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If I back my trailer in and short out the lights, blowjng the fuse, I can’t get my 96 Ford out of park until I replace the fuse. found that out the hard way. Always unplug the lights now.

This happened to a friend’s 1995 Ford F250.ABS light also came on.Safety interlock,I guess.After an hour of dinking around,I suggested to disconnect trailer lights,put alum foil around blown fuse,and find some spare fuses.

It WAS a short,for sure.Always carry many extra fuses.One short leads to another,so it’s best to replace wiring,instead of feeding the beast fuses .

OMC(Johnson/Evinrude)used the following for many years;
INTRODUCES
1234567890.
The last two letters is the year of manufacture.Maybe BMC uses the same?
Mercury/Mariner did have the date on serial#tag on later models.You can go to their website and type in serial#(Parts Express).
Yamaha is the last letter in model designation.Start with “C”(2004)and read reverse.

If the serial tag is missing,the serial# will be stamped on the powerhead.If that is altered/missing,motor is probably stolen.Friend of mine got one like that on ebay a few years back.I went to replace waterpump and could not find a serial#.Did a guesstimate on year,and it did work.

Hope that helps.

The DNR will want to know the value on the boat.This is what will appear on the title.You will pay tax on that value.Get a separate reciept from seller for the boat alone to send to the DNR.No need to report items that do not get titled.