what would you do? picking a repower on a budget

[big boat little motor]

Earlier this season I had picked up a new to me 97 Lowe 19' deck boat with a 89 Johnson 88spl outboard from a friend of mine that had recently upgraded to new 26' sea ray. I knew when I bought this boat that it had been used but reasonably well maintained. This is our first boat and from reading the boards I have learned a great deal about my new found love. The motor is starting to show its age an is now running in the mid 90 lbs of compression per cylinder. Given the fact that my hull is rated for 130 HP and the 88 even making optimum power would be underpowered for this hull makes me believe that rebuilding this motor this winter seems like throwing good money after bad.

I tell you all this to help frame a question I would like to ask you all. Would you look at an older 120-130 HP motor that is in decent shape (110+ compression and otherwise mechanically sound) that can be had for next to nothing or am I better off spending what I spent on the whole set-up ($4000) and dropping the money on a used but newer motor?

 

[jonesg]

Re: what would you do? picking a repower on a budget

I'd spend $10 on seafoam to bring the compression up, get the factory manual then go through the engine and baseline it, rebuild carbs etc.
What rpm's are you getting?

Unless that engine has been severely overheated or run without oil its just about broken in, they don't wear out, they die from abuse from owners who don't know how to maintain.

My engine has 83 PSI, still got more power than I need.