Newbie to the waters...almost!

[sergeant]

Thanks again, good advice. I'm going to buy the boat new as I have found it for just under £1k, but the engine I'll definitely look for second hand. I'll keep you all updated!

[Bombardc2]

John Bridger marine have a used mercury 15hp 2 stroke for sale on their website. Dealt with them for a while and they have always been great. Might be worth a look.

[sergeant]

Originally Posted by Bombardc2

John Bridger marine have a used mercury 15hp 2 stroke for sale on their website. Dealt with them for a while and they have always been great. Might be worth a look.

Looks like a lovely engine but that sounds a bit steep price-wise? I was hoping for more towards £1k-£1.5k - thanks for the link though!

[paddlers]

You're getting some excellent advice on here !
Keep looking, I bought a 2004 Mercury 15hp 2 stroke a couple of months ago with Yam trolley, tank, lock & 5 litres of oil for £950 . A few marks on the hood but clean & fully serviced on fleabay.
You've just missed a really nice one on here for @£1250
They're out there but might be a bit less money at the end of the season. Great little engine & if given a bit of tlc will last a lifetime.
Good luck.

[sergeant]

Originally Posted by paddlers

You're getting some excellent advice on here !
Keep looking, I bought a 2004 Mercury 15hp 2 stroke a couple of months ago with Yam trolley, tank, lock & 5 litres of oil for £950 . A few marks on the hood but clean & fully serviced on fleabay.
You've just missed a really nice one on here for @£1250
They're out there but might be a bit less money at the end of the season. Great little engine & if given a bit of tlc will last a lifetime.
Good luck.

Nice, I'll have to keep my eyes open, that sounds like a bargain price, lucky you! If you see anything before I do, please do PM me

[paddlers]

Will do. I'm a long way from the South so don't have the biggest choice of engines to look at. If you punch Mariner 15 into the search you'll see a nice one that sold. very recently.
Drop Peter at boats & outboards a message. Top bloke & might point you in the right direction.

[sergeant]

I have found a 1995 Mercury 2-stroke 15hp in fair condition, for £650, how does that sound? Would buying such an old engine be a little risky?

[bingosucks]

Originally Posted by sergeant

I have found a 1995 Mercury 2-stroke 15hp in fair condition, for £650, how does that sound? Would buying such an old engine be a little risky?

yer pays yer money and takes your chance, i spent £400 on an old mariner 15 and she flies

[Bombardc2]

Originally Posted by sergeant

Looks like a lovely engine but that sounds a bit steep price-wise? I was hoping for more towards £1k-£1.5k - thanks for the link though!

It is has been there a while so might get the price knocked down

Happy boating

[Locozodiac]

Look for a used 2 strokes top in it's class Tohatsu 18 HP, beats any 15 HP and weights near same. Won't find direct oil inyection on smaller range portable models.

Happy Boating

[sergeant]

How about a 2002 2-stroke Mercury 15HP, good condition and recently serviced, with fuel tank and lines, £1400? Seems slightly overpriced to me?

[Max...]

It is (overpriced for a 2002) I think.

Lots come up all the time - keep looking as per earlier places (post #19) and be prepared to buy and split for a much better deal. Every day engines and packages come up but you need to be looking all the time and act quick and negotiate a deal 'outside' eBay:

quicksilver rib package with v hull and a 15hp johnson ready to go | Kent | Gumtree

YAMAHA 15HP 15 HP ENDURO OUTBOARD SERVICED BY PACERMARINE USED 2 TIMES ONLY | eBay

Yamaha 310 STI Airdeck Inflatable Rib & Mariner 15 Horsepower 2 Stroke Engine | Exeter | Gumtree

Quicksilver Dinghy/Rib with Mercury 15hp engine and trailer | eBay

YAMAHA 330S 11FT INFLATABLE BOAT WITH SOLID FLOOR MARINER 15 HP | eBay

YAMAHA 330S 11FT INFLATABLE BOAT WITH SOLID FLOOR MARINER 15 HP | eBay

Honwave inflatable boat , rib , with 15hp 2 stroke yamaha outboard engine | eBay

[sergeant]

Well, I am now the proud owner of a brand new Honwave T38, plus a 2002 Mercury 15HP 2-stroke in excellent condition, fully serviced, with history and fuel tank + line, quite pleased and only paid £1200 for the engine and tank, from a dealer! I'm picking it all up in a few weeks.

Can't wait to get to the waters now, I am sure that I'll have plenty of questions before we actually hit the water, but just to say thanks to everyone that has welcomed me so far, and given great advice!

[Fenlander]

Great outfit, you should have fun with that.

Accepting used packages (like Max advises) can be good value if you have the time and space to buy/split to keep the bits you want if you are buying the boat separately then Honwaves are so cheap you might as well buy new which is what we did a couple of years ago getting our T35AE alloy floor. With a bit of luck the dealer will have checked the outboard over and give a basic warranty so a little less risky than a random Ebay buy. Mine is a 2001 Mariner 15 but the identical model and has been brilliant.

When you get it on the water do post your impressions, particularly how you find that air floor.

[sergeant]

Hey Fenlander, thanks really pleased, it comes fully serviced and with a 30 day warranty so seems like a great deal to me, I've got a list of things to buy now:

- Transom Wheels
- Lifejackets
- GPS of some sort (more reliable than using a phone)
- Flares (just incase we ever head out to sea!)
- Some local hints/tips about launching a boat onto the waters around Bristol!

It will be some time before I actually hit the water, but I'll be sure to give a full report!

[Max...]

Originally Posted by sergeant

Hey Fenlander, thanks really pleased, it comes fully serviced and with a 30 day warranty so seems like a great deal to me, I've got a list of things to buy now:

- Transom Wheels
- Lifejackets
- GPS of some sort (more reliable than using a phone)
- Flares (just incase we ever head out to sea!)
- Some local hints/tips about launching a boat onto the waters around Bristol!

It will be some time before I actually hit the water, but I'll be sure to give a full report!

First thing is to do the PB2 and VHF course.

[sergeant]

Haha - I'll see if I can persuade the girlfriend to book me on one for my Birthday pressie

By the way, for any Bristol/Bath SIBers, join this Facebook group for some localised fun/events!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/342180869248347

[Sunstreaker]

I believe your mercury under the hood is the same engine as my mariner. If you search my recent misfortunes under 'mariner 15hp', two bits of advice. Try to run your engine in that first 30 days and see if they are being specific regarding 50:1 or 100:1. Oil ratio as there seems to be differences of opinion, although the guys responses to my questions have been most enlightening.

[sergeant]

Originally Posted by Sunstreaker

I believe your mercury under the hood is the same engine as my mariner. If you search my recent misfortunes under 'mariner 15hp', two bits of advice. Try to run your engine in that first 30 days and see if they are being specific regarding 50:1 or 100:1. Oil ratio as there seems to be differences of opinion, although the guys responses to my questions have been most enlightening.

I have just spoken to the dealer and he recommends 100:1 with good quality oil - surely there's only one opinion worth taking note of, and that is the opinion of the manufacturer as to which should be used?

[Max...]

Originally Posted by sergeant

I have just spoken to the dealer and he recommends 100:1 with good quality oil - surely there's only one opinion worth taking note of, and that is the opinion of the manufacturer as to which should be used?

Not totally when they have a vested interest in making as engine appear more 'eco' friendly in these 'green' times. Do a search for topics on oil ratios as there are lots of opinions on here.