Buying a motor from across the country

[Bucketmouth]

Guys,

I am looking to buy a motor from another member here. It is a one owner, 2.5L, 200HP, carbed Mercury. Has the Bob's nose cone, alien cowl and oil injection removed. Pictures look great! But it the insides what counts! This being the second outboard I bought in my life, how does one go about payment, verifying the condition ie compression etc so I get what is being represented? He repowered to bigger motor is the reason for selling. I cannot make the trip to look it over and say "okay, looks good". Any help would be greatly appreciated. The seller is Nickens21 or Jesse, anyone know him? I really don't need to get burned on this.

Thank you! Brett

 

[BigRedAlli]

Where's the motor at? If someone here is close they may be willing to check it out for you. :wink

 

[boataddict]

+2 and u can always have it shipped c.o.d. ....you have to trust him and he has to trust you .

 

[Bucketmouth]

Denham Springs Louisiana, close to Baton Rouge.

C.O.D? Hmm maybe. I personally wouldn't do it as a seller. I want to work out that it is in the condition we discussed and if not, have the option to send it back.

Brett

 

[K-DAWG XB 2003]

Chad lives over there somewhere don't he? Ask him if he will go look at it.

 

[Bucketmouth]

Chad, let me know who he is and I will call. Thank you!

 

[RedAllison]

The only way I would buy a motor from someone I didn't know is if a bud of mine knew him or the motor and if a bud could also see, hear it run and check it over fully if I couldn't myself.

Payment wise I'd have my bank/credit union get in touch with the sellers bank/credit union. They can verify the "goings on" as well as the money itself. When I sold my XB03 too JCool in 07 he got me in touch with his credit union and they checked out. The people there made the check out and verified the funds so I knew I was safe there, the only thing left to do was meet up face too face and let him run the boat and decide if he wanted it for sure.

Shipping wise, mmmmmmmmm man I'd be hard pressed to trust an entire motor too the baggage apes of most freight companies. I'd either make a road trip and pick it up myself or I'd try to find an empty trailer or pickup bed spot for it from a bud who happened to be traveling nearby.

Good luck, :at the bar
RA

 

[Blue Gray in PA]

There's a shipping company sticky on Scream & Fly if I remember correctly. They might be willing to transport it once you have it checked out.

 

[badbait]

Wow, maybe I'm to trusting but I've bought 3 boats and 2 motors over the internet and they have all come as advertised. The only thing I've been stuck with is a flywheel and a prop. They were both lefthand and were sold as right hand. In my opinion you need to talk to the seller on the phone and ask some good questions and hopefully get a feel for his honesty. Doing business on the internet requires a certain amount of trust and luck. It helps if you know the seller a little from common interest like this board. How else would I ever get to see some of the many props, cowlings, motors, etc that I've purchased without the internet.

 

[RedAllison]

Well I gotta apologize, I plum missed the part about it bein from another member here!!! :cuss I thought this was just a stranger. Yeah I agree with Bill, THAT helps significantly.

:at the bar
RA

 

[Bucketmouth]

I really appreciate all the feedback and advice guys. Yes he has been member here for a while and I get a good feeling of honesty from him. I will get on the phone tonight and get it ironed out and fish some soft water soon! 30+" of ice can't last forever!

Brett

 

[white03]

I bought a 2.5 280 from a guy in Arizona and had it shipped to Alabama. Cost about $800 so you better be ready to shell out some dough for shipping and figure that into your price.
Bill

 

[Bucketmouth]

Yeah looking at around $500 or so. Should have went to Mardi Gras and picked up the motor while I was down there!

Brett

 

[chad202]

I can check it out for ya if need be. I'm about 1hr away but baitcaster is right there. Give him a buss tomorrow. his number is 985-969-7828. His name is Roy. If his schedule doesn't allow him to, just let me know.

 

[etnprop]

freightquote.com has saved me some $ several times on these small shipments

 

[silverbullet02]

Just my .02 on shipping...I've used Forward Air many times, it's terminal to terminal, so you gotta go pick it up, but they have a bunch of locations across the country. Pretty quick too. I sent out a pallet weighing around 400 lbs a little while back and it was around $250, so a whole motor wouldn't be much more than $300-$350 I'd imagine.

 

[SLOmofo]

If you take the time to sign up with a freight co (Yellow) or shipper (Fed X)(make an account) you will save up to half plus you just go on line and do almost all the forms.
If you can arrange to drop off and pick up from a loading dock.
If you have the means to lift it off the truck(lift gates are an expensive add on)
Business to business

A little tip that saved me on a damage claim was to insist the shipper take a picture of the crate before it was shipped. Crate arrived without the top and missing 1/3 of the pallet. There was $1,500 damage.

 

[Bucketmouth]

Chad 202,

He took it to his mechanic to look it over and do the compression check on it and make sure it is running right. Said it was running fine when he took it off, but wants to be sure I get a motor that is running right, I would like it to run right too! It is in Baton Rouge now. Is that closer for you? He seems to be a straight up guy and would have no problem with someone looking it over and I would like to have some more peace of mind. What is you phone number in case baitcaster can't make it?

Slomofo

We are going to see if he can ship from the mechanic as he has a forklift and then drop it a buddy of mines business that also has a forklift. i will check the two you listed and also have a picture of the crate before it leaves.

Silverbullet02,

I will check on Forward Air too. Sounds like that is a good way to go to.

ETNPROP,

I got on uship.com. I will check freightquote too, thanks.


By the way. They spun the motor and compression was right about 120 lbs on all of the cylinders. Going to fire it up next.


Thank you very, very much gentlemen! The $ I can save on shipping and you guys willing to go out of your way and check it out really says alot about our class of boaters! I will get in touch with baitcaster or Chad202 and go from there. Will keep you updated.

Brett

 

[baitcaster]

It was good talking to you today and I will be happy to put some eyes on it for you. If it is from a member, I would rest easy, but do understand, I have both bought and sold a motor and know it is difficult thing to do via distance. I would be happy to take a peek for ya.; besides this is what we do for each other and looking at outboard horse power is my porn :embarassed.

 

[woodduck]

I've brought an Aboat/260 and a Pboat but flew over and looked at them first! Brought a 250Xs 18 months ago from Tooter in Alabama and it was exactly as described when it turned up. Brought another 250Xs from Randy the Wildman in Fl, unseen but the same when it got of the plane. Brought another 3 300Xs of randy and shipped em to england, no problem either. Brought K planes, shifters, props and rigging gear (10K)of Gleen reynolds, same thing no Problem. Tommy Bright sends me props, nitrox kits etc, no probs.
I've brought other motors of guys and got them shipped or rather slung a bud a few dollars to pick them up. There is a degree of trust involved and thats where Google helps! Find the state, check court listings etc!

As far as shipping goes, try Uship, they get you good deals, $1250 to fly a 250Xs to Australia!