Buying a blown motor advice

[Roper]

If and when it comes time to re-power, I'm strongly considering buying a blown motor to have re-built due to budget and it going on a 17 y/o boat..
Going on a Ranger 518VX
150-200 max hp
2 or 4 stroke
doesn't have to be a Mercury.




The criteria I’m looking for is


-worth re-building


-not outrageously priced (trying to get it done as cost effective as possible)


-availability of parts


-shops willing to work on it


-reliability





Any suggestions or input is appreciated!

[Bass AHolic]

flip of coin, be buying a unknown but blown motor, vs fixing what you have and known. Day ever comes my 1989 will get rebuilt , after that Brand New if I live long enuff

[Roper]

I'm running a 200hp Ficht motor. If this thing blows and I can't repair it myself, I'm parting it out and repowering. (If I don't sell the boat first)

[Rip Bass]

Roper,I'm in almost in the same boat as you,although I did repower in 2011 with a new Opti 200. No problems yet,but when this thing blows,I want to find a 3 liter carbed Merc and rebuild it. Opti's are great engines but are so technical that I can't repair it,other than maintenance.I have the same boat as you but repowering made sense for me because insurance paid for most of it.

[JOE54]

find a carb 200 merc simple cheap --er