Is it better to have an electric motor for a small boat or to invest in an outboard motor? That is the age old fishing question, and the answer is that most boats have both in case they traverse large bodies of water. The advantage of a new outboard motor is that it has no worn parts and does not produce excess pollution because of a worn motor. Two-cycle motors are powerful for a small size, although more complex motors make less smoke and might have a longer life span.
A new motor can last for decades if the oil or fuel-oil mixture is kept at the right level. A used motor might have unknown performance issues, especially after being run for a while and achieving a higher temperature. If a motor was neglected, then it might have a worn cylinder, in which case it will make way too much smoke.