Outboard buying rant

[1973Chieftain]

Sorry for the rant guys, I'm just a bit frustrated with some outboard sellers. I've been searching craigslist and kijiji.ca for a 115HP-140HP outboard for my 18' CC Starcraft for several weeks. I found 2 very nice ones over in Ontario for reasonable prices. The first one I contacted said it was still on his boat, but that he would take it off on the weekend and give me a call when it was off. He then stated he could not get to it that weekend... then promptly fell off the face of the earth and has not responded to any of my calls or txt's for 10 days. So I started searching again and found another nice one over there. Responding to my email, he said he would not be taking the engine off his boat for 2-3 weeks yet, and refused to start it till spring. My question is why in the world would you list an engine for sale if you don't intend to sell it for several weeks or even a month and an half or more?!?!?!?!? Seems crazy to list something but then tell a buyer to come back in a month or two! I found one here in MI that the seller is more then willing to run for me, so thats better!

 

[avenger79]

Re: Outboard buying rant

because they think a buyer will actually wait that long for them to be prepared to sell. kind of a get the buyer early but don't actually sell until spring thing. besides the may get better offers that way....guy comes to look and he says I already have someone paying this much, what would you offer.

 

[Maxum21]

Re: Outboard buying rant

Your better off letting them leave on thier boat and waiting til spring. That way you can tell them you want to water test the motor.Bring money and show them your serious. I wouldnt take any1's word on craigslist claiming their motor "runs great"

 

[64osby]

Re: Outboard buying rant

I sent a text on a motor, asked for the model number. Three days later seller responded. He gave the year but no number. Seller states the starter is bad and won't quote an asking price. :noidea::frusty:

Looking at it as a parts motor.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Outboard buying rant

Forget about it! There will be a motivated seller down the road. These guys are just jerking you around.

 

[82rude]

Re: Outboard buying rant

give you a piece of advise.buy in your country.up here most folks think their motors are gold plated with diamonds.in my city ive seen some of the most idiotic prices ive ever imagined and the fools pay it.me, i trucked on over to michigan and saved 2 grand on my etec,besides on my side of the border the nearest dealer was hours away.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: Outboard buying rant

I bought a 1985 Rude from a dealer here in MI... just seemed so strange and unlikely to sell the way they were "selling" them.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Outboard buying rant

Not everyone who tries to sell something actually knows how to sell something. So, you are better off dealing with someone who is motivated to sell and understands how to make something sell.

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: Outboard buying rant

In general, people are stupid. That's the problem. I buy and sell a lot of stuff on craigslist and it's amazing how many morons don't even bother to take a picture of their item, or learn anything about it, or know the value, or spend even 30 seconds cleaning it to make it look better. More than once I've bought things on craigslist for cheap because the seller was hard to deal with, and then quickly resold it on craigslist for more money...'cause I cleaned it and took a picture.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Outboard buying rant

In general, people are stupid. That's the problem. I buy and sell a lot of stuff on craigslist and it's amazing how many morons don't even bother to take a picture of their item, or learn anything about it, or know the value, or spend even 30 seconds cleaning it to make it look better. . . .

Reminds me of this movie clip . . .

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Outboard buying rant

In general, people are stupid. That's the problem. I buy and sell a lot of stuff on craigslist and it's amazing how many morons don't even bother to take a picture of their item, or learn anything about it, or know the value, or spend even 30 seconds cleaning it to make it look better. More than once I've bought things on craigslist for cheap because the seller was hard to deal with, and then quickly resold it on craigslist for more money...'cause I cleaned it and took a picture.

If I wasn't married.......:embarassed::cold: I think it would be fairly easy to make some money on CL just by buying poorly listed boats and/or motors, cleaning them up, takings lots of good pictures and VIDEO of them running on the water and relisting.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Outboard buying rant

the world is dynamic..... from one end of the spectrum to the other , you roll the dice and you just dont who is going be there waiting to sell you that item...Einstein, or Darwins inspiration!!! luckily for guys that need a bargain, or just want only bargains, many people dont know or care what their items real value is, they just want it gone!! Thats one reason buying for extremely wealthy areas is the best....

while the poor man holds tight to his 30 year old black and white TV as something valueable, the rich guy wants that $6,000 leather couch gone this weekend, because the new ones coming!!! $200, $100, even $50, he doesnt care, just get it out of here now!!

bob

 

[babbot]

Re: Outboard buying rant

Not just Craigs List. I have been working with dealers/brokers and some don't call back even after I have looked at the boat. I looked at a boat at a major marina and he never called back. I called and he said I would call you tomorrow. Still waiting. that was last week. I guess the economy is not as bad as people say if they don't care about selling a boat they have listed.... Been very frustrating...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Outboard buying rant

Yup, I had some of that experience when buying my boat last summer. I wanted to place a bid on a boat in the southern NJ/Philly area . . . I talked to the broker on the phone. I made an offer subject to first hand inspection, survey, etc., I had a trip planned to go see it the following weekend. . . Days and days went buy with no response from the broker regarding my offer. . . I ended up buying another boat that just came on the market. So, the broker lost a sale, but did not seem to mind when I finally got hold of him.

that boat is still on the market . . . 1999 Formula 280 SS - Boats.com

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Outboard buying rant

I seen one on CL that someone was looking to buy nonrunning outboards. Well I happened to have one sitting in the garage that fit his ad so I sent an email stating what I had, why I was parting with it and would concider a trade for a different parts motor that I could use.

Well I never heard back from them yet that ad keeps getting reposted. So I figured they either couldn't make a cash offer or they figured it wouldn't be a quick flip. Bet they would have hurried over if I told them it was FREE.

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Outboard buying rant

I am going through the same thing. Craigslist is hit or miss to put it lightly. GOOD used motors are difficult to find. Generally speaking ,there is a reason a good running outboard is off a boat to begin with...especially considering the price for new outboards. A lot of people are repowering with the four-strokes, so the older two-strokes are hitting the market....but here in Florida, they are generally trashed.
Again speaking about Craigslist. Sometimes I think people put their motors on Craigslist to judge if a motor will sell BEFORE they decide to buy a new motor.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Outboard buying rant

Naw, I have a feeling that some people just aren't realistic with what they have and what they expect to get for it. Very good engines are out there and they stand out from the rest. Price also refects this. Plenty of junk out there too and that is also easy to find just need to know red flag key words and how the seller answers questions.

I've bought 6 engines from sellers on CL. 2 were know to be just parts motors. One of those I'd taken what I needed and sold it again for what I paid for it. It still had many good parts and the person that bought it was happy to get it. I got it cheap I sold it cheap. The other parts motor still sits in the garage.

That parts motor was a 1964 Evinrude 18hp with a blown cylinder, took the lower from it and put that on another 1966 18hp. Ran that 1966 for a season until I was able to locate a nice 35hp Rude. Sold the 18hp and still have the 35 on a boat.

I now have in-progress a 1975 Johnson 50hp that will be on my 16' Alumacraft. Found it by accedent while looking at something else. The guy didn't know anything about it or even if it ran. Gave him $100.00 and took it home. Runs great, but aint pretty either, YET!

The last one is a 1988 70hp Evinrude VRO that came on the boat I wanted. Engine is damaged and I knew that which was also reflected the final purchase price of the boat. It is still repairable just have to find the right donor and then time to mess with it.

Patience, it's all about patience. I recently past on a 60hp 2 cylinder that I've been looking for because the seller either wouldn't or couldn't answer any questions I had about it. RED FLAG #1