older outboard on a new boat

[mtnman05]

I have been looking at the Ranger Reata 186 and I am thinking about getting me one. I currently have a 1994 Ranger 374V bass boat with a 1994 175hp Mercury XRI Black Max that was completely rebuilt a couple years ago. I was planning on selling the bass boat since I do a lot of skiing and going to the lake with 4 or 5 people than I used to. With new 175hp motors around $15k plus I could save a heck of a lot of money by using the motor I have on my bass boat that is practically new instead of buying a new one.
My question is with all the new advanced controls and gauges these new boats have will these older motors like I have even work on the newer boats? The boat is suppose to come with hydraulic steering where as mine is cable steering now. Can the hydraulic be used on my motor?
Only downside to doing this that I see is once the motor is removed from the bass boat the boat will be worth nothing once I try to sell it.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: older outboard on a new boat

Your old boat will be worth its most on the used market with an engine of the same year. Your new boat will be worth more with an engine of the same vintage. The best thing about buying a boat the quality of a Ranger is that you sell it for big money used--especially with a fresh motor. Someone in your community will be getting a boat that's a good value--despite their paying so much.

While I'm sure you hate to spend the $, getting a new motor on a new boat is the best thing to do. The new high tech motors are just so quiet, efficient and enjoyable to use with hydraulic steering, etc. You won't be sorry.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: older outboard on a new boat

On the other hand, when all is said and done, it is all about "total cost of ownership". While the boat will obviously not be worth as much with the older engine as it would be with the same year engine, that is not a major consideration since some manufacturers (Yamaha being on) don't even go by model year any more so. It is all about total dollars and since you are not spending 15K on the front end, you can take a 15K hit on the back end and still be even (minus whatever figure your older engine is worth when you do sell the boat). I have personally done exactly what you propose many times and my cost of ownership on all of my boats has been extremely low. As for the gauges, you can buy the boat with no "pre-rig" which may or may not include gauges. If Ranger does not sell the boat without gauges, replacing them with those to match your engine is not a major expense. Great Lakes Skipper is a great place to find very attractive new and retro-style instruments.