Best Vintage '40s-'50s big outboard

[mtboatin]

I have a 1956 Alumicraft Deep C I'm playing with. Old literature claims it can handle up to a 60 hp short shaft. Right now I have a 1974 50hp Evinrude that works fine but just doesn't look the part. I would love any info on what would be the oldest Johnson or Evinrude 50-60 hp (preferably the bigger) that could still be hooked up to the cable steering and have remote controls up front at the steering wheel. I see that Evinrude offered a 50 hp as early as 1943 but everything I can find looks like all the controls were on the engine. The more bling the better. User friendly and parts availability are also something I'd like to keep in mind.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Best Vintage '40s-'50s big outboard

The earliest 50hp with user-friendly bits (.ie electric starting and gearshift) would be the Fat Fifty V4s of 1958, from both Evinrude and Johnson. The 1943 version is an opposed 4-cylinder beast with direct drive and no easy way to hook up electric start and remote capability. With a bit of parts swapping and light fabrication, you might be able to put a '58/'59 Johnrude 35 cowling on a later Johnrude 40 from the 1970s.

Mercury came out with their 60hp inline 6-cylinder in 1957 as the Mark 75, but I wouldn't really characterize these start-in-gear, direct reversing Dockbusters as "user friendly." Neat as heck, but they have many quirks. Mercury's Mark 55 40hp are decent enough motors, less quirky, and not hard to find. Again, with some parts swapping and light fabrication, you might be able to graft 1950s Mark 55 cowling bits onto a 1970s-1980s era Merc 45/50hp 4-cylinder.

An alternative I've seen on several occasions would be to graft a 1950s cowling onto your existing 50hp. Several routes you could go with that. One guy made a plug of a 1956 Johnson 30hp cowling, and used it as a mold. He then glassed the bottom 2-inches of the later 2-cylinder looper cowling onto his giberglass copy, then painted it appropriately to give it the look of the '56. From the water, you couldn't tell, except that the motor didn't sound the part if you're familiar with what various motors sound like. On the trailer, you could tell as the lower end, although it was the right color for '56, didn't look anything like a '56.

 

[mtboatin]

Re: Best Vintage '40s-'50s big outboard

CW,
Thanks for the wealth of info. Exactly what I needed!

I hadn't considered moding a early hood onto a later unit. May look into that as an option.

Can you shed any light on the earlier 60 hp units as well? Also is there a great difference in weight between the 50 and 60 hp of old? Any idea of the weight difference from my '74 compared to a "50s?

A local boat shop strongly recommended staying away from the Mercs due to parts being hard to get. Even though I really like their look, they pushed the JohnsonRude angle.

Had even considered a duel unit setup, like two 30's, but I understand the dual controls are like finding hens teeth. Also, I'm guessing that power to weight ratio and gph would not be as good as a single 60 or 50 hp.

I'm a more power type of guy even though the 50 hp does well. I have a family of four, plus typical fish gear and such, and a friend get's thrown in the mix every now and then. So she's getting used well when we get her out.

Cheers,
Kristian

 

[mtboatin]

Re: Best Vintage '40s-'50s big outboard

Did some searching and found a few threads on fat 50s. Seems the rule of thumb is mid to high 20 mph and 2.5 per hour.
I'm sure some of this has to do with what it's mounted on and prop pitch. I'm getting 35 mph ish on gph with my '74 50 hp now. Is this typical and something to expect when going back in time?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Best Vintage '40s-'50s big outboard

In the mid 50s Lots of boats were intended to use twin motors to reach there power rating. Two 56 Johnson or Evinrude 30 hp would make a cool setup. Not particularly practical but really cool.
The older year outboards are definitely more thirsty The fat 50 while really cool, both look and sound ,are very thirsty Every bit of 5 gallons per hour. The 30s and 35 and 40 OMC motors of the 50s and 60 are also thirsty but obviously to a lesser degree.
Other brands were similar.
My personal experience our 67 40 Evinrude used more fuel than our 77 50 Merc. when driven at the 40s speed.Our 88 50 was a step better than the 77.It is true that a marine engine will use fuel at a rate of "about" 10% of the rated hp.but as technology improves
you get more speed/power from that 10% Also motors from the 50s & 60s used fuel at a rate near the higher end of the "about"10%
number.

 

[mtboatin]

Re: Best Vintage '40s-'50s big outboard

Thanks SS. This tells me what I somewhat expected but didn't want to hear :facepalm: May consider even more aggressively, CW's advice on moding a early model engine cover to a later year unit for looks and efficiency.