Buying Used Outboard

Has anyone had experiance in buying outboards from ebay. What should I look for. Seems alot to trust if you don't see it first and just have it shipped.
I have a 81 Johnson 70hp on my 15' Boston Whaler with the original controls. but the motor has a bad Powerhead . I would assume I will need new controls if I get a newer model with a power/tilt. Looking for advice.

Jim

 

I bought an outboard on ebay, but only because I could go and pick it up. Of course, I stipulated that I see it first before plunking down the whole amount.

I got scammed on an outboard earlier but was able to catch it before losing any money.

There are a couple of reputable dealers online for used outboards.

 

buying any outboard on ebay is not a big problem provided you can go pick it up......pay cash on collection ....turn up if you dont like what you see then say " just going to get the cash out the car and piss off " what can they do ???

With bigger outboards I would like to see it on the boat and running even if you do have to take it off yourself ....

 

I've bought several with the aim of rebuilding them. You need to know how to ask the right questions. You can pick up a good 1980s model 70 or 75 on ebay. I would rebuild the powerhead, but then you need to have some experience.

 

Ask to hear it run over the phone. Then offer to pay to have it checked out by a local shop that you contact, not them.

 

Paying via paypal you can give it back for a refund, but you can't recover your shipping charges. I've bought 3 and had them shipped, buty again, with the aim to rebuild them. Picking up AND paying via paypal would be better.

 

If you pay by pay pal it needs not to match the description and you have to pay to send it back .....naah bad idea pay pal cannot be trusted to sort it out ..very variable in my experience ....go look take cash ..if no good ...astalavist babe

 

I've used paypal for years, have only good experience there.

 

Call them, ask to here it run, then pay to have a separate party insure it's compression, etc. You can also enter into a simple contact stating it runs, has such and such on it, preforms such and such, etc.

 

This one may surface on Ebay shortly(recently overhauled, fully documented):

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/outboards/orange-peel-top-piston-24420.html