Re: 1987 Mercury, two stroke
Welcome to iboats.<br /><br />" Beyond the obvious, ie compression check, actual test drive, what performance checks should I perform during a test drive? "<br />From idle forward, go to neutral, then reverse, while WATCHING the engine at the mount. If the mount/transom moves, it's bad news.Then,From an idle speed, go full-bore, and check for slippage, and speed to plane. Let it plane-out,reach max speed, then back off 500RPM to cruise full throttle. Maintain that speed for at least 5 minutes if piossable, to check for fuel delivery problems and prop slippage.<br /><br />Niether is a big deal to fix usually, but nice to know it's hanghing-over your after prurchase to fix.<br />"How would I negotiate a fair price for a 1987 Mercury, 90HP? What is it worth?"<br />Between $500 and $2000. (2K for that engine with no hours).Compression is the biggest thing to be concerned with.Run the compression test after you get back from the sea trial,and the engine is limber and warm...Because this is where compression issue surface on a running engine.<br /><br />"Should I try to negotiate a share the cost of repairs for a 30 day period? Does it pay to hire a mechanic to look at it?"<br />Yes and yes. The mechanic could tell you a lot, provided he is a boat mechanic.An auto or heavy equipment mechanic will just go for a ride with you for the most part. A Survey will cost lots of money, but if you buy a boat for say, 4500bukz, and the day after the sale, the transom falls out, he could have saved you 4500bukz.<br />That's of course, a worse case scenario, but it happens.<br /><br />In the absence of a professional, get in the boat after it is hooked up to the tow vehicle (so the tounge don't rare-up on ya), and walk heavily on every sqaure inch of the decking. Pick up any and all cusions, and check the condition of any any all wood and layup.<br />Open any and all hatches, baitwells, ect looking for the same.<br />Have a flashlight handy, as it gets dark below decking,and when checking out the transom too , for cracks in the glass anywhere. <br />Once you're satisfied, check under the boat for dings, scratches and chips missing in the gellcoat.<br /> <br />TRAILER: any rust on springs? If so, is it just surface rust? (Same with the entire trailer of course, but critical on springs, welds and chains.<br />When you get back from sea trial, touch the hubs.It should not be hot (unless it is eqipped with trailer brakes). If it is, you will need to check bearings and hubs.<br />There is more, like all electral and fuse box inspection, but look for anythuing out of ordinary, and test all 'lectronics and lights.<br />Finally, the guy is selling it for a reason...and, "Boats are a hole in the water in which to pour money".......But man,what a fun hole!!!!!<br />Good luck with your decision.
