Closely Inspect
First, exterior damage like cracks and corrosion are signs of internal damage so watch out for them. These can become costly repairs that often contribute to a sinking boat, financially speaking.
Second, if it is an outboard motor, inspect the prop shaft for bent portions. You can do this by looking at the propeller hub’s end when it is spinning – no wobble means that the used boat motors might be in good condition.
Third, and very important to protect yourself against stolen boat complaints, inspect the nameplate for its complete model and serial numbers. If it appears suspicious, then it probably is not a safe buy.
Closely Listen
Ask the owners to operate the secondhand boat motors at both idle and full speed modes. This is very important as problems involving the carburetor and the ignition are very costly.
Also, you have to check that the boat motor can easily handle shifting from neutral to reverse and neutral to forward. You will only realize the importance of these functions when docking the boat.
If you can have a trusted boat mechanic to offer advice, then better for your hunt for the right used boat motors. After all, he is more qualified to inspect them than you are!
Close the Sale
If you have decided that you are going to purchase the secondhand boat motors, then you must take the preliminary steps to close the sale. Whether online or offline, you must protect yourself against unscrupulous sellers who might have fraudulent documents on said motors.
Thus, always ask for the legal documents on the sale such as receipt of purchase outlining the date of transaction, the purchase amount including advance payments, technical specifications of the boat motors especially their model and serial numbers, and the signatures of both the concerned parties.
Soon, you’ll have your used boat motors powering your ride!
