DETERMINE
Before looking at secondhand boat motors, be sure that you know what you want in terms of power requirements, shaft lengths, and operational matters like motor mounting height, trim, ventilation and cavitations.
With the many models available in the market, it is best to search for a specific type of motor that will suit your personal needs. Otherwise, you will waste time and money on the wrong secondhand boat motors. When you have determined your technical specifications, it is time to look.
SEE
First, look for obvious signs of deterioration and damage like corrosions and cracks on the motors’ exteriors. These are important indications of interior damage as corrosion and cracks mean that excessive quantities of saltwater has entered and frozen inside the motor, respectively. And, of course, these damages might mean that the owners failed to perform proper care of the used boat motors.
If you can’t see them personally, request photographs from the owners. Still, you must visually inspect your choices at a later date.
HEAR
Even after a thorough visual inspection, you must request the owners for a test run. Of course, it does not mean that you should have the boat motors attached to a boat, far from it.
Instead, just have the boat motors propped up in an appropriate place and operated in dry land. You must have them run in high speeds for several minutes. You should listen to unusual sounds like knocks, noises, and buzzes. If possible, have someone who knows about used boat motors and whom you trust with you to provide advice.
All throughout your visual and audio inspections, you must ask questions of the owners. These questions must include the service record of the boat motors in relation to what, when, where, why and how these maintenance activities were conducted. When you are satisfied, then purchase the used boat motors!
