Boat Motor

[SteveR]

I have an interesting problem. Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of this... Last year was up to Winnie for a week, my 25 horse Merc was running just fine, then quit. Well, it was bad. Just got done tearing it apart to find a fish hook well imbedded into the side of one of the cylinder, deeply cut into the piston and the cylinder, and the crank had a foot or two of fishing line rapped around it. I can't for the life of me understand how that could have happened. So, I am looking for a good used 25 to 40 horse tiller motor with a 20" (long) shaft. Seems parts are very expensive or not available. It was a '87 two cylinder motor, a great motor. But just how can that even happen, no signs of water in the cylinders or anything. Engine never tore apart before this either. Go figure. And from the looks of the hook it wasnt one that I ever had. Any ideas on a good motor would be appreciated.