1150 sell or outfit

[five20too]

I bought this non-running 1976 1150 to go on my '96 Sea Ark. I checked compression and it was good. It needed a new harness so I bought it too but haven't installed it yet. When I bought it I only got the complete motor with tilt pump, hoses and prop. PO said it ran when he pulled it off his boat, but you know how that goes. I didn't get any controls or harnesses with it and my project boat only has an old steering wheel. Now that I'm looking at the price of all of that stuff it's really starting to add up. Sometimes I think it would be easier to buy a new motor and get all of the controls installed with my purchase, and then buy the upgraded controls that I need to go along with it. I know it would be a chunk of money but I don't want to keep sinking money into this project just to find out it's not worth it. I don't mind spending the money but I'm not rebuilding an antique boat and trying to keep the motor from that era. Could someone give me some input as to whether or not these motors are actually worth messing with? I know I'm on the Mercury page so many will have biased opinions but I'm really just looking for some straight up information. Thanks for any help you can give this rookie.

 

[Faztbullet]

Update motor....The trigger could be bad on the 115 and a new one is $300+, a good control box $150, trim pump motor if bad $200 etc,etc....

 

[Chris1956]

PTT is easy to test. PTT motor should have a three prong plug. After connecting PTT cables to the battery, jumper from vertical slot to upper horizontal slot and PTT motor should run and trim motor up. Jumper from vertical slot to lower horizontal slot and PTT motor should run lowering motor. The boat harness for the PTT will require 3 medium duty wires (10Ga?) and a single pole double throw switch.

The boat harness to the engine is a different story. You would need to lay your hands on it, likely used. They hold up pretty good (unlike the engine harnesses), so you should be able to get a good one. The control cables and mechanical controls from most/all Mercs will fit. The electrics changed over the years.

 

[five20too]

Thank you both for your replies. I have been pondering about this often for the last few days. I haven't totally made up my mind yet but I'm thinking I will just order a new harness from CDI and find me a throttle/shift controller. As much as I would like to repower the boat, I figure I would be looking around 14k for the motor with controls and taxes. I think I would feel better putting in another few hundred or so to see if I can get it fired up and maybe even get a few seasons of fun out of it. Thanks again.

 

[wired247]

$14000 ? You can buy a 250 HP Verado for $15K. Seriously a 75HP optimax will run circles around that 115 inline, use 1/3 the gas and run about $8K with controls. That and the 1150 will leave you hating your boat AND teaching you all sorts of engine problem diagnosing and boat towing skills that no one should have to learn unless they are a total masochist.

 

[five20too]

Oh I guess I didn't realize that the smaller motors would do what the older and larger ones would. I figured it would be hp to hp. I called a local dealer (small town) and was told it would be about 14k for a 115 Yamaha (don't hate me, just trying to get an idea on pricing). He said I was looking at about $100 per hp plus controls and tax. I have looked online before at prices and found them cheaper but they always say that due to factory regulations, or something along those lines, they can't sell the controls with them unless I bring my boat to them. If I could find a 75 hp for that price all fitted out I would jump all over it.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee Wired, aren't you exaggerating the power and economy of that Optimax? The 1150 is a good motor. The PTT is lousy, but the motor is a good one, and at 115HP, I would expect much better performance than some 75HP motor.

 

[wired247]

The 1150 isnt a 115 HP motor. Its a crank rated motor. By modern prop rated HP ratings its an 85-90 HP motor at best and its one that has all the wonderful/horrible attributes of 70's vintage inlines. The 75 opti will run better than the 115 inline and it will use a third to half the gas and oil to do it. Try one. Theyr'e actually quite amazing in what they can do with the amount of fuel they use. A 90 opti will flat blow that 1150 out of the water.

My old boss pulled the good running 1150 off his pontoon boat and bolted a new 75 opti on to it and picked up 5 MPH and doubled his range.

 

[Faztbullet]

I would not spend a dime on it till I jumped starter and ran a compression check and hot wired switchbox to see if it had spark....and yes its only about 85-90hp at prop as its a non power port block.