15hp outboard help

[boater1234]

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I just picked up a beautiful 1998 2stroke 15hp mariner with 1hr run time on it.The motor is in unreal condition besides were the cowling goes on the motor itself.It seems like it must of fallen down and it cracked in a few spots as well as the cowling itself.My question is the motor seems to be made of fiberglass or composite.What would be the best thing to use to fill in the cracks and sand down.I was thinking that bondo makes a nice putty epoxy you can squeze out and it hardens and is easy to sand.I'm going to take some pics of it as it will be much easier for someone to give me advice on it.I will be back with pics soon thanks for any help.

1st pic is the crack on the left side of the cowl
2nd is in the middle of the 15hp decal which it shoud be a easy fix(I may just sand and repaint the cowl and put new decals.)
3rd is the most concern to me it's all the way through to the inside,but still very strong and repairable
4th is under the cowl were the latch is and it runs all the way through to the inside,but still strong and repairable

Basically i could just leave it and it would probally never break as it is still strong and is holding together well but i like to do it as a project.I think with some tlc it will look like new after i'm done i just need to know what to use as far as materials.The motor itself besides the few cracks is like showroom condition.I have fopund the mariner paint after calling 15 marinas.No one keeps mariner in stock anymore.If anyone can help me on the easiest stuff to work with that is really strong please let me know,thanks for any help.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 15hp outboard help

I'd call TCoutboard and see if I could at least get a replacement lower pan

 

[boater1234]

Re: 15hp outboard help

What would something like that run?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 15hp outboard help

Well it won't be super cheap but fair. I got a large cosmetic plastic piece for my motor from them which ran me about $40ish.

 

[boater1234]

Re: 15hp outboard help

Here is the thing about the cracks.They really aren't super bad were it affects the outboard it's just annoying to look at.I could actually just leave it but i want to make it look as good as new if i can with repairing it.If i can't then i will have it repaired.I was in this to sell it but man when i look at it i want to keep it.This is a motor that you don't find with almost no hrs and an electric start to boot.I only have $900 in it and i think it may be worth fixing and running it on my jon boat.

I had a 2001 merc i sold and man i was upset when i sold it so this is exactly the same motor with differen't decals.I will try to repair it first and then if i can't then i will just put some money into it as long as it's reasonable.If worse comes to worse i will just leave it and run it like that till i fix it or sell it.I would like to keep it for a project to keep me busy.I just bought some marine tex that i hope will work on it.Ther cowling is no big deal as i can just repair the cracks and sand the whole thing down and repaint it.I just may repaint the cowling black it looks really good on the gray body.This is only the second merc/mariner i have found in a few yrs that looks like new besides the back stuff.The compression is a even 125 on both cylinders no lower unit leaks,it's a beauty.

Is that the right term for that part,lower pan or does it go by a different name?

 

[boater1234]

Re: 15hp outboard help

Well i found out the part was $166 and close to $300 to install it.I think i will just try to fix it my way and if i decide to keep it i will just fix it in the winter time.I want to use it now and see how she performs and then i will go from there.Also my buddy at the marina said it would never break off as it's still very strong so i could just leave it like that for now till i get the money to do it right or just never worry about it at all.

 

[lncoop]

Re: 15hp outboard help

JB Waterweld. Apply, dry, sand and paint.