1992 SeaRay 180 Motor Question

[geppert]

I am looking at buying an older 1992 Sea Ray Bowrider 180. The boat is in pristine condition. It has a 150hp Merc XR4 Black Max OB. The motor has 412 hrs on it and looks pristine like the boat. I know it is oil injected but not sure if it is 4 or 6 cyl?

My questions .... are these reliable motors if properly maintained? Can they be easily serviced by Merc repair facilities or other marine facilities. Are there any generic problems to be aware of? Since this is an older motor (owner says it came with the boat originally) should I be wary of it? What are the things to ask a mechanic to check specifically? Are these guys gas pigs?

Since the boat is in such great condition I am assuming the motor is as well (I will have it checked). I guess I am just nervous about the age of it and whether I am buying into a big black hole? I am assuming that technology has advanced a long way since 1992 on OB motors? Still, I know there are some great older motors out there doing just fine. I am wondering if this could be one of them or if these models had problems.

Thanks for putting up with my questions, I am a bit of a newbee here.

 

[Knotty Buoy]

This is probably going to "stir up a hornets nest" but if I were you I'd hang out for an inboard/stern drive boat. In the long term they hold their value better, are far easier for DIY maintenance and, assuming you are based USA, must be very easy and cheap to get parts for. There is every probability that the outboard you are looking at is fine, but if or when it goes wrong.....................?