Motor Questions....need help quick!!!

I bought a boat last year that sat for three years,had trouble at first but i got the carbs.cleaned out by a mercury dealer,runs like a dream.Drain all fluids and start from scratch.Good luck

Before you buy anything, I would definitely go test it out and make sure what you're paying for is worth it.  Don't just take a stranger's word for it...don't forget, he is trying to sell his boat.  I would at least put fresh gas in it and go there with a set of ear muffs and try to run it and check the hull and look it over real good.  Just my opinion.  Good Luck!

ShutUP, I've already gone and looked at the boat. Everything is in great condition. I just didnt have muffs at the time and now I do, got them off my buddy. To be honest I'm not sure how to use them. If there is old gas, is there a way to empty it out of the tank. Like I said I'm new at all of this. Here is a link to the boat with pics so you guys can help me out a little more and see what I'm talking about. Thanks
 
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/630501287.html

looked at pics.save your money look around.i bought a 1998 fisher with 40 horse for 3000$

Old gas is not an issue if its been treated properly. It's not the best but it will make do till your next fill. W/ any gas thats been sitting for a over a yr if you can siphon it out, or at least the better part of it and top off w/ new.

The motor, it should start after a few cranks and not take forever to get started. If that happens it the carbs. Once started it should stay idiling and throttle up and down smoothly. Your going to get some pop and cracking of the exhaust sound w/ the muffs on the motor thats normal. What's not normal is back fire.
Another way to make sure the carbs are ok is after the motors been running for some time, stop it and wait. Wait for 15 min to 1/2 hr and now start the motor again. Does it start easy or a pain in the a%% to do so. If it's a pain its the carbs. I owned one of those older merc's at one time and they can be fickle.

To actual start a merc. your have the neutral button pushed in and push the throttle forward a small bit, pushing the key in to activate the choke and turn the key. This can take a couple tries. Once it's started leave the throttle in that same position or bring it down a little based on the speed of the motor for a minute. This will help in warming it up and help any stalling. You will then be able to throttle it down and at idle, after that first minute.

If your serious about purchasing the boat and motor take it a marina garage for a look over. From times past, I wouldn't purchase any used boat w/o a survey done on it. A surveyor will go over the boat and motor for you and give you the good and bad news. That money spent can save you big later on.

Ever hear that saying that a boat is a hole n the water you throw money into, could never be truer than that of a used boat.

ORIGINAL: Jgut07

ShutUP, I've already gone and looked at the boat. Everything is in great condition. I just didnt have muffs at the time and now I do, got them off my buddy. To be honest I'm not sure how to use them. If there is old gas, is there a way to empty it out of the tank. Like I said I'm new at all of this. Here is a link to the boat with pics so you guys can help me out a little more and see what I'm talking about. Thanks

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/630501287.html

There are water intake ports on the lower unit, probably at least 6-9 holes on each side that have a screen over them.  Put the muffs on so that the arm faces the front of the boat and the cups cover those holes on each side (a friend actually borrowed mine one time, put them on from the back and ran the motor till he realized he tore the $hit out of the motor)  hook up a hose to the muffs, turn it on and fire up the motor.
 
Get what you can afford although with that motor you limit yourself to where you can fish.  Might want to look for something else with a 9.9 to keep your options open.

Thanks for the info guys. Most of my fishing will be done in Ohio and the lakes that we will be fishing are unrestricted, so the motor works fine for me. I'm going tomorrow to fire it up and make sure the motor runs ok before I actually pick it up Saturday. I really do appreciate all the help in such a short amount of time.

Before buying a boat realize that there are annual maintenance costs with every boat.  The older the boat, the higher the costs are going to be, probably.  What happens if you blow your savings to buy it then in July it needs $500 or more of work done to it?  I'm just saying...  A boat that sits in the driveway needing repaired doesn't do much for anyone.

I got some muffs so we can fire it up before we buy it. I also went out and bought some Sea Foam, thanks for the tips. I understand that it may and probably will cost some money down the road. Doesnt everything? New cars have stuff happen to them, that comes with everything. I dont have the money to buy a new boat for 10 grand plus. Thanks for all the help though guys.

J -

Did you ever get the boat?  How is it?

As for mechanicals, I am a newby (see post above..).  As for dropping money into the water, I can't agree more with the others. 

Here's some things to consider if you are still shopping.  Besides, buying a seperate motor, I spend about $500 per year on mine in storage alone.  I thought that a bigger motor would be fine on mine, but ended up looking for a smaller motor almost immediately after getting my boat, since some of my favorite water is restricted.  I rarely need the 50hp now on my local unrestricted rivers.  Trailering a boat is not a fun thing, so your local waters will likely be where you fish most often.  Fishing from a boat, no longer allows for the 2-3 hour trips that you may have had before.  If you are like me, you'll want to be on it every chance you get.  Especially after having invested the money.  I hope that your study habits can afford a boat as much as your savings. 

I know when I was in school, $2k is what I was barrowing from the bank every 2-3 months.  All money that I had saved from my paper route that started in 5th grade, working through high school, full time in summers, and 2 jobs in college was for room and board, and still got some cash from my parents to help.  I am now 10 years out of school, with a wife that both have pretty well paying jobs.  $2k on my boat was almost stretching it, with the other funds involved in owning.  I'm positive if I would have spent half of the time fishing in college, on my school work, I would have a much better paying job, and nicer boat right now.  If I would have had a boat in college, I don't think that I would have even finished school.  Sorry for the lecture, but think about what you are doing.  You don't want to be putting yourself in a hole. 

All I know is Mercury motors are top of the line.  I just took my boat out for the first time yesterday and it started the first pull. It sat in my basement since October and had no difficulties.  Same plugs and even used the gas from last year and it purred all day.  But to ease your consciense I would definitely want to run it before you purchase it. 

ORIGINAL: Jgut07

I work and spend most of my time in the summer in Warren. This works out great because I cant take the boat out during the school year.
 

 
Good to hear.  I know from the time that I bought mine, it is one of the only things on my mind.
 
Sorry to hear about your arm and therapy.  I hope it doesn't affect your transfer or scholarship (or casting ability...).
 
Be aware, if you end up at a place like I did (IUP).  There are fishing oppertunities almost year round.  I couldn't even imagine going to Edinboro.  "Sorry professor, but did you see the conditions of the stream this morning..."  I'm sure some of the local's bosses have heard that before too!

My first college was Lock Haven, you talk about good fishing and hunting nearby...........which is probably why I had to pick a second college 3 yrs later

Its sold....he had over 20 people in line behind me....