[ScottM]

The nice thing about those motors is they are simple and reliable if properly maintained. Even if you took it to a mechanic to have it gone through, you're probably looking at $1K tops to get it running right. To me that is short money for an engine that will perform well on your boat. I had one on a 23' Seabird and my father had a Rude on his 23' Sceptre. Both engines, although thirsty, did the job well and didn't break the bank.