I know Force is no longer in business, and parts are hard to come by, but for me, this isn’t a keep forever type of purchase. I plan on using the boat/motor for a couple of years to see if I will use it as much as I think I will. If I do, then I plan on selling and moving up to a better boat. My problem is I don’t want to get stuck with a motor that will cost me a boatload (sorry I couldn’t resist!) of money to fix during this period when I’m trying to decide if I want to get a new boat or not. I would love to find a Merc, but as I’m sure you all know they are pricey and don’t come with the boats I’m looking at. If you do think it is a good idea to go with a Force outboard, are any things in particular I should look for when I’m looking at potential boats?
The ones I’ve been looking at for the most part are post 95, would this be late enough for the Mercury switchover? When did this occur and how can I tell if the motor is one of these types?

As I said before, I would lean toward an inboard in a boat that old, simply due to the fact outboards of this age are ready to go.

There is a reason the only boats in your price range have Force motors. The motors are spent…

You would be better off going for an older boat with an inboard than a newer one with the Force.

No doubt William (answer above) knows what he’s talking about. 18′ boats aren’t “offshore fishing boats” and any 18-footer will “ride rough in anything other than calm conditions at sea.

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