'73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

[22E6441]

Hi,
I'm looking for a new boat as the transom and floor are rotten on my old 14. There is a local add for a 1973 16' bowrider that has a matching 73 johnson 40hp for $350 incl trailer. As long as the boat has a solid transom and floor, I think I might grab it. I have a chrysler 35hp motor on my 14 that I could mount on this 16 footer if I couldn't bring the johnson back to life. The add only says that it doesn't run, and they don't know why.

Any thoughts? I don't think parts would be hard to find for a 73 johnson (a heck of a lot easier than my 69 Chrysler anyway). If I couldn't get it running, would my 35 be strong enough to push a 16? It's only 5 less than what it originally came with....

Any thoughts appreciated....

Cheers!

 

[JB]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

Yes, a good running 35 would do well on a 16 rated for 40, and a Johnny would be a whole lot easier to maintain than a Chrysler.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

Hi,
If I couldn't get it running, would my 35 be strong enough to push a 16?

Yes, it would push it. The next question would be, "fast enough?". That would depend on what you're going to do. Probably not as fast as the 14' that you had. But then again, maybe faster, if the floor and transom on your 14' were full of water.

 

[22E6441]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

But then again, maybe faster, if the floor and transom on your 14' were full of water.

That's a heck of a good point.....

Like I said, as long as the transom and floor are good, I think I'll grab it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

it really depends on what the boat is? open fisherman, or a bow rider, small cuddy, are all 16 ft boats.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

If I saw that deal in Ottawa, I'd snap it up

(fyi: it's a five hour drive from Ottawa to Hamilton)

 

[22E6441]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

The boat is a 1973 Ebbtide Lakemaster bowrider. I'm going to see it in the morning. Here's a picture.

I saw the resto thread by TriadSteeler

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=184482

Dang......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

the 40 will push it. but hull is probably rated for a 70-90 hp.

 

[22E6441]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

So I went and saw the boat today.

OMG

Dude said that the transom and floor had been done when I talked to him on the phone...here's what I found:

Saw the boat...multiple tarps draped over it. Tarps are good for nothing unless you have one tarp big enough to cover the whole boat and tie it down properly. He had rocks holding down one corner....IN the boat. Needless to say, when we pulled the tarps off, there were 4 other tarps folded up inside the boat....frozen together and to the floor, along with probably 40 litres of water that had frozen solid. The plug was out and the boat was tilted back, but all the crap he had in the boat was probably blocking the drain, which started to cause the ice build up.

The floor was an untreated piece of plywood screwed into the old floor with the seats mounted directly on top. He had it covered with a piece of indoor / outdoor carpet like what you might put on a porch. wasn't even glued in so he pulled it back to show me the floor he thought was so great.

The transom was about the worst thing I've ever looked at. It was "broken". Yeah. Broken....right up the middle...you could see the huge crack from inside the boat...but it had that oh so reliable piece of aluminum over the back of the boat.....apparently that's considered a rebuilt transom in some circles. the other fittigns inside the boat were junk too, and rotten wood was evident everywhere.

The trailer was junk....busted lights, didn't have proper chains, didn't fit the boat, was missing some rollers....and probably should have been missing the others. One tire was flat.

The engine....the skeg was cracked and one side of the cavitation plate was busted off. Must have hit something nasty. It didn't run and he has never heard it run.

Unreal.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

sorry!!

 

[22E6441]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

I'm the sorry one! Had my hopes up a bit on finding a deal....oh well, still lots of time until boating season....

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

That's a drag, finding a boat in that condition. But, those old Ebbtide Lakemasters are good boats...the one you looked at was very neglected. My first boat was a Lakemaster that was well taken care of...great family boat, powered by a 72 Merc 500 5hp. Not a speed demon, but was roomy and comfortable and the 50hp Merc pushed it up to 32 mph with four on board. What a shame he let it deteriorate like that.

 

[Nandy]

Re: '73 Johnson 40 with 16' bowrider

Those opportunities are still there. The Cobia in my signature (is the one in the yard from my avatar) became mine for 250 i think and after rebuilding the motor and doing the deck I think I came under the 600. The deck is not done like I wanted as it is just wanted to temporize it until I get out of this economic binge I am plus to be honest, im looking for a similar hull but open bow. It is a great boat and a very reliable motor. Keep looking... Good luck