2000 Mercury 6 HP 2 stroke

[reelfishin]

I have the chance to buy a 2000 model Merc 6HP 2 stroke for $550, it's only been run once and has been stored indoors and is still basically new. The only time it was run was the day it was bought. A buddy of mine had took it out for a test run the day he got it. He never used it again.
I was interested in it as a newer power plant for my 12' fiberglass gamefisher trihull jon boat. I currently have a 3HP that works but is pretty slow.
I realize that this is a bit small for this boat, but heard that maybe it can be up graded to maybe a higher HP?
Does $550 sound like a fair price for this motor or should I look elswhere? I priced new motors and they are in the $1500 to $1900 range but those are 4 strokes.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2000 Mercury 6 HP 2 stroke

$550 sound like a great price for it. check compression and all that.. and do the impeller. didn't you say you fogged it for him.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: 2000 Mercury 6 HP 2 stroke

I put it away the day he last used it, I fogged it with the same oil that we used to use to store show cars. The motor only ran for about 10 minutes or so when he first brought it home, just to make sure it was ok, that was at the end of the season and he never got the chance to use it again. It's sat in a closet on a stand ever since. I had even sprayed the carb with an oil mix and stalled the engine that way for it's last shutdown, so even the carb will be fine. The impeller should also be fine, but I have a few new ones here that he bought with the motor when new. The original packaging is still there too.

I think its a deal for the price, it had to be at least $1000 new or more in 2000, and as far as I am concerned it still is new.

I think I'll grab it either way, but I will want to up the hp if I can. If it's only a few minor changes to make it an 8 ot larger, it's worth it to me. I would guess that maybe a carb or jet change, maybe a reed plate? Once I get it here I'll sit down and compare the parts list.
The boat he bought it for back then was almost identical to the one I have now, so the prop should even be close. He had it on a glass trihull too, but his was larger and a tad bit wider. I didn't ride in that boat but it looked like it moved pretty good with two people. he had two group 27 batteries and a trolling motor onboard too. I doubt if it will really get up on plane, but should move pretty well. I have a buddy with a Johnson 6hp on a 16' Starcraft that runs all over the back bays and has done so with it for years pulling crab pots, I've seen that boat come back with him and a helper and a dozen bushels of crabs with no problem, so I think the 6HP Merc should do fine. The only place we can run a gas motor here is one of the lakes and the rivers, the lake is only about 3 miles across but the river has strong current. So long as it can fight the current and get back, I'm fine with it. This boat is really only for pond and lake fishing, I have another boat for the river anyway.