Looking at a boat with twin merc 260 hp what should I know

[NOACK15]

Im thinkimg of buying my first boat. It has twin merc 260 hp. I believe they are 1996. They have alien cowls and about 120 hrs.
What do I need to know about these engines? What is the life expectancy? Are they good engines? Strengths and weaknesses? Thanks for the help.

[300x Stoker]

If this is your first boat and you have to ask those questions, you would best leave a boat like that to someone who already knows the answers. But that's just my opinion.

[NOACK15]

I dont mean to sound clueless. I am a high performance marine mechanic by trade, but I deal with in boards and sterndrives. Mostly bbc or mecury racing. I can fix or work on anything. Just looking for some tips from your outboard experience. If you need any help with an i/o i am your guy but outboards will be new to me.

[WILDMAN]

I had twin 260's on my first Liberator. THEY SUCK!! Tempermental to start sometimes and blew up 3 times the first two years and they had less than 50 original hours on them. They also got 1.5 mpg. 42 gallons and it would literally run out of gas at 65 miles! When premium gas was $4 a gallon and with oil, it cost me $3 A MILE to drive it. At 100 mph, that's 5 bucks A MINUTE!!!

[eli]

120 hours she is going to need rings ,i would do a leak down before purchase ,pressure check gear cases
fuel injectors may need cleaning at some point

[Markus]

120 hours she is going to need rings ,i would do a leak down before purchase ,pressure check gear cases
fuel injectors may need cleaning at some point

Also, electrical components break all the time, so you will need a spare stator, a couple of spare coils and a couple of spare switch boxes.

They are great engines but high maintenance.

If you are good at trouble shooting and can get spares quickly, they are a good choice.

[Greg G]

Im thinkimg of buying my first boat. It has twin merc 260 hp. I believe they are 1996. They have alien cowls and about 120 hrs.
What do I need to know about these engines? What is the life expectancy? Are they good engines? Strengths and weaknesses? Thanks for the help.

Is the boat you are looking at all white by chance?

[stoker2001]

Is the boat you are looking at all white by chance?

sure sounds like the 25' Talon mostly white with some purple that was local to me?i hear from some peeps in the know that it is a VERY nice piece!

[NOACK15]

That would be the boat. Im not sure if im interested or not. Im trying to get some more info on the engines. I dont want to waste anyones time. I figured the outboards would be more fuel efficient and cheaper to maintain than what I am used to but it doesn't sound like it.

[NOACK15]

120 hours she is going to need rings ,i would do a leak down before purchase ,pressure check gear cases
fuel injectors may need cleaning at some point

What kind of leak down numbers would I be looking for. Gear cases and injectors would not be a big deal. We have a injector machine at the shop. Thanks

[RIVERRUMMER 70]

Don't worry about it........open your wallet ......you Hp I/O mechanics make the big bucks!
lol..

[WILDMAN]

The new 300xs motors are good on gas. At 50-60 mph my 25 Liberator with two 300's gets 3.7 mpg. Running 90-110 all day will still get over 2.5 mpg. It runs 68 at 4000 rpm and 90 at 5000. I'd think a 25 Talon would get the same.

[PARKER RABE]

@120 hours a 260 is about done.

[eli]

What kind of leak down numbers would I be looking for. Gear cases and injectors would not be a big deal. We have a injector machine at the shop. Thanks

a good low hour motor 1 to 3 %
generally 3 to 5% is good anything above 5 % is telling you another leak down in 20 hours see where were at

[timmc6]

@120 hours a 260 is about done.

I got one one 99.9 hours get some!!lol