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Author Topic:   Buying a motor just to sell a hull?

DVollrath posted 10-04-2011 05:53 PM ET (US)
Hi Folks,
I would like to get opinions as to when, if ever, it makes sense to buy a used motor just to sell a boat.
I have a 1984 15' CC that I want to sell, as I just bought a 1988 Montauk. When I bought the 15', I repowered with a new 2011 Yamaha F70. The 1984 Johnson 70hp that came with it had some serious issues, and I subsequently sold it as "not running". I plan on putting the F70 on my Montauk (which currently has a 1988 Mercury 100hp 2+2. Runs great, by the way). I really like the fuel economy and quietness of the newer motor, and the power is fine for my uses, primarily crabbing and sight seeing in the PNW.
The 15' is in pretty good shape, with a dry hull, decent gellcoat, and new wood. It does need a new windscreen which I plan on getting before selling. Tom Clark has been helping me through much of this process, and he has gently pointed out the amount of effort involved to rig two boats instead of one, especially for a novice. I certainly do not have a surplus of time, but if it means giving the boat away because it doesn't have a motor I'll find the time. I've been looking at motors on Craigslist in the area, and the older 50hp-70hp range from $450 to $2000. They do not seem to be that plentiful, and of course it would be hard to endorse the motor to potential buyers of my boat.
I am very interested in your thoughts and experiences. Thanks.
Dennis
andygere posted 10-04-2011 07:49 PM ET (US)
I would list the boat for sale without a motor at the price that you hope to get and see what interest it generates. Many folks on this forum often state that they'd like to find a clean hull and repower it themselves, but that sentiment may not translate to your locale. If you can't sell if for what you want to get for it, then consider "investing" in a used motor to make the sale.
flippa posted 10-04-2011 08:27 PM ET (US)
It depends if you can find a decent engine and if you want to deal with all the work involved with the repower.
If you sell a running boat you may feel obligated to have to stand behind a questionable engine. I just went thru this dilema when I sold my Outrage 21 this Spring. I sold the boat non-running so I didn't have to worry about standing behind an old motor.
List the boat without power (for the right price) and it will sell. What make is it?
My brother found a real clean lake boat from NH with a sweet older Mercury 115 Tower. He repowered his boat & sold the hull & trailer for darn near what he paid for the package. THe guy who bought the boat had an engine already.
kwik_wurk posted 10-04-2011 09:19 PM ET (US)
Put the merc 100 on the 15 and get a 21" or 23" pitch SS prop and make like hell. And sell it, someone will want an overpowered 15.
Or someone will want a blank 15 as well and split out the Merc 100. (You may have to give things a few months to sell.)
Back in the day I shared a 15 with a 80 merc, and it was a blast...broke a few friends ribs and bruised a lot of tailbones bouncing around the sound in it.
I may be interested in the Merc. motor (and controls) if you think it is pristine shape. What's the compression on it, and has anyone leak tested the lower unit.
(And I did sell 10 spark plugs this summer and could use another project.)
DVollrath posted 10-04-2011 09:39 PM ET (US)
Kwik -
The boats are up on Orcas. I'll be heading up there on Friday and will take compression readings.
I don't think I could call the motor "pristine" by any stretch, but you are welcome to take a look at it. I plan on posting pictures when its time comes.
Dennis

sosmerc posted 10-05-2011 12:26 AM ET (US)
I am of the opinion that a good hull and trailer would be just as attractive without an engine as with an engine to many prospective buyers.
For example, it just so happens that I purchased today a very clean 1984 15 CC Whaler with a clean 1984 75hp Merc.
The boat has been in the neighborhood for many years and has been passed from one neighbor to the next over time. I wanted the boat, but frankly, had no interest in the engine. I would not have purchased the boat except for the fact that I found a buyer for the engine prior to finally agreeing to buy the boat. Still, I now have to spend a number of hours of labor to "de-rig" the boat and then prep it for whatever engine I decide to rig in the future. In reality, if the boat already had no engine on it I might have actually paid more.
Jefecinco posted 10-05-2011 09:59 AM ET (US)
When buying a boat it is always comforting to be able to test it on the water before closing the deal.
For a person quite knowledgeable of the make and model the test would be less meaningful.
The market for an unpowered boat is probably much smaller than for a boat with power.
Butch
leadsled posted 10-05-2011 10:32 AM ET (US)
A lot of people would like to buy a whaler without an engine and repower it with their version of the "best" engine. Of the 14 Whalers I have bought over the years only the last one came with an engine and the owner told me it needed a rebuild.I sold it for parts. Come up with a price and you could possibly have it gone by the end of the week. 6 Pre smirked 13's, 1976 15' sport, 1 Katama, 2 Sakonnet's, 1 custom 16', 1 bare hull 16', 1 Outrage 19,1 Outrage 21 and a Outrage 22
sosmerc posted 10-05-2011 11:03 AM ET (US)
Leadsled.......is there something you like about Whalers? :)
contender posted 10-05-2011 03:55 PM ET (US)
I would either buy or sell a whaler without a motor and not give it a second thought. It really depends on the condition of the hull because Whalers usually will sell themselves...PS The last two whalers I purchased were a 16'7" and an 11' both were bare hulls and both without trailers...

