Always ask this question...

[IMHB]

Today I went with a friend to look at a boat for him. It was a 2004 and in real nice condition. It had a 2004 Mercury 115hp four stroke motor and it look pretty nice.
After asking a few questions, I asked her this question.
"Have you ever had any trouble with this motor?"
She looked me right in the eye and said.....
"last summer, my boyfriend changed the oil and somehow it blew a hole in the block"
She went on to say, she took it to our local Mercury dealer, and they fixed it, and told her it was..."as good as new"
I don't know abouy you guys...BUT, I wouldn't touch that motor with a 10 foot pole.
My friend is still looking for a boat.
POINT OF THIS POST...always ask this question. I have found that it takes most people by suprise and they will usually tell you the truth......"Buyer beware"
Good tooning to all,
HARRY

[HandymanHerb]

Ok, I would have pulled the cover off just to see what they repaired and how do you change the oil and blow a hole in the block ???

But yea a good question to ask for sure.

[rancherlee]

A little Mercury brand epoxy weld, remove the offending rod, and I'm sure its as good as new! Only puts out 86hp now!

[jrolin1]

I would inquire more. If they replaced the power head which would be as good as new. I would certainly be comfortable with buying it.

[belercous]

I wouldn't consider buying/trusting this engine. When a hole is put in the block, usually this is because a rod let go. When this happens there are all kinds of little metal shavings floating around the engine. All it takes is for one of these little shavings to get stuck in an oil passage to restrict oil flow & the engine will come apart again. One may get lucky & it won't happen, but I wouldn't take the engine for free simply because I couldn't trust it. Why do you think the owner wants to sell it?

When something like this would happen to an aircraft (piston) engine, the block gets scrapped. Even boiling the block & putting air pressure in the oil passages is no gaurantee that some shavings weren't missed. I once had a V-6 Chevy in which the camshaft lost a lobe. A friend who ran a reputable car shop assured me he could fix the engine, even after I told him why I was hesitant to even try. Lasted almost 1 year because some shavings were missed bafter boiling the block.

If the whole powerhead was replaced, that's different. But if the block was repaired, no way.

[STEVEBRENDA]

I would look at receipts to see what was actually done.

[woolznaz]

That specific question about the motor is a must ask. Going to a more general, overall kind of question, here is my favorite question when buying a boat or car from an individual. It is the best way I have found to get the seller to actually think about what could be improved or needs to be fixed:
If you kept the boat, and I gave you $2000 in cash and you had to spend it on the boat this week, what would you repair, replace, improve, etc.?

That question gets them to think and it also lets them know that it is OK (and even expected) that the boat needs something and maybe several things. I always ask that question now and you would not believe what they tend to recall when asked that. Obviously you can change the amount of money as appropriate for the boat/car/truck/etc. I just used $2000 as an example. Try it. You will not believe how much more they will tell you at that point.