TOPIC: C/L terminalagy finally explained

A good reference to "read between the lines" augusta.craigslist.org/boa/4949679532.html Outboard Motor - $1 (Augusta)


Outboard Terminology Clarified... If the Ad Says;
(Needs Carb Cleaning) this actually means .. Motor Runs Terrible and the owner and his shadetree Mechanic friends have turned every knob and screw and just made it worse.
(Been Sittin Up) This actually means that the Motor has been out in the Barn for Years, while Wasps and Dobbers have built Nests under the Hood and every hose and gasket are completely rotted away.
(Blurred Photograph of Motor) this is actually a Hillbilly Sales technique where the Motivated Seller believes that by intentionally Blurring the Picture you will Not be able to tell that the Motor Looks as though it has been Drug along behind the Boat Trailer for 10 miles.
I have travelled to see many Outboards listed for sale and these are my keen observances.

Jim,
That was Hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.

"Not running, needs a tune up". Needs a full rebuild. Seriously, if it doesn't need much, most people with brains would do the work and get it running so its worth more. Needs work means "buyer beware!!!"

Kerry wrote:

"Not running, needs a tune up". Needs a full rebuild. Seriously, if it doesn't need much, most people with brains would do the work and get it running so its worth more. Needs work means "buyer beware!!!"

Yep, my favorite is the 'Not running, not sure what's wrong, but I'm sure it's a cheap fix.'

If it's cheap, why not fix it?

If you don't know what's wrong, how do you know it's a cheap fix?

And then asking running motor money, not parts motor money. Doh...

"Carb needs cleaning" means, I have no idea what is wrong but it has a carb!

"Not a picture of the actual motor but this one is similar" means, My motor is a clapped out POS but once upon a time it looked like this

"New Interior" means the cheapest outdoor carpet the box store sells, with cheap plastic seats mounted on questionable "boxes".

Kerry; All,

Pardon me for pointing out that some of my BEST SCORES were of boats/motors/trailers from CL that the PO was TOO LAZY to fix. = Like the VERY nice 1957 DALTEX trailer that had 2 flat tires for 40 bucks.
(DALTEX trailers are RARE in even "restorable" shape.)
OR
My great running 1955 BigTwin that needed nothing more than new points/plugs/condensers/impeller to run fine for > 3 years, for which I "invested" the princely sum of 25 bucks.

I guess what I'm saying is: It pays to go LOOK for yourself.

yours, satx

I have bought my share from Craigs, but found that more than half I've seen were... lets say "optimistically represented" by the seller. I have also found DEALS, like the 1961 18hp Johnson for $50. Can't wait til the Doc says I can start using the repaired ankle (8 screws and a plate) so I can get to the garage and check it out.

"ran great the last time we had it out", meaning that it's been years since they had it out, and the last time out the head gasket blew or exhaust manifold started leaking, got a bunch of water inside the powerhead & it froze up!".

how about posting the pictures upside down, if your smart enough to post them ,then you should be able to rotate them correctly .

One of my "favorites" is the boat for sale, and they show a pic of it with the tarp still covering it up! Kinda like a mystery box I guess.