Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

[DeusVult]

I'm new here and this is my first post. I acquired a "free" (I know, it's not free) 16 ft fiberglass Ouachita flat bottomed boat (well, that's my description for now) basically stripped of everything. The hull has some damage. That all is for another thread.

Anyway, I was looking around for inexpensive outboard motors, and happened across a craigslist ad with the following:

1987 Gamefisher 15hp motor will sell for parts (no title) Does run, but needs recoil and water pump. Have a new set of fuel lines and used metal gas tank.

The ad poster also had a boat for sale, with trailer. The whole package he advertised for $200. I am hoping I could get the motor by itself and just fix that. Anyway, I found the part number of the motor, and it is 225.587150. Sears still has some parts listed for this model, but not all. I read the threads on the Gamefisher model outboards.

My question is, if I can get this motor for cheap (I don't know how cheap exactly), would it be worth trying to buy the water pump parts and "recoil"? I am assuming, since I haven't seen it yet, that the recoil might just be a spring, and the water pump is the impeller and some associated parts. What do you all think and what should I be looking for in inspecting this motor? How much might it be worth, best/worst case scenario? I know I haven't provided a lot of info, but I do not have much info at this point.

 

[narwhals]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

you need to do a spark and compression test, your looking for @ 125psi in the cylinders higher good lower than 100 walk away.also check the spark with a spark tester if you have a dead electronics it could become costly. mr. crabs has a lot of knowledge on rebuilding the electronic ignition but its not cheap. water pump and recoil are usually easy an inexpensive fixes if your handy with a wrench. good luck

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

mr. crabs has a lot of knowledge on rebuilding the electronic ignition

Naw hes got a 225 number force built engine, best I can do is recommend new coils. Also on that compression test lots of times when you hear the impeller is shot it makes me worry about the compression, but also remember these outboard are tuff, spray a little pre mix in the cylinders before you start cranking on it and once you get it running decarb the engine and your just likley to see those compression numbers come up.

 

[DeusVult]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

I don't have this motor yet. I wanted to get some thoughts before I started haggling with the seller. He indicated it runs, so I am hoping the engine itself is decent. I saw some videos about replacing water pump parts, which is well within my "handiness". I do not know too much about boats; just getting into it, but I have done a lot of other work on cars, home repair, small engines, etc. So I am not too concerned about fixing the motor, as far as the actual work involved. However, I do not know what a motor like this is worth. I have seen rebuilt, basic/older motors going for upwards of $400-500, so if I could get this one for, say $50, and put another $50-100 in it in parts, it seems like a good deal.

A 15 hp motor sounds about right for this Ouachita I got for "free". It's 16 ft, nothing fancy. Stripped down is how I got it. The only hardware of any kind it has is the (don't know the proper name) eye-fitting on the front to winch it up and one tie-down (T-shaped doodad) on the back. I don't have any pictures yet, but will start to post something in the "rebuilding" forum later. My wife (SWMBO) told me to get it out of the driveway, so I took it down to my mom's place in the "country". Right now, I have no money in the boat, bought an (unfortunately) undersized trailer just to haul it off for $80 and am looking for something economical to power the thing. I'm chea.. err, frugal.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

Is this a aluminum Ouachita? if not forget the 15 and go for J/E 25hp there cheap and plentiful as outboards go, that 50$ deal could fast turn into your undoing in the marine world. If she is a tinny then yeah the 15 is going to be ok for you and maybe a kid with bait and tackel, batterys and troller and your lunch box but your not going to set any speed records and it most likley will not even plane good with it.

As far a price on the 15 it really a beauty contest on those force built gamefishers....ugly betty $50-100 a real sharp looking speciman can fetch 300-500$ in good running shape, compare that with Johnson / Evinrude 15hp avarage condition 600-700$ on the other hand Eska built gamefishers go for free....but there all money pits

 

[DeusVult]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

Is this a aluminum Ouachita? if not forget the 15 and go for J/E 25hp there cheap and plentiful as outboards go, that 50$ deal could fast turn into your undoing in the marine world. If she is a tinny then yeah the 15 is going to be ok for you and maybe a kid with bait and tackel, batterys and troller and your lunch box but your not going to set any speed records and it most likley will not even plane good with it.

As far a price on the 15 it really a beauty contest on those force built gamefishers....ugly betty $50-100 a real sharp looking speciman can fetch 300-500$ in good running shape, compare that with Johnson / Evinrude 15hp avarage condition 600-700$ on the other hand Eska built gamefishers go for free....but there all money pits

This is a fiberglass boat, a little under 16 ft, as I measure it from bow to stern, so I'm guessing it was sold as a 16 footer. So, you think a 15 hp is undersized for this boat? I am not looking to set speed records at all, or water ski or something. As I said, I am just starting to learn about boating, so I will take all advice from you who know so much more than I do. I am trying to save some money since SWMBO is not going to want me spending $700 on an outboard at this point.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

Where do you intend to run this boat? and have you checked it for water in the foam under the floor?

if the boat is dry and its a little lake or creek I see no real problem with the 15 for the power you want just don't drop it in the Ohio or Mississippi river cause you migh not ever come back no kidding, water will kill you and fast water will kill you faster.

 

[DeusVult]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

The largest river I plan to get on with this boat is the Osage, which is a tributary of the Missouri. I don't plan on going on very large rivers. I have been on the water a lot in the past, just never have owned a boat. I fully appreciate the hazards of boating.

Have not pulled the cap off the hull to check the status of the foam in the boat, but I suspect there is at least some water in it. The floor seems solid; no soft spots I can detect. I will be posting something in the rebuilding thread later.

The main thing I wanted to do with my initial post was to get some advice on what this 15 hp might be worth, since I just happened across the ad on craigslist. Anyway, I think I have a little bit more idea about the value of this 15 hp motor. I am assuming that 125+ compression is still a good recommendation? I will report back on what I find when I go to see the motor.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

I am assuming that 125+ compression is still a good recommendation?

125lb on each cylinder....now thats a wonderful dream for a 200$ motor, more like 85-110, make sure there close at any rate or pass it by.

Best regards,
mrcrabs

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Used 1987 Gamefisher 15 hp

I wouldn't get too hung up on the compression test, even with a good running small Force. I tested my 7.5 HP (de-tuned 15HP) and only got something like 60-80# on the top cylinder, couldn't get the comp tester fitting on the bottom cylinder as the cowling was too close... Even with the low reading the OB runs great.

Needs waterpump = overheated??? I've seen the recoil assemblies on Ebay, so that should be an easy fix. You will also want to rebuild the fuel pump, kit = $10. The carb might need to be cleaned or rebuilt. The ignition components are very expensive and if that OB has BIM coils it could cost up towards $200 for the CDI ignition upgrade or $75+ for a Standard Ignition replacement BIM,,, if the ignition is bad, common subject here. These OB's will run surprisingly smooth with 1 coil not working, so just because it runs, doesn't mean the ignition is working 100%.

I'm with mrcrabs, I doubt that 15HP is going to be enough to get a 16'er on plane. Do you have a pic of the boat, hull design has a lot to do with power requirements. If it's a flat bottom boat (IE: jon boat) it will require less HP than a V hull. See if there is a capacity plate attached to the boat and put an OB on there at least 2/3 of the hull HP rating. I can understand "not wanting to break and speed records", but not being able to get up on plane and travel at least 20MPH is going to be a downer... It can also be dangerous if the weather kicks up and you don't have the power get out of harms way. I ran into this years ago on a little 12'er and a 3HP OB, the wind kicked up and by the time we made it ashore the boat was almost swamped.....