sweet fresh water virgin 1967 950 that I slapped on the Bayhole, (makes it a $$$$$ One hundred fitty dollar boat now).

Deal #4 (2009) $60.00 fer a 1978 14' Cobra, (Cornadian Sidewinder clone), with trailer, (fair shape, good bearings n' tires), that I hung a very purdy 1972 fresh water virgin 1150 on, ($200.00 fer the 1150, corntrols, n' spare LU). Now a $260.00 boat.

Gotta luv those ol' smooooookin' screeeeeeemin' tall Black beauties, they run real good, real easy to werk on, (parts engines are real cheap), n' make snarky Liberals real mad when I blow their spendy 4 pokes into the weeds!!!!! Yip Yip Yahooooooooooooo I say!!!!

Me overpriced $.02. JR

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Your best Deal or find

A fellow called me one day said a buddy of his bought some boats parts at auction and if I might be intrested in them. Yep bring em on, fellow brings me a brand new in the box COMPLETE 1969 100hp Merc powerhead! Also a brand new mid 70's 1150 block,a new 4 cylinder 650 block, 6 NEW 2 blade aluminum props(17-23pitch) and a 150 "J" block used. Now dont yell, but he asked $200 for all which I bought without a eyeblink..
Sold the 1150 block on Ebay to fellow up north......$200
Sold the "J" block to a racer on S&F.........$350
Sold some of the props to local prop shop and rest to fellow in KY...$60 each
Still have the 650 which I have stuck a used crank and pistons in if anyone needs..
And the 1000 powerhead I installed on my houseboat,replaced my 950 powerhead. It will be for sale this spring as installing a V-6 135. The new powerhead has 9 hours running time most at 1800rpm. I have the 950 powerhead still also runs just wanted to install the new one.

 

[BDbill]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Got a 1976 Evinrude 6 HP at a garage sale with gas tank and hose for $110 about 4 years back. The owner only used it 1 weekend a year for about 10 years, then it sat in the basement. Runs like brand new. Makes a nice kicker.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Your best Deal or find

My first boat was a 1970 Glastron V-153 with a 1959 Johnson 35. The boat and motor were acquired separately in good deals which was essential since we had 2.5 kids and cheap was my only path to a boat. I pulled the boat out of a ditch behind an auto body shop that specialized in Corvettes. The owner had taken the boat as partial payment for repairs made to its twin for a local water park and then lost interest in the project. I paid him $50.00 for it and hauled it home in the bed of my neighbor's pickup. It was stripped of everything, had holes in the bottom and sides of the hull, cracks in the cap, bad deck BUT a solid transom. My neighbor had professional experience with fiberglass repairs and would work for beer. He was the first person to ski behind it when we hit the water four months later. It served our family well for ten years until I traded it away because my First Mate decided that we needed a bigger boat. Is she great or what!

The Johnson was seized when I got it from the PO who said it just quit on him in the middle of the lake. The PO let me have it in exchange for rigging his replacement motor which turned out to have a cracked crankcase. I did not attempt to start my motor, completely overhauled it down to every nut, bolt and gasket except the gearcase. The connecting rod bearings were destroyed, probably from the lack of oil by the PO. I was able to polish out the scuffs on the crankshaft. It started and ran on the first crank after reassembly.

The previous posts were great deals but I was sure proud of mine at the time!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Your best Deal or find

I work for a boat company and I was working there when they were just getting started so we had a tons of vendors in, "try this ,try that, well all that stuff goes upstairs in R&D and becomes free for tha taking.

I rebuilt my entire boat 2 years ago from the keel up for $35, new 7 ply marine wood, bilge pumps livewell pumps ect ect.

This year I bought a MotorGuide W55 wireless trolling motor for $100, it had been upstairs for 2 years, in the box and I got a Garmin 178c Sounder,color fish finder/GPS for $50.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Found a little 8 hp Chrysler behind a dealership. Asked what he wanted--25 bucks. Put on a new pull cord and she fired right up. Used it on my 18 footer as a kicker. Snapped a prop shaft on the big engine in the Chesapeake. Fired up the 8. Took 2 hours to get back to the dock but saved at least a 200 dollar tow. PLUS: Since we were moving under our own power, the wife stayed calm--worth more than ANY amount of money!