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Author	Topic: Buying a motor just to sell a hull?
DVollrath	posted 10-04-2011 05:53 PM ET (US) Hi Folks, I would like to get opinions as to when, if ever, it makes sense to buy a used motor just to sell a boat. I have a 1984 15' CC that I want to sell, as I just bought a 1988 Montauk. When I bought the 15', I repowered with a new 2011 Yamaha F70. The 1984 Johnson 70hp that came with it had some serious issues, and I subsequently sold it as "not running". I plan on putting the F70 on my Montauk (which currently has a 1988 Mercury 100hp 2+2. Runs great, by the way). I really like the fuel economy and quietness of the newer motor, and the power is fine for my uses, primarily crabbing and sight seeing in the PNW. The 15' is in pretty good shape, with a dry hull, decent gellcoat, and new wood. It does need a new windscreen which I plan on getting before selling. Tom Clark has been helping me through much of this process, and he has gently pointed out the amount of effort involved to rig two boats instead of one, especially for a novice. I certainly do not have a surplus of time, but if it means giving the boat away because it doesn't have a motor I'll find the time. I've been looking at motors on Craigslist in the area, and the older 50hp-70hp range from $450 to $2000. They do not seem to be that plentiful, and of course it would be hard to endorse the motor to potential buyers of my boat. I am very interested in your thoughts and experiences. Thanks. Dennis
andygere	posted 10-04-2011 07:49 PM ET (US) I would list the boat for sale without a motor at the price that you hope to get and see what interest it generates. Many folks on this forum often state that they'd like to find a clean hull and repower it themselves, but that sentiment may not translate to your locale. If you can't sell if for what you want to get for it, then consider "investing" in a used motor to make the sale.
flippa	posted 10-04-2011 08:27 PM ET (US) It depends if you can find a decent engine and if you want to deal with all the work involved with the repower. If you sell a running boat you may feel obligated to have to stand behind a questionable engine. I just went thru this dilema when I sold my Outrage 21 this Spring. I sold the boat non-running so I didn't have to worry about standing behind an old motor. List the boat without power (for the right price) and it will sell. What make is it? My brother found a real clean lake boat from NH with a sweet older Mercury 115 Tower. He repowered his boat & sold the hull & trailer for darn near what he paid for the package. THe guy who bought the boat had an engine already.
kwik_wurk	posted 10-04-2011 09:19 PM ET (US) Put the merc 100 on the 15 and get a 21" or 23" pitch SS prop and make like hell. And sell it, someone will want an overpowered 15. Or someone will want a blank 15 as well and split out the Merc 100. (You may have to give things a few months to sell.) Back in the day I shared a 15 with a 80 merc, and it was a blast...broke a few friends ribs and bruised a lot of tailbones bouncing around the sound in it. I may be interested in the Merc. motor (and controls) if you think it is pristine shape. What's the compression on it, and has anyone leak tested the lower unit. (And I did sell 10 spark plugs this summer and could use another project.)
DVollrath	posted 10-04-2011 09:39 PM ET (US) Kwik - The boats are up on Orcas. I'll be heading up there on Friday and will take compression readings. I don't think I could call the motor "pristine" by any stretch, but you are welcome to take a look at it. I plan on posting pictures when its time comes. Dennis
sosmerc	posted 10-05-2011 12:26 AM ET (US) I am of the opinion that a good hull and trailer would be just as attractive without an engine as with an engine to many prospective buyers. For example, it just so happens that I purchased today a very clean 1984 15 CC Whaler with a clean 1984 75hp Merc. The boat has been in the neighborhood for many years and has been passed from one neighbor to the next over time. I wanted the boat, but frankly, had no interest in the engine. I would not have purchased the boat except for the fact that I found a buyer for the engine prior to finally agreeing to buy the boat. Still, I now have to spend a number of hours of labor to "de-rig" the boat and then prep it for whatever engine I decide to rig in the future. In reality, if the boat already had no engine on it I might have actually paid more.
Jefecinco	posted 10-05-2011 09:59 AM ET (US) When buying a boat it is always comforting to be able to test it on the water before closing the deal. For a person quite knowledgeable of the make and model the test would be less meaningful. The market for an unpowered boat is probably much smaller than for a boat with power. Butch
leadsled	posted 10-05-2011 10:32 AM ET (US) A lot of people would like to buy a whaler without an engine and repower it with their version of the "best" engine. Of the 14 Whalers I have bought over the years only the last one came with an engine and the owner told me it needed a rebuild.I sold it for parts. Come up with a price and you could possibly have it gone by the end of the week. 6 Pre smirked 13's, 1976 15' sport, 1 Katama, 2 Sakonnet's, 1 custom 16', 1 bare hull 16', 1 Outrage 19,1 Outrage 21 and a Outrage 22
sosmerc	posted 10-05-2011 11:03 AM ET (US) Leadsled.......is there something you like about Whalers? :)
contender	posted 10-05-2011 03:55 PM ET (US) I would either buy or sell a whaler without a motor and not give it a second thought. It really depends on the condition of the hull because Whalers usually will sell themselves...PS The last two whalers I purchased were a 16'7" and an 11' both were bare hulls and both without trailers...