Mercruiser 165 Info Needed.

Redkneck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
60
OK, so I'm in the middle of home remodeling and just bought a bass tracker (thank you all for the help gettting it in shape) but my kids are begging for a ski boat. I really don't have the cash for a nice boat, but my good friend made me an offer on this project boat. I can either pay him about 1200 in cash, or he will let me use it this summer in exchange for doing a little work on it, then I can buy it out right from him. The boat was purchased from a marina for storage fees, history unknown.

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Rough around the edges, could use painting, I can handle that. He ran the boat around his lake, put new impeller kit in it, but leaks water around the other water pump on the engine. Also said there was water in the oil after a short time running, but thinks this is due to leaking seals around the pump on the engine. I am totally unfamiliar with these units with the heat exchangers, but sounds plausible.

Merc 165:

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I have no doubt in his word, he's a great friend, just wondering if this is worth fooling with. Boat comes with a much newer trailer than the one it is pictured on.

Upholstery is mostly intact, just ragged looking. Not sure if you can buy cheap replacement covers for this or not. Floor solid in it, gages all work, trim works, great looking SS prop, just primarily needs the water leak/water in oil problem fixed and then some TLC.

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So, bearing in mind I have no intention of keeping up with the Jones's, should I piddle with this for the use of a ski boat, or avoid it like the plague?

Serial Number is B525826
 

Oshkosh1

Ensign
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
968
Re: Mercruiser 165 Info Needed.

If it runs, doesn't take on water, has a decent trailer, it's worth the $1200. The circulating water pump is about $75 and takes 10 minutes to replace(just did it on my I6). The water in the cylinders is a little scary, and is not a result of the waterpump leaking. Obviously you need to find the source, could be a gasket...could be a cracked block. Others more in the know can help advise you with that troubleshooting path. But rest assured...water in the oil is NEVER good!
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Mercruiser 165 Info Needed.

That 165 is the infamous 470 with a different name, and with water in the cylinders. Not what I would spend money on, let alone $1200.
 

Redkneck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
60
Re: Mercruiser 165 Info Needed.

That 165 is the infamous 470 with a different name, and with water in the cylinders. Not what I would spend money on, let alone $1200.

Thank you Don. I just got done reading up on some of the issues with the 470. For starters, the circulating impeller job is going to be a lot more involved than what I would like to get into. Add to that the water cooled voltage regulator, the alum block/cast iron head issues, plus the boat is about as pretty as a turd and that's all I need to walk away from this deal.

Thanks!
 
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