Wanted: 15hp two stroke

[benhben]

This looks a good buy for someone. I was tempted, even put a best offer in but I have decided to save up for a 4 stroke.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercury-1...53.m2763.l2649

[samt]

Tops been resprayed with repro decals. Lets it down a bit, so not worth top money.

[benhben]

Originally Posted by samt

Tops been resprayed with repro decals. Lets it down a bit, so not worth top money.

I didn't even notice that! Glad I decided to wait!

[Fenlander]

I hadn't either but comparing it with the images of the exceptional example I owned a few years ago I can see that now.

Mint is a bit of an over description... given it has paint loss and/or corrosion to the tiller, saddle, some engine bolts and the transom clamps.

But still probably a good motor as they seem to last well... and as the year moves to spring it has to be worth £1000+

[benhben]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

But still probably a good motor as they seem to last well... and as the year moves to spring it has to be worth £1000+

Do outboard prices tend to rise in the warmer months?

[Fenlander]

Yes indeed.

Around Oct-Feb prices at their lowest and harder to sell. Come the spring prices rise and they sell much quicker... particularly in the desirable sibbing sizes like a 15hp 2-stroke.

[dogboy]

That mercury had been for sale for a very long time, so possibly has more issues ?

[Sailpower]

The paint on the block of the Mercury looked lumpy like hammerite - I've been looking at a lot of 'under the hood' pictures lately and hadn't seen one like that.

There was /is a Suzuki DF15 in Truro for sale - if it is an EFi model as it claims, it should be around 45kg - not 2 stroke weight but maybe worth a look, too far for me...

[Fenlander]

A fair spot but actually that model of Mercury/Mariner 15hp 2-stroke is frequently like that.... and often a fair amount of orange peel on the leg. Re the engine powerhead it looks more like "bobbles" in the casting rather than the paint blobs but I've never bothered to sand it down to see.

I don't have a very good example but you can just see it here on a minter of a 2004 model in the section of casting above the small pipe...

[Sailpower]

Thanks Fenlander, I see - not what I expected! I'd only just finished the posts on your Yamaha 15 maintenance where everything looks as new - the Mercury had a less carefully looked after appearance under the hood, but that's just my opinion, may be much better in the flesh.

I just chipped in on another thread about motors for Bombard aerotecs, I'm going round in circles between the lightweight new 4 strokes and finding a really good 15 2t, the family claim to be going deaf sitting in the inflatable at WoT with our existing engine - personally I like the sound, they call it noise...

[Fenlander]

Actually flat out I'm not sure the Suzuki 4-stroke was much quieter than the Mercury 2-stroke but perhaps a less frantic tone. But it was amazingly quiet at lower speeds.

Even when a Mercury and Mariner 2-stroke owner I always coveted the apparent extra build quality of the Yamaha. Far nicer finish on the powerhead components and lovely chrome or stainless bolts compared to the painted steel ones on the Mercury/Mariner which rust once a spanner has been on them and chipped the paint.

But I have to say in my experience the Mercury/Mariners last just as long and proved reliable so it's perhaps largely a visual thing.