Reply To: Boat and motor

[need2fish]

Hey Mike – Are you asking what the boat is worth, or the boat and motor ?

Prices are all over the map and since there isn’t a blue book for outboards. The best we can do is tell you what our experience has been or tell you what we might pay for one. It all depends on condition and how much the buyer is willing to pay.

I don’t know much about Merc motor prices, all I can tell you is I purchased a sweet ’57 Mark 30 in Winnipeg 15 years ago and paid $300 CAD for it. I paid too much for it; I can still pick up one for $300 (USD) so that’s a comment on appreciation over time. If someone wanted to purchase ‘my 56 Mark 25 I’d probably ask $500, but that’s because I learned to water ski with that motor and it was unbelievably fast on both my hydros.

The Elto has virtually no market appeal, unless the buyer lives or lived in Peterborough, ON and wants one for the nostalgia — anyone else who wanted one probably has one already. I’ve paid anywhere from $25 to $100 for Gale variants like yours, in running condition.

The boat is probably worth the cost of the wood and the steering & throttle gear. Anyone who has the the ability to tinker with old outboards probably has the ability (and desire) to build their own. Personally, I would not buy a homemade without knowing the builder and/or the history. The last thing a boater wants is to part ways with the transom and the business end of the boat in the middle of a lake.

Unless you live in northern part of the province, Alberta and Saskatchewan are crappy markets for buyers and sellers. I expect the BC lower mainland and as far east as Kenora would be better markets for you.

That being said, you may find someone who would buy for a much higher number. If you have the time, ask high and drop it over time.

I’d strip out the deadman’s throttle for sale. If it’s a Quincy or Keller you may be able to get more for it than either of the motors or the boat.