Guys, as i am new to posting here, i have been lurking for a while finding some useful info. I am looking for your input here. I currently am running a 27 HP Kohler. 2004 model PD, w/o reverse, and the old lower unit. A couple of days ago, the seals went out on it. Fine. No biggy. I'll replace em' and go on my way. Then i got to thinkin. I have two options. Trade the old 27 in with no reverse, old lower unit, and go to the 36, or keep the 27 install reverse, and a new lower unit and keep runnin it. You guys that have run the 27 for a while, how long is the life expectancy? Is it worth dumping a grand into just to get reverse and a new lower unit? I have no mods, and it pushes my 18' 27 mph, which is fine for me. It gets me where i need to go. I guess the main thing i hate about it is the cold bloodedness of it. I cant keep that sob runnin when its cold out. The motor only has 80 hours on it, and they arent going to give me $h!t for it on trade. Keep it? Sell it?

I say keep it. If you want to upgrade to a reverse than do it. It is nice but most of the time I dont use it. I would probably use it more if I had the full power reverse. Currently I have the manual. A good push pole is my best friend most of the time....The life expectancy of it is quite long from my experience. We are still running some of the first 100 made and the are still going strong with minimal maint. and max abuse. I dont have any suggestions on the cold nature of them.. I just give it plenty of time to warm up before I blast off..I crank it as soon as I get to the launch and let it run while I get all my stuff on and in the boat.

The kohler is a good motor, I had one but the block cracked. need to check your case bolts from time to time, i had two fall out causing the case to crack right by the oil filter. The reverse is nice but like stated above a push pole is easier and faster if not stuck bad.

If your motor only has 80 hours on it, its barely broken in.

Like you said, you probably won't get much for a trade in or an outright sale to someone, but you never know until you try.

Motor paid for vs. new 36 = $6500 less whatever you get for you 27 vs $1000 for new lower unit and reverse.

Unless you have bigger and better plans to do something with the 36 I don't see you getting a return on your investment for a new motor. I say that because you only have 80 hrs on a 6 year old motor.

Your boat must match your rig pretty good because 27 with a 27hp is impressive. There are many here that don't get that with a 36 ob a big boat.

Hunt with the 27 this season, and if you still have the itch scratch it.

I would probably keep the 27.

Thanks for all the responses yall! I think i will keep it after talkin to yall on here. In regards to the boat being matched, it is. The boat is a 1854 Polar Kraft 1979 model. This boat was a summer project that turned out great. The boat only weighs 300 lbs. Up here, we dont do as much extreme stuff as yall down south. After living in TN for 3 years i can verify that. We still jump levees, and beat em up, but we dont have the stump play grounds like yall. Ifn we did, it would peel that boat in half. My big rig is a 22' beak, or as yall call it "skiff", and its the one that takes abuse in big water, and back water. The most work the mud boat sees is extreme mud flats, and an occasional levee, but not too many obstacles below. I think i will add a new lu, and maybe reverse in the next year or so. Again, thanks all, and if i ever get the pic function figured out on here, ill post em up.