86 Mercury 115 Tower of Power, Should I buy or Should I RUN?!

[blaine0023]

Hello all, brand new member and not yet a boat owner. I am looking at a 1986 Baja Tri Hull 16 with a Mercury115 inline 6. It has been sitting since last summer but the guy put some fuel in it and I bought a new battery for it so we took it out on a lake to test it out and it will start and has a rough idle or dies without throttle. It also would not rev up with it trimmed all the way down in the water and get us up on plane. It really wouldn't do much more than put around. He let me bring it home to take to a local boat mechanic tomorrow and have the test the motor. I'm curios, even if the compression is good and they don't have any serious qualms with the motor how repairable are these older motors. I noticed a lot of parts are discontinued. I don't want to buy a boat/motor that is not repairable simply from lack of parts. He is only asking $850.

Also, are parts interchangeable within say 85-87 and from 90-115, like the lower end, impellers, water pumps, carbs: stuff that will eventually break. I thought I could keep a eye out for other similar motors and pic up non running or even running motors for the right price just to have parts on hand. Thank you for any help!

 

[ondarvr]

Some people really like those motors, but many parts have been discontinued and the wiring tends to disintegrate, I always steer clear of them.

 

[Chris1956]

The necessary parts will likely be available at a salvage yard, as those motors were made for a long time. Typical maintenance parts for ign, carbs and cooling system are available in many places.

The issue is that many shops won't work on older motors, corrosion on motors used in salt water can be bad and the mechanics are too young to understand these older motors. They can be great motors, if you do your own work.

In your case, it sounds like you cannot do your own work, and that motor will take some work. I recommend you look for something in the early 2000s. Used motors drop dramatically in price.

 

[racerone]

Agreed.-------If you know how to do some work / want to learn about these motors they are a great motor.-----If you need to run to expensive shops for everything than you need a " push the button " and go product.

 

[rphillips]

Hey Chris1956, can't you get your PM's fixed? I've tried several times.

 

[jimmbo]

carbs from a 90 are different, as are the block, reeds, exhaust tuner, post 1981 the pistons are different and so is part of the throttle linkage. Lower units, water pumps, will interchange

 

[Chris1956]

rphillips, PMs are still broke. Says I have over 100. however, I can neither see nor delete them. Sorry.

The moderators are able to send me PMs, but I cannot reply....

 

[rphillips]

Ain't computers aggravating? Just hoping for recommendations. Will try again another time. Good luck. Rick P.