best from the fiftys

[rdecheno]

what do you think is the most wanted outboard from the fiftys my choice would be 1956 johnson javelin

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: best from the fiftys

evinrude/johnson 15,18, 20, 25 hp of the late 50's

 

[JB]

Re: best from the fiftys

JohnnyRude little twins. . .3, 5.5 etc.

 

[steelespike]

Re: best from the fiftys

I think the 57 Javelin was a little flashier.Also the 10 hp through the fifties;capable of an honest 21 mph and good on gas.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: best from the fiftys

I kind of like the '57 Larks - the ones based on the Bigtwin ERude, but with gray and black paint and a bit of chrome.



???

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: best from the fiftys

Me Dad had a 1956 'Rude 15 "fast twin" that was a real fine engine. The 35 HP 2 cyl Johnny we had, (1958 I think), was a real fine engine as well. Neither of 'em ever laid down, 'til me bud sunk Dad's ol' 'Rude 8-10 years back. N' it was over two miles to the boat launch from RR island, never had to row, (back then), have since, ('course it is only 5/8 mile to me dock on the mainland), rarely go to the public launch anymore.

If the question was about 1967 to 1988 high powered engines, me answer would be a bit different.

Although I really liked me 1974 25 HP Johnny, n' me 9.9 HP Johnny is real fine.

Hard ta beat 2 cylinder Johnnyrudes under 40 HP from 1950 on up, IMHO.

I'd vote fer both Johnny n' 'Rude if it let me, which it didn't so I didn't.

Me overpriced $.02 JR

 

[wbeaton]

Re: best from the fiftys

Best and most wanted are two different things. My favourite would be the 10 hp QD series Johnson's. However, the most wanted is likely between the 1956-57 Javelin (1957 being first), the Martin 20 or 200 whichever the rare one is (I think the 200) or one of the early Mercury's (I have no idea which ones command top dollar, but some of them sure do).

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: best from the fiftys

I have a couple of old Mercs,a Mark 20 and a Mark 25 which are probably the most desireable of the '50s engines to me although the old 10 hp Lightnings were high on my list as well.There is nothing like the sound of those old Mercs.Ron G

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: best from the fiftys

My grandaddy's best friend had a 10hp Johnson, just like the one in wbeaton's avatar. He also had a home made plywood boat, that was about 14 feet long. With the exception of the winter months, the guy went fishing in that boat every single day, unless the winds were high or it was raining like a dog. He would make the trip across a salt water pond, through a breachway, into the ocean and would then run a few miles off-shore.

That old Johnson never let him down. Day in and day out, it started in a couple of pulls and took him to the fluke, stripers and bluefish. He also had a habit of cutting between some rocks at the end of the jetty. He did this because there was a shallow area a couple of hundred feet beyond the mouth, which would cause the breakers to rise pretty significantly. The area where there was a breach in the jetty was still deep, but if you didn't go in exactly the right place and time the waves just right, you would hit submerged boulders. A momentary power loss while making the cut, would have ended in disaster, with boat, motor and occupant dashed up, onto the rocks.

Here's to old Swedes, who fished every day and to old Johnsons, that took them to the fish and back with the reliability of and old, windup watch!



???

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: best from the fiftys

If the question was current market value of a collectable n' speed: HANDS DOWN MERCURY!!!

I don't race butt: the Mark 75H n' 25H were some of the many notable n' collectable speed demons from ol' Karl's stable.

Merc had a ol' ten HP from the fittys that would eat anything alive on a light 3 point hull South of a 50 HP, as well!!!!

Me overpriced $.02. JR

 

[Texasmark]

Re: best from the fiftys

My grandaddy's best friend had a 10hp Johnson, just like the one in wbeaton's avatar. He also had a home made plywood boat, that was about 14 feet long. With the exception of the winter months, the guy went fishing in that boat every single day, unless the winds were high or it was raining like a dog. He would make the trip across a salt water pond, through a breachway, into the ocean and would then run a few miles off-shore.

That old Johnson never let him down. Day in and day out, it started in a couple of pulls and took him to the fluke, stripers and bluefish. He also had a habit of cutting between some rocks at the end of the jetty. He did this because there was a shallow area a couple of hundred feet beyond the mouth, which would cause the breakers to rise pretty significantly. The area where there was a breach in the jetty was still deep, but if you didn't go in exactly the right place and time the waves just right, you would hit submerged boulders. A momentary power loss while making the cut, would have ended in disaster, with boat, motor and occupant dashed up, onto the rocks.

Here's to old Swedes, who fished every day and to old Johnsons, that took them to the fish and back with the reliability of and old, windup watch!



???

Hey dude; me too.

When I was a little tyke, my sis and I would go from Houston, TX. to grandpa's "resort" in Rockport. He would take us to the Rockport boat basin in his '39 Ford coupe with his Johnny 10, exactly the one you are talking about in the trunk....he was real persnickedy and kept everything in pristeen condition....having come up from bare roots, he knew the value of a dollar.

He had a planked 16' skiff docked in the basin and we would offload all our gear and the 10 hp Johnny onto the skiff and go out for a days fun. If we didn't catch at least 20 Speckled Trout (Spotted Weak Fish) on an outing something was wrong.

Those memories are forever ingrained in my brain and I will always cherish them and I am tearing up just thinking about it. Gotta quit.

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Re: best from the fiftys

I have a couple of old Mercs,a Mark 20 and a Mark 25 which are probably the most desireable of the '50s engines to me although the old 10 hp Lightnings were high on my list as well.There is nothing like the sound of those old Mercs.Ron G

Sir, this 10 hp Lightening is what I was talking about when I said that on a rental 14' skiff in the Galveston Bay, TX. area, in the '50's, that engine was BOSS HOG. Problem was, my daddy bought a ScottAtwater 10 hp (because of the Bail-A-Matic) and all I could do was "read em and weep" as the Lightenings blew past us.

Great reminissing.

Mark

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: best from the fiftys

I like the small twin cylinder motors. Tough little workhorses.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: best from the fiftys

My picks are the KG9 & the Mark 40

 

[Willyclay]

Re: best from the fiftys

My first outboard motor, 1947 Mercury KD-4(S), will always be special because it is what got me started down this path over 50 years ago. Since we are rating the "Best from the Fifties", the Johnson JW-10 that I inherited from my uncle was a real jewel. Wish I still had both now!

 

[Triton II]

Re: best from the fiftys

My uncle had a British Seagull Forty Plus (mid-fifties model) for his tender to his Owens 35. As a ten year old I loved that little tender, and learnt a lot about boats, outboards (particularly how to start them in a hurry when a big wave headed my way) and rowing (when I couldn't start the thing!). This was in the seventies and that old Seagull was indestructible - it's probably still going.

 

[lonemust]

Re: best from the fiftys

Father-in-law had 5 hp ekis and 10' jon boat. Wife and I borrowed it to go fishing. shortly aft launch pwc's and bowriders cause us to capsize. The eskis went underwater (completely though it safety roped to the boat); we uprighted the boat, I pput the motor back on while still in water. Got back in the boat and the darn thing started back up after about 10 pulls. Can not beat the little engine.