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A Beginner’s Starter Guide on Buying An Outboard Boat Engine

25 Aug 23

A boat engine is essential to all types of boats regardless of their shapes and sizes. This equipment is mainly responsible for taking your boat to various locations. Without a motor engine, your boat can go nowhere. Unless it's a small, lightweight boat like a canoe or dinghy, in which you can use a paddle to move it along the water, a lot of boats are too heavy to paddle. Even though sailboats exist, most boats aren’t manufactured with the same specifications as sailboats. So, motor engines are the heart of your boat.

Motor engines can be inboard or outboard but outboard motor engines are more common and economical. Not only they are affordable, but they are easy to install in any type of boat whether it's a and you can easily remove them as well. Yamaha, Honda, Tohatsu, Suzuki, and Mercury motorboat engines are the most common ones you can find in the market since they are the big manufacturers of outboard engines all over the world. And here in Australia, they are mostly sold in boat dealerships and marine shops. We here at Brisbane Boating and Leisure, we are a proud dealer of Mercury boat engines, from outboards to sterndrives and inboards.

When buying an outboard motor, it's important to spend time looking for the type of outboard that is suitable for your boat.  Remember that there are a number of different things you need to consider before you make a purchase. Understanding these details will make the process of choosing a reliable motor much easier.

Buying a New Boat Motor

The safest option for purchasing a boat motor is to buy a new one. This might be the priciest option but this is the safest one. Why? Well, these motors will come with a guarantee against defects and other problems so you can be assured they are working in the best condition. And if you run into problems, the dealership where you bought it will repair or replace the motor for free if something goes wrong within the warranty period. Here at Brisbane Boating and Leisure, we offer new Mercury boat engines for sale.

Choosing a Used Motor Instead

When buying a used motor, you don't always get guarantees that the engine you purchased is in its best working condition. If something goes wrong with the used engine, you will need to take it to a professional mechanic to get it fixed which could be expensive. It's actually a much better option if you buy a used motor from a reliable dealer (like us) since they can offer a guarantee that the boat engines, they sell are in good working condition.

We understand that it may be tempting to buy a motor from an Internet auction site, and if you decide to do that, make sure you check the feedback and what (if any) return policy is offered. Here at Brisbane Boating and Leisure, we also sell used outboards from various brands.

Additional Tips

  • There are lots of important things that you need to look for when choosing a used boat motor. If you’re buying a used motor, attach it to a boat, and then take it out for a spin. You should try to run it at full speed. Find out more about its service history and any other repair work that has been carried out.
  • Inspect the exterior of the outboard for any signs of wear and tear. If there are any signs of welding on the motor then find out what was done.
  • Before you purchase the outboard, don’t forget to do a compression test. This will check the condition of the cylinders. Check that the compression of each cylinder is pretty much identical, and if they aren’t; there shouldn't be any less or more than a 10% difference.
  • Remove the covers of the outboard to inspect for any exhaust, fuel, or water leaks. If you don't know much about electricity or general engine maintenance, you should hire a professional mechanic from a repair shop that offers outboard servicing. If you’re situated in Brisbane, come visit our service shop. We offer engine servicing (we are an accredited Mercury Service Centre) and re-powering services. Book a service by filling out this form.

Buying a boat motor is one of the most expensive things that you will ever need to buy for your boat. It can be difficult to buy a used motor that will be reliable, however, if you are careful, you stand a much better chance of obtaining a sweet deal. However, it’s all up to you. Just remember to research well on what outboard you will be purchasing.

If you want to purchase Mercury outboards from us, contact us by filling out a form here to learn which Mercury outboard motor is perfect for your boat or obtain the complete list of all our Mercury outboard prices. We’re happy to answer any questions you have.