Help value this SC please.

PlayD0h · 2026-01-20T12:31:08-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T12:45:31-0700

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

PlayD0h · 2026-01-20T13:10:59-0700

racerone said:
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 · 2026-01-20T13:27:22-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T14:28:27-0700

PlayD0h said:
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 · 2026-01-20T14:31:19-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T14:33:18-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T14:36:00-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T14:38:31-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T14:42:59-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T15:00:16-0700

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 · 2026-01-20T15:02:43-0700

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

racerone · 2026-01-20T15:49:52-0700

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.

racerone · 2026-01-20T19:59:51-0700

Any pictures of this 125 HP motor with cowling off ?----Pictures of carburetors?

Bugzilla46310 · 2026-01-21T04:57:33-0700

With my limited knowledge of boats, I’d be walking away fast from that boat unless I was looking for an expensive project to take up all my time.

racerone · 2026-01-21T10:07:01-0700

With the motor the seller perhaps put " lipstick on a pig "-----A Force motor is NOT a Mercury.

PlayD0h · 2026-01-21T12:33:40-0700

matt167 said:
Repairable, but it’s a pile of scrap the way it is.

Can I ask why you think that? I haven’t seen a SC that was worth scrap myself. I’d consider a bare hull with a rotten transom a jewel in the rough.
Yet I have that mental disorder that makes me think spending more than what the boat will be worth restored, on parts and materials as a good investment, lol.
I’m guessing that he got a shop to “remove” the stern drive and mount an outboard which is why he thinks it’s worth so much. He doesn’t realize or won’t accept that the work wasn’t an improvement nor added value to it. Yet even if he did the work himself and wants his money back from a sale or trade, I could see the project costing $2k-$3k+.
I should mention that I’m in Canada, so $7k Canadian is $5k USD. And we don’t have nearly the number of boats, which makes them all more expensive.

racerone · 2026-01-21T12:44:05-0700

Where abouts in Canada?----See if your local shops work on these motors.

Scott Danforth · 2026-01-21T12:49:03-0700

PlayD0h said:
Yet I have that mental disorder that makes me think spending more than what the boat will be worth restored, on parts and materials as a good investment, lol.

ROFLOL

redneck joe · 2026-01-21T13:06:08-0700

Welcome to most of our disorder.

Canadian money makes a diff.

Look at transon and bilge area for any conversion evidence like I said.

Floor prob needs or about needs replace.

Let it soak in water or test under power for leaks.

If yer into self abuse go for it, many of us do. The value is the key. 2k American would be tops

My biggest concern is someone trying to pass of a force for a merc. He may have been screwed over or he may be trying to screw you over.

It ain't a merc.

Help value this SC please.

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