Is this a money pit or a find?
02 Evinrude 115 w issues $1200
http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/4969156286.html

1995 Suzuki 140 $1150
http://houston.craigslist.org/bpo/4979418718.html

1985 johnson 115 $1600
http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/4961043028.html

Any thoughts?

I've heard nothing good about the first one. The second one I have no idea and the price of the third one makes me want to cry after what I sold my 110 for.

In red.

Thanks!

Kinda suspected the 02 was no go... Was really hopeful on the zuk but being houston it's surely been in salt.... Sad that the oldest and most expensive was the only prospect lol.

I assume there is no good way to tell if the zuk has corrosion probs until something fails right?


Striper there's a reason I wanted your 110....

the old blue and white ones were made out of fizzies, the red and white and red and gold (I think) were a little better, but usually not much.

electrical parts for those are very expensive.

i'm biased, but if i was looking for a motor over 10 years old, i'd have a carbed merc my #1 choice. (92-02). parts are readily available and not horribly priced. omc's are not bad for the same reasons, i've just had better luck with merc's lower units and blocks coming apart after living in the salt.

You kinda lost me on the first two lines... You talking about the 02?

I DO like a merc... My kicker is a merc... That said at my price point I can't be too picky.

The 1st thing to look at on a SUZUKI is to check the lower unit for cracks where the prop slides in. They corrode and split where the propshaft supports goes in 1st. The problem is they also corrode internally in the lower portion of the powerhead, and SUZUKI didn't think to make the zincs inside the powerhead replaceable without tearing the engine apart. Even freshwater used SUZUKIs can corrode out fairly bad. My grandfather bought an old pontoon boat that had never left Missouri, and the 87 SUZUKI engine had pretty substantial corrosion inside of all the cooling system.

Sorry smoke, talking about the suzukis.

I'm thinking of selling my 130 25" shaft johnson. I had it for sale on here last year. I have a jack plate as well.

Give this guy a call...
http://vikingmarineservices.homestead.com/index.html

I talked to him the other day, he overhauls motors and has some used ones. Most are carb 2 two strokes.

Or you can contact this guy that is in Tampa. The Hull Truth has a lot of good reviews.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/franzenmarine?rt=nc