Gamefisher, should i do it?

[santander]

I have a 14 ft jon boat that i have been fixing up and useing for the last couple of months but i need an outboard for it. After looking around on craigslist i found a 9.9 1989 gamefisher outboard for sale locally for $400 firm, is this a good deal? is this motor a piece of crap? 9.9 seems like a good size but i am worried about reliability. The guy just replace the spark plugs and water pump and says it runs great. I also found a 2008 tohatsu 9.9 electric start for $600 which is an amazing deal but somewhat out of my price range. I called this guy but i think the motor may have already sold. Would you buy the gamefisher? Is it overpriced? Is it going to be reliable or am i going to have more headaches than fun with this motor?
thanks

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

An '08 Tohatsu for $600! Is it stolen? I'd find a way to come up with the extra $200. You'll spend more than that keeping that Gamefisher running over the next year.

 

[DJ]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

Gamefisher=Chrysler=Force. None of those are making outboards any longer.

Nothing wrong with the Tohatsu either. They are difficult to find service for. If you can do your own maintenance and repairs, you can keep either running.

If it were me, I'd keep looking.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

Since Mercury is made by Tohatsu they are the easiest outboard to get parts for as there are about 6000 dealers just waiting to provide parts in the U.S. But, the deal for the Tohatsu could not possibly be legitmate.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

It is probably a Force built motor and could be an Eska.If the model number begins with 217 it is an Eska ,stay away,if 225 it is a Force.Force is better but some parts can be difficult to get and Mercury stopped new part production some time ago.Look here and compare parts here at iboats for Evinrude/johnson and Force.I think you would be better off with E or J motors
Routine parts are available back to the 1950s right here at Iboats.

 

[santander]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

Yea the tohatsu sounded to good to be true but i called the guy and he sounded legit. He is moving away from florida and needs to sell the motors asap. HE just paid $1500 for the 9.9 and is selling it for $600, he also has a mariner 25 hp for $500 which is a amazing deal as well but to much power for my 14 x 36in jon boat. So from what you guys are saying the gamefisher is no good for an unexperianced marine mechanic who won;t be doing his own repairs?

 

[DJ]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

Elvin,

I have no issue getting parts, it's the service that can be a bit "spotty".

Sandtana,

It sounds like a heck of a deal for $600.00.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

Service can indeed be an issue. But, that holds true for anything. It's much easier to get warranty service( I assume that's what we are talking about) on a Mercury. But, Yamaha is the next easiest as they have the second largest dealer network. Tohatsu/Nissan is now in a virtual dead heat with Evinrude for the number three spot. The peculiar thing about Tohatsu is the holes they have in some geographic areas. It is certainly true that in some parts of the country you run 50 miles or more to find a dealer. But, that's also true for Evinrude, Honda and Suzuki. The only area of the U.S. where Tohatsu warranty service is unusually lean is in some areas of the N.E. and out West. In the end the best advice I can give anyone is not to buy anything that there is no local support for...Unless you are willing to drive

 

[DJ]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

Elvin,

Agreed. The West is thin. I live in Phoenix (5 th. largest city in the US) with lots of boats here. Plenty of lakes, believe it or not.

We have one dealer here that I wouldn't let work on a Briggs & Stratton. The next stop is San Diego, CA or Dana Point, CA (North of SD). The Dana Point dealer isn't much better than the one here. That's 400 miles from here.

Phoenix is a HUGE market. I can only imagine what the coast is.

Maybe you can talk to the Nissan/Tohatsu folks about that.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

DJ, if you have the names of any dealers in the area that only have one engine line please PM them to me and I will have them called. Tohatsu policy is not to cold call for potential dealers, but I can pre screen any name you select.

 

[DJ]

Re: Gamefisher, should i do it?

I'll check it out-thanks.