Hello all<br /><br />I'm buying a new used boat, a 16' (75" beam) 1987 Crestliner with side counsel. Its in good shape, no dings or patches in hull, new floor could use new seats.<br /><br />The marina that I'm getting it from hung a 70hp Merc, think its a 1988 (OA739861) as it is oil-injected. It has lots of power, but the idle seems rough to me. I haven't had many boats, so my experience with two strokes is limited. Evinrude in the 70's and 80's smooth idle, but had a tendency to idle down to nothing. In the 90's a force, Ok idle, but vibrated alot.<br /><br />This Merc will idle, but seemed like they had to help it a bit when cold. At idle even when warm it had this odd rolling kick.<br />Smooth, smooth, kick, smooth, kick, kick etc...<br /><br />The marina people kept telling us that it was completely normal, all two strokes do this.<br /><br />The other thing I noticed which is subtle, when accelerating, there was a point when the power flatten and engine sounded a little rough, then took off.<br /><br />I don't have to take the motor, but life would be easier. The motor does have to be dead reliable as the trip to the cabin is 14 miles of water.<br /><br />David<br /><br />Any opinions?