Re: 2005 boat, motor and trailer
Sounds like a great deal. I don't think the carbs are shot as you say, just probably gummed up from being improperly drydocked for those years. If it's a 2005 and sat for 4 years it's only like a 1 year old motor use wise. A dealer rebuild should be fine. Most sellers embellish their tales of how little the boat was ever used. But it's still only a 5 year old motor. But my eyebrow was raised a little when you said the carbs were shot. Hopefully, it was just put away incorrectly and the story is true and it really does not have 5 years of use the carbs should be fine. Carbs should last 25 years plus if serviced properly.
My Daughter picked up a 1999 14 foot aluminum last year with a 25 hp 2 stroke Merc. The first thing I did was to have the dealer put on a new OEM carb. I could have cleaned it myself or had the dealer do it. He gets $100 to rebuild 1 carb plus the kit I think.
but I figured I'd would just resell the old carb on Craigslist for $100 and the new OEM one was only around $500 installed.
I'm not saying you should do the same, a dealer rebuild is fine. I just didn't want to get the calls if I rebuilt it . . . Dad my motor won't start, I'm on so and so lake, can you come up and get me!
Her Merc model of the same HP only has 1 carb, so it was cheap IMO to replace it.
Unless the seller can show you a receipt that the impeller was changed recently, I would have the dealer replace it for you while it's there. probably cost you $100 or so.
It should be replaced every few years as preventative maint. it's important to keep the water pump providing the outboard with a strong cooling water flow. especially if you do any trolling with it. The fins of an impeller are only made of rubber and they deteriorate with age. My 40hp 4 stroke is a 2007 and I'm having the impeller changed first thing this season when the dealer reopens.
I started to try and replace hers myself, but found it to be a more involved a job than I wanted to get into. The clip that holds the linkage is a bear to get at and off for a layman and lucky I couldn't get the lower unit off because the dealer told me Iboats sent me the wrong impeller kit for her model.
Change the lower unit gear oil yourself or have the dealer do it. Do the same for the gas filter and you should be good to go.
Enjoy it and post back on how much you like it after you get it out on the water. It will fly with that 25 hp stroke on it because it's a 2 stroke and very lightweight.
