Small outboard value?

G

Gerald N

Active member
THinking about putting a small outboard on my wigeon for long hauls and making it easier to pick up decoys in deep areas. I have a chance to pick up a 1984 Evinrude 8 hp motor for $550. Provided the obvious of it running etc... Do you think this is a fair price?

Another reason for the outboard is I do not trust longtails when it gets below 25 F. I worry about the salt water in the shaft freezing up.

Thanks.
 
Not saying that you should run a long tail... but I will say that you should not have water in the shaft tube. There are bearings and seals on the top and bottom and the tube is filled with grease. At least that is how it was on my GoDevil
 
That's probably about right for a 10 HP in the Midwest. I picked up an 80's 10 HP for $400 last year and a parts motor 15 HP for $100. Most parts are readily available and in my case I swapped the 15 HP carb to the 10 HP and picked up the additional HP. I had the opportunity to take my Mud Buddy to Grays Harbor on the Pacific a few years back and decided to take the outboard instead. Due to the air cooled design on the Mud Buddy I figured the salt spray on the exposed components would take years off the life of the unit and cause some undue maintenance issues for a motor that is pretty much bullet proof in fresh water........ Good Luck
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Chris, in 2008 I happily paid $350 for a 1984 or 5 Nissan 5 horse, 2-stroke. It's still running, and I'm still quite happy with it.

$500 sounds like a decent price to me if your prospective motor is running well.
 
Sounds fair to me too..

And I will echo that you should not have water in the shaft of a long-tail. If it does, the bottom seal is shot and/or the shaft is not properly greased.
 
THinking about putting a small outboard on my wigeon for long hauls and making it easier to pick up decoys in deep areas. I have a chance to pick up a 1984 Evinrude 8 hp motor for $550. Provided the obvious of it running etc... Do you think this is a fair price?

Another reason for the outboard is I do not trust longtails when it gets below 25 F. I worry about the salt water in the shaft freezing up.

Thanks.
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NADA book shows $535 for the motor and a local marine shop here has a 1997 8hp listed at $450.

http://www.iboats.com/sites/mnmmarine/site_page_2621/item_1559480.html?listing_page=listing_sum_index_1.html

Seems your in the ball park although based on the above I'd probably offer a little lower than asking price to start. But that's just me. Values differ from region to region. Good luck.
 
Yes I think the region to region is an issue as prices are very strong on small motors out here and good used 9.9 hp are impossible to find. Being an 8hp and not far off I am really tempted to bite. Comes with a new tank and new fuel line so that is better than $50 of value.

Thank you all for weighing in and on the subject of water in my shaft. It is one of the Thai kits and while lubricated with greese they are water cooled to reduce the heat on the bushing. I know it is odd and will get some rubbing for being a Thai kit but it has served me very well and even the most un-mechanically declined can work on these kits.
 
I am going to go contrarian on this one. I don't like the idea of paying close to original value for a 30 year old motor. I have an AA Wigeon, is that what you have? I have a 9.9 short shaft on mine and it is just about right, an 8 is too small. My club had two small outboards stolen this year, including mine, so I had to go looking. I found a 97 Mercury 9.9 that I bought for $600, but it came with a brand new in the box extra prop and a 6 gallon tank that was full, so I figured that I paid about $500 for the motor, and I think that was about right. The thing about small outboards is that many of them are used very little in terms of hours and many sit in garages most of their lives, and that is what you want to find. It took me about 2-1/2 months to find what I was looking for, and then I jumped on it and took cash to negotiate with. I think you need to bide your time, look at everything, and wait until you find something that looks really right. You can do better than what you are looking at, in my opinion. The other thing you have to factor in is that you should expect to have to do a few things to an outboard that is 15 to 20 years old, and you should factor that into the price you are willing to pay, because you really don't know. And being in Rhode Island, if you are willing to drive an hour and a half or so, you are getting into lake country with summer cottages and again, lightly used motors. Good luck.
 
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Thanks Greg. Yes I have an AA Wigeon and same vintage and trailer as yours. Great boat and love it. Some men do all sorts of things in the mid life span, I bought a AA Wigeon back to life and it has shown me a whole new side of duck hunting. Had been a big boat hunter prior to this venture and will never turn back.
 
Since new small (LIGHTWEIGHT) 2 strokes essentially went away the value of same has gone up. When working on my 3.5 hp 1994 vintage (bought new) Johnson my mechanic said he could have sold it about 6 times. My old school OMC has 2 cylinders & runs far smoother than the one cylinder 5 HP Honda I bought to replace it (& got rid off)
 
Chris-I have had mine for like 25 years (I can't believe how old I am). It has been a great boat and I have done a lot of hunting out of it. A 9.9 short shaft or a 15 is really what you want to push that boat on plane. I do about 15-16 with the boat loaded up(me-200lb., dog-65lb, gear-60-80 lb), a little faster empty.
 
and I thought I pushed the storage limits on this boat with 50 decoys piled high in 12 slot bags. Wish I could figure a way for a dog in the boat as I am anxious to fill that void.

Thanks and your advise is well headed from your long term (sorry) first hand experience.
 
Thanks for advise. I am going to look at a Evinrude 9.9 hp outboard this weekend. Asking $400 w/o tank and hose. Best part is painted camo and I do not need to break the ice and ruin its resale appeal.
 
I am going to go contrarian on this one. I don't like the idea of paying close to original value for a 30 year old motor. I have an AA Wigeon, is that what you have? I have a 9.9 short shaft on mine and it is just about right, an 8 is too small. My club had two small outboards stolen this year, including mine, so I had to go looking. I found a 97 Mercury 9.9 that I bought for $600, but it came with a brand new in the box extra prop and a 6 gallon tank that was full, so I figured that I paid about $500 for the motor, and I think that was about right. The thing about small outboards is that many of them are used very little in terms of hours and many sit in garages most of their lives, and that is what you want to find. It took me about 2-1/2 months to find what I was looking for, and then I jumped on it and took cash to negotiate with. I think you need to bide your time, look at everything, and wait until you find something that looks really right. You can do better than what you are looking at, in my opinion. The other thing you have to factor in is that you should expect to have to do a few things to an outboard that is 15 to 20 years old, and you should factor that into the price you are willing to pay, because you really don't know. And being in Rhode Island, if you are willing to drive an hour and a half or so, you are getting into lake country with summer cottages and again, lightly used motors. Good luck.
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Greg,

I'm still looking for Pre-64 Winchesters... Model 97's, 12,s or 70's. If you have any of these, I'll be happy to give you $100.00 more than they first sold for. $200.00 more, if their a Super Grade!

Art
 
Hey Chris-keep looking. A friend of mine just bought a 2004 9.9 Yamaha with a new spare prop for $800. The motor is immaculate, probably doesn't have 50 hours on it.
 
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