Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

[groundedchevy]

I've been looking for a cheap fishing boat (Wife won't let me spend a bunch). I had planned on just getting a 16-18' jon boat with an older motor when I came across a 1984 Glastron HPV bass boat. It has a Mercury 85 HP Serial# 4232818. The guy says he rebuilt the lower end and has a new prop on the motor. The motor currently doesn't run and when I asked him the last time it ran the following was his exact words:

"I used it in June when the motor broke something under the top bearing cap is making it hang up."

I was going to go look at the boat tonight or tomorrow night and wanted to get some feed back on what it would cost to fix it. Obviously this isn't much information to go off of but I thought you guys good give me some tips on what to look for. This will be my first boat purchase and thought it would make a great winter project and the wife wouldn't see a big chunk of money gone upfront. I have an auto body degree and I I've always been good with mechanics. The guy is asking $400 for the boat/trailer/motor with good titles. Below is a picture. Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

I'd say if you are good with your hands and have a good about of tools to make it happen I'd go for it. If it's to far gone you can sell the lower unit and part out the rest of the motor and sell the trailer and prolly come out even.... Though I would go much more then $200.

Sounds like it'll be winter time by the time it's even close to up and running unless you have ton fo time, and it being your first OB, there is a learning curve. IE trying not to break stuff taking it apart etc..

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

It looks like a very good deal. Distributors can be had for $200+, so even if you had to buy one, I think you have more than a $600 boat there. Of course, if the motor had bad compression, it is not as good of a deal....

 

[groundedchevy]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to go look at it with a friend of mine tonight. He has a little more experience with boats than I do. I wouldn't call him an expert by any means. Anything I should look out for on the motor or the boat itself?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

I would do a compression check on All cylinders, and make sure the transom is in good shape and not waterlogged foam.

 

[groundedchevy]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

Any idea what the PSI range should be for that motor?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

Exact PSI is not important since compression gauges are pretty inaccurate. if the cylinders are within 15% of each other, the compression is fine.

Check the gearcase oil for water and pieces of metal. The rest is fixable, for that price.

 

[groundedchevy]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

I gotcha...If the motor ends up being junk I've found a few 50 HP Mercury's on Craigslist for $500. Would that be a pretty easy swap?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mercury 85 HP help/advice needed

yes, provided you stay near the same year for both motors. The 850 looks to be about a 1975. The 500 in the picture looks to be prety close to that age as well. if the motors are too far abart, you will need to alter the electrical harnesses.