Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Looking for outboard for father/son building project › Re: Looking for outboard for father/son building project
I have a friend who built what appears to be a very similar boat for his grandkids. It is powered by a mid-1980s Johnson 30 (he restores and runs classic Mercurys) and will plane very nicely.
If you want a classic Mercury, and are willing to accept the "old motor" potential woes and maintenance, find a nice Mark 25, even if you have to pay for shipping. The 25s use a conventional two-lever remote control and the steering and shift adaptors can be found; possible but not so easy with K series motors or the Mark 20.
That said, the important thing is that you buy what you want for your boat. Each of us has his or her own ideas, and all are valid – for each of us. If you simply want a motor to run on you and your son’s boat, and do not want to fix or restore it, look for a modern 20-30 hp. If you want to make restoring and maintaining the motor part of the fun, buy what grabs you. Mercurys are like barely tamed horses, urgent and barely civilized, but thrilling. OMCs are polite and capable (which does not mean boring). Exotics like Scott-Atwaters/McCullochs are a bit mysterious, but they are good performers.