2003 Mercury 300x Pro Max.

[vnemous]

yes heavy duty single ram clamp. If your not looking to go very fast you can always sell the x and get a motor that will give you better mileage, still good speed and more life. Most 3.0 mercs, with out problems, can go 1000+ hours before rebuild. JMO

PS you probably will have some money left over

[Go Time]

What is the deal with the midsection can....looks to have been modified to exhaust out the back, or am I seeing things..... That would affect the price if I were buying.

[Primo]

yes heavy duty single ram clamp. If your not looking to go very fast you can always sell the x and get a motor that will give you better mileage, still good speed and more life. Most 3.0 mercs, with out problems, can go 1000+ hours before rebuild. JMO

PS you probably will have some money left over

Funny you should say 1000 hours because that is what I initially thought...until everyone else here and the circle of friends I know say 600 hours tops. My offer on the motor is $9000C which is around $7000US. Fair offer? Keep it for a 1-2 years...don't think I will but 75 hours at under 80mph on an AE-21. Should hold its value. I've heard comments it's the best motor merc made. Don't want to give up this if its a good deal. Further thoughts anyone? Much appreciated! Jim

[Primo]

Being in a wheelchair 80 mph is tops if I can handle it. I may have a buddy run wot the odd time...that's it. Keepin' it real.

[Baja170]

IF your boat handles well, and you can drive it, it is very hard to keep the pedal off the wood. If you can ride wheelies in your wheelchair and balance in it for as long as you want in a wheelie, you will be putting metal to wood. It would not cost that much to go through that 300x before you run it. Better than throwing a rod and messing up the block, then the costs go up exponentially. If you are in a wheelchair and looking for a thrill, and the boat handles well, you will be running that thing hard. Speed numbers don't really matter when you have a boat that handles well. You think you would be happy at 70, but if your boat drives well and you can drive it your 70 goal will feel like 70 at 90. if your setup handles well enough, the only thing that will keep pedal off wood is your prop selection.

You will be surprised how fast you are going before you know it. And if you have the balance to ride a wheelie backward forward turn circles etc, you are going to be putting metal to wood. If you buy it go through it first. JMHO. Little money first, or BIG money when you hammer it and need a block.

I worked for my father who was a physician for a lot of years RIP Dad, and I would ride wheelies for hours in his wheelchair when I had slack time. The skills you probably already have, you can throw 70 out the window. How the boat drives and what you can do with it will determine your target speed, not what you think before you get it. You probably have a great sense of balance if you play around in your chair and the same senses you develop doing that are IMO the same skill set that will allow you to push whatever boat you get way more than you can imagine now. Your wheelchair may seem like an impediment but it is actually the feel you need to drive a boat fast. You will see. You probably have skills to sense what is happening with a boat that you don't even realize you have already developed. Have fun and be safe. Get yourself a good Lifeline jacket for just in case.

[vnemous]

Ok just to be clear I am saying a 3.0 merc like a 250EFI or an optimax, the 300x wont get that kinda life before rebuild.

[Primo]

IF your boat handles well, and you can drive it, it is very hard to keep the pedal off the wood. If you can ride wheelies in your wheelchair and balance in it for as long as you want in a wheelie, you will be putting metal to wood. It would not cost that much to go through that 300x before you run it. Better than throwing a rod and messing up the block, then the costs go up exponentially. If you are in a wheelchair and looking for a thrill, and the boat handles well, you will be running that thing hard. Speed numbers don't really matter when you have a boat that handles well. You think you would be happy at 70, but if your boat drives well and you can drive it your 70 goal will feel like 70 at 90. if your setup handles well enough, the only thing that will keep pedal off wood is your prop selection.

You will be surprised how fast you are going before you know it. And if you have the balance to ride a wheelie backward forward turn circles etc, you are going to be putting metal to wood. If you buy it go through it first. JMHO. Little money first, or BIG money when you hammer it and need a block.

I worked for my father who was a physician for a lot of years RIP Dad, and I would ride wheelies for hours in his wheelchair when I had slack time. The skills you probably already have, you can throw 70 out the window. How the boat drives and what you can do with it will determine your target speed, not what you think before you get it. You probably have a great sense of balance if you play around in your chair and the same senses you develop doing that are IMO the same skill set that will allow you to push whatever boat you get way more than you can imagine now. Your wheelchair may seem like an impediment but it is actually the feel you need to drive a boat fast. You will see.

Well said Baja...

Now that you mentioned it...yes I am/was a high performance athlete in my younger day...wheelies all day...but I am a C7 quad which gives me no core muscles. In a wheelchair that is custom built to your body...you can do back flips as a quad. Sitting in a boat seat...is a different beast. If I feel I can go over 80mph...then it's going in the shop for a rebuild or I sell it. I guess the real question is what is the fair value for this 300x based on all the info above? Don't want to spend $9K knowing I need to put up another $6K same summer for a rebuild. If this doesn't pan out...going back to my initial motor choice...225 pro max...which should give me mid 80's mph. btw the AE-21 I just got was Steve's boat aka Jupiter Pulsare. Photo attached. May bring back some memories for some of you out there. Got the boat the without the motor. Steve did an amazing job restoring this beauty!

