09-02-2006, 10:05 AM
Just my two cts, but I'd go with the Johnson from the mid 70's. Mercs where known for failures back then. Today they all trade parts and lower ends so they seem to be all alike. I've had bad luck with mercs and Yamaha's from the 70's and 80's but I think it was the bad maintenance of the previous owners. Buying used it's always a crap shoot.
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