What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

[erikpn]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980...ca1QQitemZ200386292897QQptZPowerQ5fMotorboats

And what should I look out for about them?

I've been looking for a lightweight fishing/crabbing boat, so I went and looked at this boat today. A couple potential issues.
The boat looks worse than pictured... a bit more scratched up than I thought it'd be.
I can feel flex walking across some parts of the floor, and the trailer is a considerably more rusted up than the photos show. Will I have to replace the floor?
I tried to do the thing where you push down on the outboard and watch for flex in the transom. Didn't see any, but the boat was bouncing up and down and couldn't put a lot of force on there.
He installed the guards from another boat, I think he just drilled holes in the hull and bolted them in there. Could that be trouble?
It doesn't have a bilge pump, are those hard to install yourself?

I'm going back on saturday to do a test drive. Any tips or advice about what to look for or watch out for would be great! He's asking 2400... decent buy for what I'm looking for? What should I offer?

 

[oommd]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

Im new to my boat and the forum , but learning much and can offer small observation because that is the same motor I have.That motor looks allittle big for that size boat and Ill bet it rides wrong unless you have 100 pounds in the front end to keep it down at top speed. Ask about trim.
Also its looks to shallow for the crabbin we do outa bodega bay in ca. wave would fill that up pretty quick and bilge wont get it, looks like a lake boat with a very nice motor, I would probably pay that much for the motor only.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

Nahh, I wouldm't pay 2400 for just the motor, but for the price, it is a decent set up. The motor does look like it is in great shape though. I would look further and see if it has dry rot though. Replacing the floor can be quite the project.

 

[erikpn]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

Nahh, I wouldm't pay 2400 for just the motor, but for the price, it is a decent set up. The motor does look like it is in great shape though. I would look further and see if it has dry rot though. Replacing the floor can be quite the project.

I heard it's not too bad in a small tinny? basically a weekend project? How do I see if it has dry rot? I said the floors had some flex and give in certain parts..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

1977 70 hp Johnson. way over priced for a 30 year old set up.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

If the price is right by the end of the aution then you may get a good buy. That is unless the reserve is $5 under the buy it now price !!!

 

[erikpn]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

1977 70 hp Johnson. way over priced for a 30 year old set up.

What should I offer?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

I think the used boat market is totally dependant on were you live!!!!


that seems fair for around here...the up side is the boat looks taken care of and you got a clean good running 70 hp!!!!

the motor alone has to worth close to $1000 if it is as clean and good running as he says.

boats are a dime a dozen.....and the northwest should have plenty of aluminum boats for sale...

if you think it is a project boat.....stay away from it....it is a buyers market now

bob

 

[erikpn]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

Thanks. BTW can anybody identify this motor? The guy is saying its an '89 johnson sea horse.

I'd never seen a seahorse of that year listed on craigslist before?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

ask him what the numbers are on the plate you can see on the transom mount. then post them, that way you are sure.
they did make a 55 hp in 1989. 1989 model # would be J55RWLE 1989

 

[bob johnson]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

Thanks. BTW can anybody identify this motor? The guy is saying its an '89 johnson sea horse.

I'd never seen a seahorse of that year listed on craigslist before?

you can see the tag with the model numbers on it in the picture...

and from all the motors i can rememeber seeing , the ones that had the tag there, usually were older than 1989

I have a 1987 88 spl and it is on the other side on the stern bracket, I also have a 1988 48 spl that my friend just gave me , and while i havent looked at it much, I remember looking up the model number to see what year it was, and it was on the other side on the stern bracket..

in any case that 55 hp is almost the same motor as the 70 hp in the previous posts....same block i think...

good luck in your search

bob

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

in any case that 55 hp is almost the same motor as the 70 hp in the previous posts....same block i think...

The 55 is a twin and the 70 is a triple.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

The 55 is a twin and the 70 is a triple.

oops.. sorry...when i picked up my 89 70 hp, the old mechanic told me that the 55 60 and 70 hp were all the same block..

was there ever a 3 cylinder 55 hp from OMC???? there must have been at one time

bob

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

there were some detuned triple loopers in the late 60's rated at 55hp. I should've been more precise - the 55 pictured in the thread is a twin. For the record, I'd take the triple looper any day over the twin. Much smoother engines. I like my 25 twin, but I can't double the HP with the way mine runs at certain RPMS.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

The triples may have been smothe runners, but a nightmare to troubleshoot in the 55hp models. Myself, I would opt for the twin. The 70 hp triples were much better engines than the 55's and they had the bugs worked out of them.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

yes I agree with the 70 HP Evinrude/Johnson motors being my personal favorite for anything under a 115. The weight to HP ratio is good and you can pull a tube or skier so long as your boat is not too heavy and you have the right prop. For a good fishing/ crabbing boat I would recommend light weight 16' boat with a 70 or 75 HP motor..you will get good gas mileage and run out at about 30-35 MPH.
My brother has a setup like this and has had it for about 10 years and it was about that old when he got it..he has had no major issues with the motor and it still runs great. He has a 16' tri hull light weight boat. a 50 or 55 would be too small for this type boat and I would not want a smaller boat..you can get away with a 50 on a 16 skiff though. I have even seem some with 40s on them. I would advise an on the water run before buying a boat and someone mentioned earlier that it is a buyers market..I saw a very very nice set up the other day for 2K and it was loaded with live well and depth finder, nice trailer ect. And i have seen some great deals for around the 5K mark..so be patient and take your time..you will know a good boat when you ride in it.
Good Luck Sparkie

 

[bob johnson]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

does any one know when they switched were they put the tag for the model and serial numbers??

seems that the newer motors have them on one side and the older motors had them on the opposite side, like the 55 has in the picture.

to the OP, did you get a chance to write down the model numbers?

bob

 

[erikpn]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

the model number is E5092214. Help?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

well it isnt a 1989........unless that is the serial number and not the model number

the model number from the late 80s

would read , like ( as an example) J55ELCEA

the only number being the horsepower

bob

 

[erikpn]

Re: What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

He just said it's a 79, after "looking" more. Got any info about those motors? model number is 55EL79C. Is that the 2 or 3 cylinder version?