Looking at a 65hp Mercury 1971

[Badhog50]

Looking to purchase a 1971 65hp Mercury outboard motor
Are they a problematic motor? Hard to find parts for?
What I should be looking for in this purchase red flags?

 

[Faztbullet]

Pass on it as it was only made about 7 years and internal parts are getting a hard to find, remember this is not a prop rated engine and is really about a 50 hp..JMO

 

[Bill kubiak]

No Title

I agree pass, if you want an older motor look at the late 50's and early 60's monsters, lots of parts because lots of people are full of nostalgia about those old motors, just like the motors of the late 40's and early 50's. Late 60's and 70's motors not so much.
Every year Mt Dora Florida they have an antique boat show for a week and there is all kinds of wood boats with all the motors that were originally on them running around on the lake. The pic was taken there about 4 years ago

 

[Chinewalker]

The 65hp 4-cylinder was a decent motor in its day, but it was kind of an odd duck in a way as it was the least "modular" of all the big Mercs. Mercury was fond of stacking cylinders to produce bigger motors, .ie the 2-cylinder 40 was 1/2 of the 4-cylinder 80, and 1/3 of the 6-cylinder models. The 65hp really didn't have that benefit, and as such it had a lot less parts support.

Bottom line is if you can get it for a good price and are willing to take the time to track down parts, etc., you may end up with a good motor. If you're not very mechanical and don't have the patience or ability to work on it yourself, take a pass on it...

 

[Badhog50]

Thanks for all your help!