What year to buy on budget

I am trying to decide if it would be better to let my boat sit in the garage waiting for the day when I will have the money to buy the newer model motor or suck it up and get something older and get on the water. I'm looking at a 25HP tiller model outboard for my 15ft boat that I have been fixing up. I saw a 25 HP on e-bay for around 800.00. It was an 1981 year. It looked ok from the pictures but its still well over 20 years old. So, I guess the question is. Do you think that it would be worth it to buy someting older and get a good tune-up done or wait and get the newer model. If anyone knows what a good tune up will cost that would also help me out with this decision. After all getting on the water is what truely matters to me. Thanks

Re: What year to buy on budget

Spend $300-$500, get something that runs from someone who has been using it regularly for a while, and go fishing. Don't buy one that doesn't run unless you are an outboard mechanic. And learn to maintain and repair it yourself. All motors need work. If you are on a budget you can keep an old one running as cheaply as a new one.

Running Merc 200's (20 hp) often go for around $450 on eBay. Find one near enough to pick up. Get a mid- to late-1970's (not early 70's). Easy to work on.

Or, buy a boat with a running motor and sell the boat.