[ghost28]

That motor with those hours is worth 7k tops imho....its got stock gearcase and even tho its an OS mid it looks like the guys been duct taping the cowl on...it also looks to me like the mids not the cleanest....in all honesty if i were you i would not buy the motor with what your looking to do....buy a 250xs, 250proxs or a 300xs or even a stock 250EFI.......all of the above will perform well and give you your 1000hr service life if maintained correctly...

[Baja170]

That motor with those hours is worth 7k tops imho....its got stock gearcase and even tho its an OS mid it looks like the guys been duct taping the cowl on...it also looks to me like the mids not the cleanest....in all honesty if i were you i would not buy the motor with what your looking to do....buy a 250xs, 250proxs or a 300xs or even a stock 250EFI.......all of the above will perform well and give you your 1000hr service life if maintained correctly...

I agree with Ghost. You may be intimidated now, but with the balance and skills you have developed in the chair, you can drive a lot faster than you even know. When you are in tune with the boat, you will be amazed how slow fast feels. Don't worry about numbers, get a good motor put it on the back and give it hell. I think you will be delighted with what you find your balance and all the time in the chair has taught you and it does apply to a boat. I was in a car accident and crushed 4 vertebrae (20 fractures) when I was 19 and was in a chair for a long time too long for me at the time, 3 weeks but for me it was an eternity, but I think in the long term it taught me a lot about what I was doing wrong in my dad's at the time boats. Don't over trim, keep your roost low and you will be putting power down where it is most effective.

I would listen to Ghost, there are better options for you. The hull and trailer on the other hand if you can get is sans motor for a good deal for for it. Nice looking and from what I hear great handling boat and honest owner.

Do you know anyone who has fast similar boats near you? Good experience is gained from bad experience and having someone with you on the first few rides will either show you you can't drive which I suspect is not the case or give you the confidence to know your balancing skills you already have can apply in a major way to driving as fast as you can. Why limit yourself. Everybody wants to limit someone in a chair, show them how much of a bad ass you can be and what skills and senses you have learned and make your disability an huge ability. Kick ass and take names but loose the 300x unless you want to have someone go through it.

My 300x has 15 hours on it and I am already trying to plan ahead for what comes next and just bought a smartcraft gauge to know as much as I can how it is doing. Be smart and do it right. Your sense of balance is going to thrill you in a boat. Be smart and listen to the advice of these guys like Ghost who have been there and done that many times. It will improve your overall experience with the boat. I wish you lived closer, I would love to see what you can do in my boats. If you ever visit the states, come visit me, in TN and you can drive anything I have. I bet you an probably outdrive me after years in the chair.

[Primo]

Here is a photo of the motor cleaned up. I showed that previous photo because it was the only one that showed OS mid single ram trim. This one has no duct tape...lol. Has water intake on the sides and below/at nose cone...verified by seller. I am thinking torquemaster/fleetmaster lower end. Cosmetically a bit better...still not a good photo. ghost It would be great to have one of those motors you suggested but my budget is $9000C. So you are saying this motor is worth $7000US. So if I got it for $6000US it should work out for me with modest use for a few summers? Just trying to make sense of it all. Thanks again folks.

[Baja170]

I would not risk it. There are better deals to be had man. See that rust line below the trim stop bolt. That Has been sitting a while NOT inside unless it is VERY humid inside. Plus for that kind of money you should be able to get something with lower time and you probably need a lower water pickup to keep pressure at the speeds you can run. JMO.

[vnemous]

Watch the boards and the classifieds the 300x is quickly becoming a commodity. Undamaged and hours would not stop me at this point. The x is starting to become rare as time goes on. Production ceased in 2005 but my opinion is it is the last true big block high performance 2 stroke motor and the price for these will continue to rise. One that is not damaged or windowed is a find. When you rebuild it you will know what you have, thats an advantage over someone telling you what was done which unfortunately isnt always the truth or done right. JMO

[vnemous]

Im trying to figure out why the put trim wedges in for more trim but put a trim bolt in to limit trim??????? Did they not realize they could take the trim bolt out?

[Chaz]

yes heavy duty single ram clamp. If your not looking to go very fast you can always sell the x and get a motor that will give you better mileage, still good speed and more life. Most 3.0 mercs, with out problems, can go 1000+ hours before rebuild. JMO

PS you probably will have some money left over

500 hours , they are just getting broken in ...

Like most of them , they amass most of there hours below 5000 rpm ...

It would be easy to jump on the it's not worth $7000 train ... truth is as Vnemous said , They go up in value every day.

Pull the heads off , run you finger nail from just above the exhaust port to the top (deck) and see if there is a little ledge about a quarter inch from the top . Most of them I see , have a little line , but no depth to it ..

If the bore is in good shape and you still want to go thru it . Rod bolts and rod bearings , touch hone the block , have the pistons coated and a new set of rings , reeds and gaskets , then have fun for another 500 hours ..

Primo .. they put articulating 4-5 , 5-6 , 6-7 joints in my neck December 8th ... Keep the faith brother !

[Primo]

Definitely mixed opinions on this board. What to do...

Baja not sure about the rust??

I didn't mention it's from a reputable dealer.

Bring a marine mechanic with me let him test it out?

See if I can get some kind of warranty?

Offer him $6kUS?

Venemous I figure it will hold it's value...read that somewhere because prices keep going up on them.

Chaz...good to hear you thoughts...I'm not a mechanic...what would that cost? Everybody's got something...hows the neck now? July 14 is my 30th anniversary in a chair! Bring it on baby!! Party on!!