Re: Value of Mercury Mark 25 Restored

[20mercman]

quote westwind:

If you are going to buy, mostly it needs to meet your ability to pay or feelings of what it’s worth to you. It can cost quite a lot to restore one properly, depending on what you find inside and what level of materials you intend to use. I wouldn’t be surprised to have over $1000 in one after you buy a decent rebuildable motor and then invest in the parts for a full rebuild and paint. You could have quite a lot just in ignition parts on a Bendix ignition motor for instance. Maybe you can find someone willing to sell at a loss just to make some space. If there is a particular colour combination you are looking for, you might wait a long time to find a deal.

I can attest that you can invest a significant amount in a full rebuild. It is not hard to put $200-300 in parts in a power head alone. $125-150 to rebuild a magneto is certainly ball park if your points are reusable. Lower units can be another area where you can invest a significant amount of money to make them right. It also makes a huge difference on where you find your parts. Joe Poole is a great source here, and he is reasonable. If you have something you need, and there is only 1 available on e-bay, then you have to pay for it….My scrap pile polished Mark-25 was really an expensive motor to restore in the end as I needed almost every type of wear item, bearing, seal, etc. However when you have done this, you have a motor that is a know quality, and not something that is 68 years old and you don’t really know. So as westwind posted, $1000 invested in one is in no way out of the question. We really don’t build these to make money anyway though.

Steve