How to Choose Used Lower Unit Outboard Motor
Once you have a boat, you'll need a motor to get you out to that great fishing spot. Looking for a good used motor? Look no further. A few simple decisions and you are on your way. Here are just a few things to keep in mind when buying a used lower unit outboard motor.
When buying used, the best thing to do is look for quality name brand; Evinrude, Yamaha, Mercury, and Honda, for example. It is actually better to purchase a more popular brand because they are usually the best quality and come with the best warranties. Check out Consumer Reports for lower unit outboard motors. Read consumer's reviews on Yahoo Shopping. Look around and ask people what they have and why. When you have the whole picture, you are ready to choose your next used lower unit outboard motor.
Look at the different accessories you may choose. Some have hydraulic tilt, cable steering, and electric start, all of which simplify using the motor, while others have a pull rope start and a tiller handle for steering and throttle control. Because of these factors, no one piece of advice or article can cover all the possibilities. If you already have the boat, however, you need the compatible motor to your setup. In other words, if you have a steering wheel, or stick type steering system, you will want to buy a motor with a steering cable attachment, and if you have a battery and wiring to an ignition system you will want electric start. On the other hand, if you do not have these features in your boat, it is not practical to buy a motor that uses them.
Next, consider age. Age and use are not always synonymous. A used motor can be older, and still have had relatively little use. It is hours run that matters with a boat, and not miles on an odometer as in a car. Anything over 500 hours run will generally mean more maintenance. As a rule of thumb, look for a motor with the fewer hours run. This is the safest economical practice.
Buying a boat, complete with motor, often ends up costing more. If you find a boat, new or used, then choose wisely on a used motor, you are saving money, since in many cases, it is the new motor you are paying the most for on a boat bought complete. Remember that age does not equal quality. There are some fantastic used motors out there that have had little use. Depreciation on a motor occurs most rapidly in the first year, but that doesn't mean the quality of the motor is any less.
The same principle applies to having a boat that has need of a "new" motor. Choosing a used quality motor is going to be much cheaper than buying new, and in most cases, just as practical. By doing just a little homework you can decide which used lower unit outboard motors are best for you. Having an economical used lower unit outboard motor does not have to compromise quality.
