1995 merc 175hp - any comments on reliability?

[tracidfish]

I have viewed a 6m osprey viper.

it is fitted with a merc 175hp 1995 engine.

The asking price is £7K

The rib fites my spec, i am just concerned about the age of the engine.

the engine looks in good condiotion and clean with an estimated 500 hours.

Being my first boat that is fiited with an outboard i am a little bit dubious. My previous boats have been hard boats with deisel inboards.

Does any one have any commments on the engine?

Anything is appreciated.

thanks

[jwalker]

It might be a good one but these engines are not the most reliable. Personally I'd walk away but a good one is a good one. I owned one a while ago and it failed in a number of ways, by far the worst engine I've owned. 15yrs is a long time for any engine. You don't say how old the boat is so it's difficult to estimate a value.

[Kernow Buoy]

this one perhaps?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-METRE-OSPREY...item4151b66d24

[tracidfish]

thanks for your comments walker.

yes that is the one on ebay. It is local to me. The rib is the same age as the engine, and looks in good condition.

I take your point about the age of the engine. 15 years was my concern. I also suppose the fuel economy would not be comparable to anything by todays standards.

Obviously i would have too look into re powering over the next year or two - so isuupose in that respect it is not a good price.

I have looked at new engines and simply would not be able to afford a new lump.

I have searched the net for used 100 - 150hp engines and how much they might cost and struggled to find any.

The conclusion i came to was a twin set up with twin 60's or 75's might be cheaper to re power.

What would be involved in changing to a twin set up?

Thanks for your help.
this is all new territory to me!

[Screaming04]

Having owned a 1990 vintage 135 hp oil injected V6 merc similar to that one, I would not fear that engine at all. Mine had been submerged (12 feet below the surface) for 12 hours (previous owner mishap). The engine was brought to the surface and "de watered" as per mercury's procedure for submerged outboards. The engine was running within hours... All it needed was a new starter. It gave me 3 years of reliable service before I sold the boat.

If you like the boat and it suits your needs, make an offer... You'll probably sell the boat before that engine quits. All that being said, there are plenty of good outboard mechanics and parts supplies here, if it ever did give me trouble it could be fixed easily. Things may be different there.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by tracidfish

I have looked at new engines and simply would not be able to afford a new lump.

I have searched the net for used 100 - 150hp engines and how much they might cost and struggled to find any.

Larger 4-strokes in good condition (over 100hp) are hard to come by. They tend to stay with the boat. A few I've come across recently are here.

Yamaha F100 (10 hours) http://www.caleyboats.co.uk/283/Powe...rd-Engine-2009.

Honda 115hp (20 hours) http://www.findafishingboat.com/listings.php?cid=38

or a 2-stroke Yamaha 115hp V4, Isle of Man, under for sale section: http://www.outboard-services.com/