Have a 61 Merc 800 6cyl Totally rebuilt, good motor or not?

[oldmerc80]

I recently acquired a 61 Larson 16.5 foot Fiberglass Tri-Hull boat with a trailer and a Merc 800 for $350. I was told that the engine did not run. I popped the case off and to my surprise, THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY REBUILT! I mean rebuilt carbs, new rotor and distributor cap, new pistons, requilt power head, new gaskets, and it was even freshly tuned! How much do you think that this engine would be worth? (Just a ballpark figure) Are these good engines? Do they charge the batteries when they are running? Do you think that it was a good purchase or did I get burned?

 

[oldmerc80]

Re: Have a 61 Merc 800 6cyl Totally rebuilt, good motor or not?

I also need to know if it requires 2 batteries to power the starter and if it is a 12 or 24 volt system.

 

[Toontime]

Re: Have a 61 Merc 800 6cyl Totally rebuilt, good motor or not?

I remember my dad bought a 61 or 62 Dorsett Cuddy with one of those white monsters on the back. Was 12 volt and it charged but I don't remember whether it was alternator or generator power. Ours had no clutch mechanism. You had to start it in gear and when you went to neutral it would shut off. Had a mercury switch on it that would shut the motor off if it tilted up from hitting something ot to prevent starting the motor while on the tilt lock. Had no trim either. Worst thing about that mercury switch was that it would get stuck and then the motor wouldn't crank at all. After several years of repeatedly slamming the motor down from tilt to running position to dislodge the switch, Dad got the bright idea to bypass it and then things improved. Cranked every time, but only in reverse. Come to think about it, those motors weren't very good at all! Send me your address and I'll come relieve you of that headache, hahahaha!