That is a lot of question.
The answer would depend on a lot of variables.
How many hours on the OB?
What kind of maintenance has been done?
How has it been kept up?
(The last 2 are the most important.)
What boat are you putting the OB on? (Twins?)
I run twin 40 Yamaha's. (1600 hours an 14 years, always maintained, always treated right.) The boat handles fine. And for slow speed maneuvering, like in and around the marina it handles easier and better than a single -- ahh I know that is going to get some flack, but it does.
If I could have the same weight with twin 50's I would go there. My preference is for Yamis because I boat extensively in Canada, and I could get service and parts there. (Honda not so much - and there is plenty info on that here on C-BRATS site.)
If you have (or are) a good mechanic, and the engine checks out OK, I would not be afraid of it unless the hours are over 3 grand. The water taxi guys I have talked with will run their taxi OB's out to 3 or even 4K hours, then take that engine and put it on their fishing boat and put a new one on the work boat. (Most of those are in Canada and are Yamaha).
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
