should i part out or sell whole? need suggestions!

[zigzag]

OK, so i bought a boat, motor, trailer from an older gentleman down the road from me for $200.

The boat, 1969 duo duckmaster (junk)

The motor, 1963 johnson 75 hp

The trailer, decent shape. that's really why i bought the whole deal. i wanted the trailer for another boat. now i have the boat and motor to deal with. he could never get the motor running and had 3-4 people work on it for him. i got it down here to the house and set the timing, put the plug wires back in proper firing order and with some fresh fuel i got it running. not running great, but running.

my question is..... should i take the time and go over the motor through the winter, get it running good and give it a paint job then sell it? Or, should i spend the winter tearing it down and selling off the parts?

i know it would be a shame to part out a running motor but i'm torn as to what to do with it. i don't need nor do i rally want the motor. i really would just like to make my $200 back so i end up with a free trailer. it's a strong sounding motor but i'm afraid by the time i rebuild it the money put into it would be hard to recoup. they don't seem like they sell for too much whole.


any advice? anyone want a 63' 75hp for a cool $200!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: should i part out or sell whole? need suggestions!

From what I have heard, this size old OMCs sell for a couple of hundred.

In all probability getting it running really well will cost that plus your time. I am in the same situation with a 1973 Johnson 65. Although the parts will be worth more--I don't know how much, it is not even worth the time to tear it apart and sell them.

Around Feb-Mar, I will put mine on the auction with no reserve and hope to get 200 for it.

 

[zigzag]

Re: should i part out or sell whole? need suggestions!

yeah, i just don't know what to do with it. it would be great just to sell it as it is. i don't mind tinkering with it to get it running as best i can without tearing it down and spending money.

the spark is good and the points are set. it seems like the fuel delivery is a little intermittent. that's why i'm stuck as to what to do. it's at a point now where i either tear down the carb and clean it and rebuild the fuel pump. and i'm sure it could use a water pump rebuild too.

so right there i'd be into the motor about $100 or more....

then again, it would be a great opportunity to teach my boys about working on motors.

all in all i just want to end up with a free trailer. the guy also gave me a new prop, extra carb, new control cables. the boat also has a couple seats, good controls, a battery with an onboard charger, two bilge pumps, switches and hardware. all of which i plan on stripping from the boat. so what ever i do with it, i still feel like i didn't make out too bad. i just don't really have any use for the motor and if i keep it i know i'll try and find another boat to put it on! that's just what i need, another project! better make sure it's a cuddy so i have some where to sleep when i get kicked out of the house!

 

[eavega]

Re: should i part out or sell whole? need suggestions!

Parting out the motor CAN bring more than a running motor in the end, but you have to be somewhat lucky and/or diligent in finding buyers. The whole motor you can put up on CL and sell at once for the $200 you are looking for and be done with it.

For my own '72 50 HP Evinrude, I have researched what are the parts that would re-sell (Remote control, Lower Unit, crankshaft, etc, etc), found what are reasonable going prices for said parts, cleaned up and cataloged them individually, and am getting ready to list them separately on e-bay. If I sell everything and get the prices I hope to get, I should get close to replacement cost for a similar motor for my boat. Difference is that my motor was not working when I decided to part it out. I would've much rather sold the whole motor as a parts motor or even as a "Running motor, but needs some TLC"

-E

 

[zigzag]

Re: should i part out or sell whole? need suggestions!

yeah, that's probably how i'll do it. i hate thinking about the idea of boxing each part up and having to deal with shipping, let alone tearing apart a running motor. just seems wrong to do.

i don't mind putting a little effort into getting it cleaned up and running better. i just don't want to be the guy to pay for the overhaul.

i have a 74 70hp on my starcraft and have two almost complete parts motors for it as well. keeping this motor maintained isn't really a top priority.

i think i'll clean her up and sell it whole.