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...
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.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-10
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.
Still deciding whether a repower makes sense at all? Start with our guide on whether to repair, repower, or sell your boat, then come back here for the old-motor logistics.
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 to an HST-registered dealer as part of the same repower transaction in Ontario, HST is generally calculated on the difference between the new motor price and the trade-in value, not the full purchase price. This is the federal trade-in rule (Excise Tax Act, subsection 153(4)) and it applies in the typical case where a private owner trades in to a dealer. How your transaction is structured matters, so the numbers below are an illustration, not tax advice.
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.
Prices here are planning figures as of July 2026. For live Mercury motor pricing, see the Mercury pricing reference.
If you have questions about how this applies to your specific situation, your accountant or the CRA is the right call.
Trade it in, sell it privately, or recycle it?
You've got three ways out for the old motor, and the right one depends on what it's worth and how much of your time you want to spend.
| Option |
What you get |
Effort |
The catch |
| Trade-in |
Instant credit toward the new motor, plus the HST reduction |
None, we handle it at repower time |
The credit may be below a private-sale sticker price |
| Private sale |
Potentially a higher sticker price |
Weeks of listings, no-shows, and lowball offers |
You lose the HST offset, and your time isn't free |
| Recycling |
A clean, responsible end for the motor |
Minimal |
No money back, this is for motors with no remaining value |
The HST math changes the comparison more than people expect. A $3,000 trade-in credit reduces your taxable amount, which at 13% HST means it is effectively worth about $3,390 against a private sale price. A private buyer would have to pay you more than that before selling it yourself comes out ahead, before counting your time.
One thing to know upfront: we take motors on trade against a repower or new motor purchase. We don't buy used outboards outright.
What we look at when we assess a trade-in
No mystery checklist here. When we put a number on your old motor, this is what we're looking at:
- Brand and horsepower
- Model year and hours
- Whether it runs (a motor we can hear is worth more than a promise)
- Compression and diagnostics
- Lower unit condition
- Corrosion and overall cosmetics
- Shaft length (affects who can use it next)
- Whether controls, harness, and propeller are included
It's the same assessment behind our trade value tool at harrisboatworks.ca/tradevalue, so the number you see online holds up in the shop.
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.
If your old motor has no trade value, leave it with us when you repower. No charge. We route dead outboards through certified recycling channels so the oil, fuel, and metals are handled properly.
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 about 80 feet 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.