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Found a little 8 hp Chrysler behind a dealership. Asked what he wanted--25 bucks. Put on a new pull cord and she fired right up. Used it on my 18 footer as a kicker. Snapped a prop shaft on the big engine in the Chesapeake. Fired up the 8. Took 2 hours to get back to the dock but saved at least a 200 dollar tow. PLUS: Since we were moving under our own power, the wife stayed calm--worth more than ANY amount of money!

Ha ha! I know that feeling, too! Frank, you and your darned Chryslers.
Merry Christmas,
JBJ

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Your best Deal or find

I found my 15-footer on eBay. Had to drive to Rhode Island to get it. It came with a blown up Chrysler 75 on it. Once I got the boat/motor/trailer home I took the Chrysler off and parted it out on eBay for enough that the boat and trailer ended up being free, AND had enough leftover to pay for the gas and tolls between NY and Rhode Island! I still have the boat and the trailer!

 

[frwhlr38]

Re: Your best Deal or find

wa looking for a small boat last summer found one in a guys back yard had been sitting for awhile there knocked on door the man told me to look at it if i wanted it i could have it to haul away, well i looked it all over said id take it, at this time there was no engine on it so we got the tires aired up yes they held air OMG, then the man said oh by the way i have 2 outboards in the garage for that boat well 1 turned out to be a 1957 scott atwater 10 hp bail o matic looked as tho it had never been on the boat he told me it was fogged every yr but only used twice in its life i was like WOW then over in the corner was a 5 hp merc all wraped in plastic still had the original price tag attached to it the paper work in a plastic bag tied to it and he said hed bout the boat and brand new in 1974 from sears its a 14 ft aluminum, with the trl and even after sitting out all them yrs looked new, well the short of the story is hed bought the scott atwater motor new then bout the boat and his fishing buddy died so he just never took it out then he bought the merc engine was going to put it on the boat and just never did and said if id use it it was mine just remeber old men loved there fishing, well i took home got it running the scott atwater motor cleaned carbs , new plugs checked everything out WOW ran super, called the guy up 2 weeks later took him and boat to the lake we fished for 5 hrs limited out on walleyes that man was in 7th heaven, 1 week later he died so this boat and motors will never be sold in his honar

 

[kaferhaus]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Best "deal" I've gotten was two 18HP engines that "won't run"... one is a 71 Evinrude and the other is a 1965 Johnson. I paid $50 for the two of them.

Drug them home, put them on stands and checked the compression.... the Rude was 125 on both cyls and the Johnson was 115 on both. Took the carbs off, both had crud in the float bowls with a scum line all the way to the middle of the floats. Cleaned the carbs and put them back on.... the rude started on the 3rd pull and the Johnson started on the second. Johnson ran but not good.... replaced the coils (cracked) and the points while I was in there and it's run like a top ever since.

Sold the rude for $350 and the Johnson for $300

Those were the rare exceptions..... usually when I buy a non-running engine I end up having to part it out... which is more profitable but takes much longer to dispose of it all.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Your best Deal or find

wa looking for a small boat last summer found one in a guys back yard had been sitting for awhile there knocked on door the man told me to look at it if i wanted it i could have it to haul away, well i looked it all over said id take it, at this time there was no engine on it so we got the tires aired up yes they held air OMG, then the man said oh by the way i have 2 outboards in the garage for that boat well 1 turned out to be a 1957 scott atwater 10 hp bail o matic looked as tho it had never been on the boat he told me it was fogged every yr but only used twice in its life i was like WOW then over in the corner was a 5 hp merc all wraped in plastic still had the original price tag attached to it the paper work in a plastic bag tied to it and he said hed bout the boat and brand new in 1974 from sears its a 14 ft aluminum, with the trl and even after sitting out all them yrs looked new, well the short of the story is hed bought the scott atwater motor new then bout the boat and his fishing buddy died so he just never took it out then he bought the merc engine was going to put it on the boat and just never did and said if id use it it was mine just remeber old men loved there fishing, well i took home got it running the scott atwater motor cleaned carbs , new plugs checked everything out WOW ran super, called the guy up 2 weeks later took him and boat to the lake we fished for 5 hrs limited out on walleyes that man was in 7th heaven, 1 week later he died so this boat and motors will never be sold in his honar

