Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

[arcadiainc]

Is it just me or has the used outboard market dried up? Just looked on Ebay. Seventeen items listed for Mercury. This includes motors and parts. A couple years ago an older 18-20-25 HP OMC could be had for $2-400.00. Now, if you can find one prices start at $500.00. A "tower of power" Mercury was selling for $500.00 to $1500.00. It has been a while since I have seen one for sale at any price. I live in the deep southeast. Even nearby Craigslist has dried up. Does anyone have any ideas why?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

Seems like it goes in cycles. I've noticed that the used parts are not as plentiful, too. Used motors in the south are always hard to come by in the 15-25hp range, especially in decent shape.

JBJ

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

The recession has cut into new boat sales significantly. People are holding onto their boats and fixing them instead of buying new. Used boats are selling very well, and all that would have an upward impact on price. More people chasing the same thing = more expensive.
Sooner or later it may swing back. As some time yet to be named, new boats will start selling, resulting in a swell of used stuff on the market, which may have a stabilizing or downward impact on prices and availability.

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

What I've found around here is that smaller motors, anything under 50hp are in real demand, but larger motors, the V4 and V6's are pretty easy to come by.
A few years ago, everyone was downsizing from the 25-30' range down to the 18 to 23' size boats to save fuel, now those same people are looking to go even smaller. Whether it's because they bought a smaller truck, or they downsized their truck or SUV to something smaller, they need something they can tow. Craigslist has been pretty loaded with 100+ hp outboards lately but you can't touch a good 70hp. Two years ago I couldn't give away a good 15' boat, now it's in demand. I've even noticed a trend in staying under the 16' mark. I know that in some states the registration price break is at 16', here it more than doubles when you hit 16', so a boat under 16' will only cost you 12 to register, were as a 16' is $28. Years ago, this wasn't even a concern, today it's a selling point.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

Is it just me or has the used outboard market dried up? Just looked on Ebay. Seventeen items listed for Mercury. This includes motors and parts. A couple years ago an older 18-20-25 HP OMC could be had for $2-400.00. Now, if you can find one prices start at $500.00. A "tower of power" Mercury was selling for $500.00 to $1500.00. It has been a while since I have seen one for sale at any price. I live in the deep southeast. Even nearby Craigslist has dried up. Does anyone have any ideas why?

I think you need to do another search, I just looked at ebay motors under boat parts and accessories- mercury and came up with almost 23,000 hits!

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

I think you need to do another search, I just looked at ebay motors under boat parts and accessories- mercury and came up with almost 23,000 hits!

Over 1/2 of those 23000 hits would be stinking posters and other useless crap, not really parts. There's for sure not nearly as many parts as there was a year or two ago. I'm thinking the ebay parts thing is slowing down because of all the hassle, the high ebay costs, and time and expense involved in shipping, etc. I don't like to buy stuff on ebay unless I absolutely have to.
JBJ

 

[RicMic]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

Over 1/2 of those 23000 hits would be stinking posters and other useless crap, not really parts. There's for sure not nearly as many parts as there was a year or two ago. I'm thinking the ebay parts thing is slowing down because of all the hassle, the high ebay costs, and time and expense involved in shipping, etc. I don't like to buy stuff on ebay unless I absolutely have to.
JBJ

Well no doubt, there are hats, tee shirts decals etc. in that 23,000, but its no where near half, at least in the pages I looked at, it might have been 10%,still leaves over 20,000 motors and parts for Mercury, a far cry from the "seventeen" quoted above. In my experience a small good used outboard motor is one of the easiest things on the planet to sell, I've sold a half dozen of them and all by work of mouth, usually I only have to tell two or three people.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

the fact that ^^ can sell them easily by work (sic) of mouth is why there aren't many listed in classified ads--they're sold before they get there. With the high cost of new motors, people fix the old ones. Plus a lot of people want the good old two stroke. Supply and demand

 

[Starfire150]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

FYI.
I have a 2001 Mercury 25 HP with very low hours from my Dads fishing boat and a 1973 9.8 (10hp) Mercury for sale.
Not sure of prices yet. My goal is to get a 60HP Mercury. The 9.8 ran 3 months ago and the 25 is on the boat now and runs great. I live in metro Detroit area.

I have noticed with the used motor market youare better off buying a boat with the motor you want and dump the boat for less money or scrap it.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

You won't have any problem selling those motors in that area, thats where I sold all my motors. A couple of them I just hung a for sale sign at the local bait shop for free and sold them to the first guy that asked.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

Best deals on outboards are the ones still attached to ratty old boats

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

here's an example--and fairly typical CL listing around here:

15 1/2 foot boat, trailer, and 50hp motor price lowered - $400 (n.n)

boat is in good condition no week spots in floor, new battery and controls, the boat ran fine up till 2 weeks ago and gas started pooring out the carb when you go to start it someone told me it needs rebuilt, its the float inside of it. i dont have the time or money to fix it so my lose is your gain i have the title to both boat and trailer and the trailer has permanet tags on it call or text me asap

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it just me? Or has the used o/b market---

or this one:
My Son says sell - 18' 1989 fiberglass Sunbird cutty cabin with 120 hp 1/0 Ford. Includes Tido 1989 Trailer ( will pull 5,000 pounds) All in Good Condition $1,250.00
14' length * 56" wide John Boat Custom ...center console with 70 hp. Johnson , many extras with Trailer $850.00
Fiberglass Bass Boat on Trailer needs repair $ 400.00
3 Electric Motors will through in. Take it all for $ 2000.00 !! AS IS !!!!