outboards

I'm sourcing a 6hp motor for my dinghy and am wondering if anyone has any good advice or horror stories. Looks like new I could pay 1200-1500 for a Merc, Evinrude, Johnson, Nissan tohatsu suzuki etc... Hoping to get done around 500-700 used and seeing a lot on Ebay. Any brands to avoid and why?

Guys, I am about to buy a Honda 9.9, extra long shaft, electric start, with Power Thrust, and hang it on the back of my E-27 OB. I have had a Tohatsu 18 on there for a number of years, but the engine drives me nuts with all the noise it makes. I had thought that a Honda 15, extra long...