That is the best deal of all....Get a boat and gain a friend...may he rest in piece

 

[piggy]

Re: Your best Deal or find

My best deal was just dum luck. Good friend had a 2hp Mercury. Started it up one spring in a tub didn't watch it. The impeller broke and he fryed it. He took it to dealer was told it would cost about 300-400 dollors, not worth it. Came to me, ask me 20 dollors for it. I didn't really want it but he is a good guy, so I take it. It's in my shop about a year and one winter day I got tired walking around it. So I took it apart with the intention of parting it out. The piston was fried, but the cly. walls were perfect. Mic'ed out perfect. Got a new piston and rings about $100. Put in new impeller $30. So I got about $150 in motor plus labor. Motor now starts and runs like new. I advertive for $250. A fellow calls me up wants to trade me for a riding lawnmower (John deere). He said there is a few things that needed fixing, yea right. He wanted to trade even-up. I was sure there was a catch, but what the h---, I am a sucker. So I traded him. It set in my shop about a month. One day I started it and drove it across the yard it didn't have enough power to pull itself downhill. Talked to local J.D. guy about what it would cost for parts to rebuild. He said you don't need overhaul. That motor eats sparke plugs, put new plugs in and see what happens. It was unreal, it run like new, more power than you needed. Put about another $150 (seat, dent on hood, new lights) Total about $400 in the mower including what I done to the mercury. I am sure the guy I got the mower from thought it was junk. I sold the mower for $3000. The good lord looks after idiots like me, I guess.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Too many to list lately, but I have to say, I never buy a boat or motor unless its a super deal.
I tend not to pay more than I could get for it in salvage weight. I've found a few really nice boats. The best one was my Duratech, which was listed on Craigslist as a 16' open boat. When I called, the guy told me that the boat was sold, it had only been 15 minutes since the ad went up. I crossed it off the list, and I went on to look at another boat, which I also bought.
That night the guy called me back about the '16' Open boat. He gave me directions, they didn't even show up on the GPS, and I drove around a bit in a town about 40 miles from me before I found it. I had actually driven by the boat a few times not realizing or recognizing the boat as the one in the add. The boat was hitched to a newer truck, out front looking like someone was heading out fishing. It didn't look like a 16' open boat, I didn't even think it was aluminum. I finally stopped and asked the guy if he knew who in the area was selling a boat on CL and he said that was it. The boat ended up being a super clean Duratech 17' 6" long open boat which had been converted to a center console. The motor was a mint clean 1960 40hp. The trailer was a bit rough but certainly usable. I was expecting a 16' boat with bench seats, not a full sized 17.5' bay boat. The boat needed a rear floor, but all else looked great. His asking price was $200 in the ad, but for a 16' open boat. When I told him I was more looking for a super light 16' boat, he came down in price, to $100, I looked closer, pointed out the rotted floor, his last price which we settled on was $55 and he delivered it to my house as it was too big to tow with the car I had with me.
It had come from an estate sale, he had no wish nor want to own a boat or to try to sell it. I think he was afraid of the out of date title, which was dated 1962. He kept on about how I'd be better off just parting it out for cash and scrapping the hull. I think he thought titles expire so something. The motor looks almost unused, the cables, steering and all trim are spotless. I paid more to transfer over the title than I did for the boat.

I hope to complete it this spring, I have a new console, and will lay down a new deck, and maybe a larger motor.

 

[ultra353]

Re: Your best Deal or find

Some very good stories and finds!! Keep `em coming.

 

[rdecheno]

javelin

javelin

isaw ad in local paper which said 30 hp 60s or 70s no gas tank 75 bucks it wasnt far away so i took a drive over sitting on this guys lawn is a 56 javelin with all the pieces intact
a for sale sign said 60 $ the guy said the motor was in the garage when he bought the house and he had no use for it ibrought it home put in barrel and it fired right up ive used it for three seasons now and only have changedplugs and impellar