Last reviewed: 2026-06-06 > Quick answer: Your old outboard can be traded in toward the new motor, used to reduce the taxable amount of the transaction (which affects your HST), or disposed of properly if it's beyond any trade value. Most customers do a combination of all...
Last reviewed: 2026-06-06
Quick answer: Your old outboard can be traded in toward the new motor, used to reduce the taxable amount of the transaction (which affects your HST), or disposed of properly if it's beyond any trade value. Most customers do a combination of all three. We inspect every trade-in and give you a number upfront, before you commit.
Your old motor doesn't have to be your problem
Here's the short answer: when you repower at Harris Boat Works, your old outboard can be traded in toward the new motor, used to reduce the taxable amount of the transaction (which affects your HST), or disposed of properly if it's beyond any trade value. Most customers do a combination of all three.
Nobody in Ontario explains this clearly. We're going to.
What your old motor is actually worth
This is the part dealers skip over, and it costs people money.
Your outboard has trade-in value based on brand, horsepower, age, condition, and whether it runs. A well-maintained Mercury or Yamaha in the 90–115hp range with reasonable hours is worth meaningfully more than a seized two-stroke that hasn't started since 2018.
We inspect every trade-in before we quote it. You get a number upfront, not a "we'll figure it out after we pull it off the transom" conversation.
Not sure what yours is worth? Run it through our trade value tool at harrisboatworks.ca/tradevalue. Same engine we use in the shop, no email wall, and it accounts for age, hours, and condition.
The HST credit: how it works in Ontario
When you trade in a motor as part of a repower transaction in Ontario, you may only pay HST on the difference between the new motor price and the trade-in value, not the full purchase price.
That can be a real number. On a $14,960 motor (a Mercury 90 ELPT FourStroke at our current price) with a $3,000 trade-in credit, you pay HST on $11,960 instead of the full price. At 13%, that keeps about $390 in your pocket. We're not tax advisors and your situation may vary, but this is how the transaction generally works in Ontario, and we apply it correctly on every repower.
If you have questions about how this applies to your specific situation, your accountant or the CRA is the right call.
What if the old motor isn't worth anything?
Some motors aren't worth trading. If you're replacing a 1998 two-stroke Evinrude that hasn't run in four years, the trade value may be zero or close to it. That's honest, not a negotiating position.
In that case, we help you get the motor disposed of properly. We can advise on proper disposal through a certified recycler. Ask us at the time of your repower.
Old marine two-strokes contain oil, fuel, and metals that shouldn't go in a dumpster. Disposal done right is better for Rice Lake. That's not a slogan, the lake is 200 metres from our shop.
The honest version of the whole transaction
When you repower with us, we give you:
- A trade-in assessment on your current motor before you commit
- An installed price that includes rigging, controls, and anything else the job needs
- HST calculated correctly on the net amount after trade-in
- A proper plan for the old motor, trade credit, disposal, or both
The motor price is the easy number. The installed, net-of-trade price is the honest one.
Every repower gets an on-water test on Rice Lake before pickup. No exceptions.
Ready to see what your old motor is worth and what a new Mercury will cost you?
Build your repower quote at mercuryrepower.ca or call us at 905-342-2153.
Related guides
