2nd hand O/b purchase

[scotty123]

How can you tell, if an secondhand outboard engine you are considering purchasing, is not stolen?

Are the serial numbers held by Police/Insurance companies anywhere?

 

[Lakesailor]

Judging by the enquiries about outboard maladies on here not many people even know their serial numbers when they still own the motors.

 

[VicS]

How can you tell, if an secondhand outboard engine you are considering purchasing, is not stolen?

Are the serial numbers held by Police/Insurance companies anywhere?

Ensure that the vendor can prove that it is his to sell.

Original receipt

other original documentation such as the owners manual.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Ensure that the vendor can prove that it is his to sell.

Original receipt

other original documentation such as the owners manual.

Original receipt, owners manual?

Don't buy many twenty year old o/b's Vic?

 

[CreakyDecks]

It's not likely that the seller will have any worthwhile proof of ownership. He might have a manual, but thieves can buy those easily enough. It's just like buying anything else, buyer beware. Make sure you collect the engine from his house, not from a pub car park that he kindly offers to "meet halfway" at. If it is a genuine sale then there will be other boaty stuff in his shed!

 

[VicS]

Original receipt, owners manual?

Don't buy many twenty year old o/b's Vic?

No, certainly not but I can produce the original receipts and manuals for one that is over 25 years old and another that is over 30 years old and the original manuals and parts catalogues for a couple of Seagulls that are over 35 years old.

 

[FishyInverness]

Scotty, most of the manufacturers keep a record of stolen outboard serial numbers reported by their owners.

Tohatsu UK certainly release to their dealers a "watch list" at regular intervals, and I think the same applies for Mercury/Mariner (sketchy memory from when I used to work with a dealership for them).

If you're a little suspect about an engine, I'd suggest contacting the manufacturer or main distributor, with the serial number from your prospective engine. If it's stolen and has been reported to them, that's the simplest first stop in investigating.

Probably preaching to the converted, but don't touch an engine that's had it's serial number plate scratched away, ground off, drilled off, etc....just walk away. Even if it's legit, identifying the model for parts becomes a pain in the a*se!

 

[mikeshrimper]

An online database for stolen boats and Outboards can be found here:

​

www.stolenboats.org.uk

 

[bigwow]

I bought my outboard from a formite on here, so consequently I had no qualms about its authenticity. After all we are all gentlemen, and ladies!

 

[ithet]

Insist the serial number be provided PRIOR to payment and collection. You can then check it agaist the database that was given in the earlier post. Make sure you double check the number on picking up.

I did this when buying off ebay. Of course the mere supply by the seller of the serial number almost guarantees that it is legit.

 

[Sandyman]

It's not likely that the seller will have any worthwhile proof of ownership. He might have a manual, but thieves can buy those easily enough. It's just like buying anything else, buyer beware. Make sure you collect the engine from his house, not from a pub car park that he kindly offers to "meet halfway" at. If it is a genuine sale then there will be other boaty stuff in his shed!

.................also stolen gear !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When you consider the numbers of outboards stolen then it is inevitable that they end up
getting sold back to us.

 

[mucklestone]

You could try asking him? Ask him for the serial number so you can check it is not stolen. If he refuses maybe that is a clue?

 

[Ian_Edwards]

To get my outboard included on my boat insurance policy, I had to supply the serial number to the insurance broker; it’s now on the insurance policy document. So I guess that serial numbers are more readily available than one might first imagine. It’s worth asking the seller for the number before getting serious about the purchase.

 

[PetiteFleur]

To get my outboard included on my boat insurance policy, I had to supply the serial number to the insurance broker; it’s now on the insurance policy document. So I guess that serial numbers are more readily available than one might first imagine. It’s worth asking the seller for the number before getting serious about the purchase.

Hmm, that's what I did - then the ally plate fell off.......... Honda 2HP.