This is probably in the wrong place, but crappie fishing is all I do and the only folks on here I know.

To make a long story short, I have a retired couple friend that bought a 22' pontoon so she could finally get to crappie fish. They bought a lake house and this was the final purchase they needed to fulfill her dream of getting to crappie fish anytime she wanted to.

The guy they bought the boat from verbal told them that he thought the 115 Evinrude was a 2001. (no title - with TPW approval) He would not allow my friend to test drive it on the lake but did start it up for him. My friend decided to buy it. Big mistake. Once he got it home, he found all of the wires cut under the dash. And I mean every wire. Reasoning and I quote "to keep mice from chewing the wires" I rewired it for him and got everything working. He then took it to a retired mechanic who ran serial numbers and turns out the motor is a 1981. The seller said he "gave" the motor to him and just sold him the boat. Regardless, the mechanic did about $1100 worth of work to get it and got it running but without going into the motor. We brought it back to Lake Tyler and I drove it across the lake maybe an 1/8 of a mile and it died.
We took it back to mechanic and he then went into the motor and found that the motor was shot. He offered to give my friend all of his money back but my friend doesn't operate that way.

Needless to say, my friend is embarrassed but wants to go forward from here

The boat is a good boat so he just wants to put a new motor on it. He is already out over $5500 so he doesn't want to just throw in the towel. They are not tech savvy so I am just trying to help them out to get her on the crappie.
I need recommendations on motors between 50 & 85hp (He wants a new motor.) I guess I need a recommendation on a boat dealer in the Tyler area that can be trusted to sell and install a motor.

AND/OR if anyone has a VERY good running motor for sale and definitly not a Honda.

Thanks for listening
Jeff
903-216-7112

Have you looked at the Suzuki�s?

When I was shopping for a new boat recently they were on just about all of them due to the Yamaha shortage coming from overseas. They are also about half the price of a Yamaha.

May look into those.

Thank you, I will check on those.

Never buy a motor without a title for the boat and motor.

90 HP Merc is hard to beat! Bass Pro Shop sells them. iv got a 50 hp Merc on my 21' toon,wish i had the 90HP.

On a 22' toon you need no less than 115 hp.

SHIPS MARINE in Gladewater. JD and Glenn will do you right.

I would use Shipps as your dealership as well.

Service after the Sale, they are good people.

That's what I told him. In fact, I didn't think it could be done thru TPWD, but the lady at the office said it is no longer a problem. But now he has a problem..

Thanks

Thanks to all the replies. I have heard a lot good things thru the yrs about Shipps. I will give them a call. Thanks

Anybody that won't take the boat to the lake for a test drive already knew it wasn't gonna run. Sorry to hear the ordeal but buyer beware!

On an 81�rude probably be easier to just swap the power head out

How can someone look at a 1981 Evinrude and think there is even a possibility it could be a 2001? #mindblown

I would look into a used Yamaha 4 stroke. Those 4 strokes are beasts. Last forever

what he said,..

I wish them luck trying to find a loose motor. I just spent six weeks before I managed to get a 175 Suzuki. Bass Pro told me it would be January before I could get a 150 4 stroke. That was after I had given them a down payment. And from what I've heard, Yamaha is even worse.

Double ditto on the Yamaha 115 4 stroke. Mine is. 2006, starts sevond revolution, and never a problem. Change lower and engine oil every year as well as grease per manual. If could find a used one from reputable source it would be worth it.

Give us a call! We'd love the opportunity to show you why we are the best place in and around Texas to buy a new Mercury motor.

Shipps Marine in Gladewater. I will definitely third that motion!

Not true depends on what your needs are 75 4 stroke will push it no speed records though

Shipp's Glen and JD are great.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bpo/d/110-hp-evinrude-outboard/6697012625.html

have you tried many sites like craigslist, facebook marketplace, or ebay?

I've had several mercury's but will never buy another one. THey are the hardest starting motors I've ever seen. I currently have a 2006 yamaha 115 4 stoke. I love it. Its just like a car motor. I know several guides with suzuki's and they like them. On a boat like they have the more HP the better. Buy new, dont buy used unless you know the motor or the person. What you save in price you will spend later fixin it. You might find a motor from a place like this

https://www.bbrvs.com/listings.php?type=4&category=Outboard

I have a 1982 omc 90 with title,I bought it from my nieghbor as a spare,it ran good last time I started it a couple of years ago,you are welcome to come and see it and crank it up,its still on the boat it came with, that has a bad transom.all wiring and controls should be the same as your 81.

Matt at The Boat Center in Flint, Tx on Lake Palestine. Great guy and real good dealership.

Pugman, what I heard you say in the story, a retired couple want to fish from a toon with a bad motor. Further, they aren�t tech savvy. My suggestion...get a new motor from a reputable dealer and an extended warranty, and have the dealership set it up and lake test it..further have a dealer rep on the boat on their first lake test with them...this situation could spiral sideways into a �I dont trust the boat, so let�s not go fishing� situation...nothing worse than that....