Any boat is better than no boat. Just make sure it has spot lock

If I were you I'd look for an older triton TR-XX or a Champion

AMEN!

That's a good deal, but not really looking to buy until after we move. Thank you though!

You're right about that. Spot Lock... got it!

How many hours on the motor would you say I should look for?

Kinda just depends on how you look at it.. personally under 500 hours. Just depends if it's had a repower, etc.

I'd avoid boats with "rebuilt" motors

Cool. Thanks!

There are many things to consider, with motors. Hours can be misleading, a moth balled old engine with 50 hours likely has just as many or more problems than one with higher hours.

Ideally you find one that hasn’t been “rode hard” and has been regularly serviced. low RPMs and high hours is fine. Obviously have it compression tested, and inspected.

Meh....hours on a modern outboard is not nearly as big of a deal as it used to be. 1000 hours on a modern four stroke is like 50,000 miles on a used car. How many miles do you drive your tow vehicle before you sell it? If you have 50,0000-150,000 miles now then high hour motor shouldn't bother you.

As a full time guide some years I may put 500 hours in one year. It is nothing for the offshore guys to put 100 hours in 10 days to two weeks or so.

I would much rather an outboard have at least 100hours per year than any less. I would run from a ten yr old motor with 50 hours. But a ten yr old motor with 1000 hours wouldn't make me hesitate a bit.

And I will disagree with the idea of high hours at low rpm....outboards are not like car engines in that regard. They like full rpm all the time. I run mine at about 4000-4400 mostly for fuel efficiency. But my motors get full rpm for at least 2 minutes every trip.

If you find something post it here so we can offer advice before you buy

I will not talk you out of it.

Shop the Central Texas area for a great deal. Lots of people selling their boats because the lakes are all but dried up and no end in sight.
All the boat launches on Canyon Lake are closed and out of the water for 100's of yards.
Medina is no longer a lake, and more like a puddle.

I’d get a v hull aluminum more of a family style boat- it will be much more comfortable and just as functional- easier to sell the wife on it as well.

If he’s not buying until he potentially moves, there is no reason to be looking for anything. It’s nothing more than a conversation at this point and a worthless one at that until he picks an actual location. But if he does end up in: Kerrville, Boerne, Bulverde, Marble Falls, Harper, Stonewall, Blanco, Johnson City, etc, then a Jon boat would be fine.