Good quality cheap outboard motors are readily available but there are some important considerations and things you must check to make sure that you don’t buy a lemon. You must perform a thorough visual inspection from the powerhead to the gearbox, listen well to an audio test as well as ask relevant questions regarding past performance and maintenance service done on them. Needless to say, you must have satisfactory results and answers. Determine Before looking at second hand 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 cavitation.

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 might waste time and money by the wrong second hand boat motor to suit your requirements. When you have determined your technical specifications, it is time to look. See First, look for obvious signs of deterioration and damage like corrosion and cracks on the motors exterior. These are important indications of interior damage as corrosion and cracks mean that excessive quantities of saltwater may have entered and frozen components inside the motor. And of course, these damages might mean that the owners failed to perform proper care of the cheap outboard motor.

If you cant see them personally, request photographs from the owners. Still, you must visually inspect your choices at a later date. Listen to the motor while it’s running. 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 outboard motors attached to a boat, far from it. Instead, just have the outboard 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 cheap outboard 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 cheap outboard motor!