Thread: Evinrude 2.6 question

Originally Posted by gofish

Was a late 80's model evinrude a good motor and if it had problems what were they? It's a 2.6 litter and has been well taken care of with all maintenance done on a regular basis. Looking at purchasing a 1987 champion that has this motor on it, Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

By the way this is an outboard.

My advice would be to ask to take it out on a test run at the closest lake and never hurts to take a friend( big plus if he is a motor mechanic), 4 eyes are better than 2 and more ears help also. You can learn more that way than any other way if the motor has problems. Motor compression tests are also good because they will still run even with low compression that will be trouble down the road. Advice on the boat is to make sure that the transom is still good ( as this can be one worst and costly problem) and weak places in the floor and hull. If it has always been in a enclosed shed or under shelter it is a plus with most all boats. I am not a mechanic on boats but I have worked on a few of my own and helped friends work on their's. This is just some of the things I have done when buying a used boat. My 2 cents worth till some of the boat mechanics or people that have owned this boat and motor can post and help you some more. Be safe and good luck with the boat and fishing

If there's anybody out there that owns one of these or is a mechanic and has serviced one or worked on one I would really appreciate it. One person has told me that they are extreme gas guzzlers. The person who bought the boat new is the owner and he said the motor was completely over hauled 2 yr's ago and hasn't been used much since. The fellow is 82 yr's old. Don't know much about champion boats but everyone I talk to say they were really good boats. It's 20 foot long and is a bass boat, not a fish and ski and he sent it in 4 yr's ago and had it completely re gel coated. The boat looks like new and he has documentation for all the above work. Transom is in great shape. The fellow is local and several of my friends know him and says he is extremely picky with his stuff and the boat has been garage kept. The price seems high at 7 thousand but everything else I look at pales in comparison to this. Need good advice.

Originally Posted by gofish

If there's anybody out there that owns one of these or is a mechanic and has serviced one or worked on one I would really appreciate it. One person has told me that they are extreme gas guzzlers. The person who bought the boat new is the owner and he said the motor was completely over hauled 2 yr's ago and hasn't been used much since. The fellow is 82 yr's old. Don't know much about champion boats but everyone I talk to say they were really good boats. It's 20 foot long and is a bass boat, not a fish and ski and he sent it in 4 yr's ago and had it completely re gel coated. The boat looks like new and he has documentation for all the above work. Transom is in great shape. The fellow is local and several of my friends know him and says he is extremely picky with his stuff and the boat has been garage kept. The price seems high at 7 thousand but everything else I look at pales in comparison to this. Need good advice.

just remember one thing when it come to a 2 stroke outboard motor , if jump in the and go wide arse open they all are going to be gas guzzlers !!! now if the boat is in as good of shape you say it is you can't really go wrong and hopefully the is a little wiggle room in that price for $7000.00 !!! that's my

Gofish; this is what banks and loan companies use for price checks. Boats are just like cars they are so many they have to have something to go by not saying that it is not worth more. But it's up to you. I bought a 1991 tracker pro 16. Really gave to much for it but it was what I wanted and I love it.

Power boat, Sailboat Prices & Personal Watercraft Values – NADAguides

Those Champions in that era are probably best they ever made. Used to call on them during that period and watched quite a few of them being built. Fast, smooth and handle big water. Those motors taken care of are pretty bullet proof. Yes, wide open they will suck up a tank of gas quick. But mid range speeds will get you about the same as any other motor of that era. If it is as well cared for as it sounds 7000 for a 20 ft boat is a pretty good deal.

Agree with Cray, if the boat runs out good and its what you are looking for they are good rigs. Motor is a good one and yes hard on gas running the RPMs up around 6 grand but around 4 grand they do pretty fair. Seem to me they have more torgue on the lower end than the Mercs did of that day which gave you a better hole shot.

Although it wasn't the same motor, I had an evinrude in the same year era and that motor was bullet proof. Changed spark plugs in it one year (after about 18 years) and ran this motor spring, summer, fall, and winter. Only wish some of the motors built today were as good as that one was.