Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

[majornflfan]

Hoping to run across someone who is familiar with this boat/motor. Ive been searching for 2 hours for a PIC of my recently purchased rig online with no luck. Ive read info on SOME johnson 115's but unable to find an explicit post about MY year or 115 sea horse. In one informing post I learned of the tilt/trim system being changed shortly before my engines year. The earlier version with the trim pistons located outside the pins is the more expensive version, luckily my trim pistons are inside the pins and motor mounts. <br /> The Boat is a 1979 17 1/2 foot V bottom CHAMPION bass boat Light blue over white hull, single console w/ two riding seats , live well in the middle of them. As mentioned the engine and trailor is original equipment from the factory, Johnson 115 Sea Horse. Hull has no water marks and in great condition. Inside engine cover is barely discolored from intake air. Garage kept and minimaly used for past SEVERAL years. <br /> From posts I have read the manufacture's recommended 50:1 for the engine by this later 70s year but again havent found exact info for mine. Is this the correct ratio?? <br /> Another concern is skiing/tubing with this boat. While the engine certainly should be capable, the rope tie thingies ( I dont recall what their called, its late) seem very small , as if for mooring only. How will this relatively short boat do towing a tube with a 250 lb. wife ERR I MEAN person on it (haha, j/k) do?<br /> How many mph may I expect out of this rig? Im kinda hoping it will go faster than my 1950 16ft Alum / 1951 15hp Evinrude rig.<br /> OK ,, I admit I could do it the hard way , take a pic of the boat , get it scanned , and Download it online, but I would really really like to just FIND a pic of it online. Ive became eternilly aggrevated with search engines after no luck with a pic of this boat/motor/trailor. Is there somewhere Im missing that may HAVE a pic? <br /> I chose this forum because Ive never seen a blue duck , and I really wanted to see a blue duck. That and when I was getting my 1950 15hp Evinrude to run everyone was very helpful.<br /> Thanks in advance if anyone is familiar with the champion/johnson combo.<br /> Tom

 

[majornflfan]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

bump

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

I think alot of the info you are looking for, as far as performance goes, it will be your job to tell us some figures for baseline.<br /> 50:1 is correct on fuel/oil mix.<br />If you would, after putting this rig on the water, let us know what you come up with-max RPM, hole-shot, how the boat handles in general.<br /> If you can post your results, the replys will follow.<br /> By the way, that vintage of Johnson is rated 115 hp, at the crankshaft, where as 1985-up, is rated at the propshaft. When NMMA steped in and said all you manufacturers are going to rate your engines at the propshaft, interesting things happened, and after a brief period of attempting to build a 120, and a 140hp engine with the powerhead being close to the size of a V-8 Chevy (not quite)....the 85hp dissapeared, the 115 became the new 90, the 140 became the 115, and OMC experimented with engines throughout that range for years. The newer models are all loop-charged engines-60 deg. "Eagle series", (Johnson), and the direct fuel injected engines, (Evinrude).<br /> I guess I kinda ran away with the history there.....Let us know what you get!

 

[majornflfan]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

Thanks KennyB<br /> I plan to put the boat on the H2O in the morning (saturday). I'll return with info on how the engine and boat perform in this same thread. <br /> Never too much info , as in "running away with the history" there. I can get enough and am always looking for as much as I can get. <br /> Thanks again and I will let you know. <br /> Tom

 

[majornflfan]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

BACK FROM A WEEKEND ON THE WATER.<br /> As stated earlier I'd just bought this rig last week and is my first "big motor" and first tilt/trim system. <br /> Still looking for info on this 1979 115horse Johnson. The hole-shot was real good when WOT from Idle, but took maybe 20 -25 seconds before bow started to come down to plane out. Is this normal reaction time to start seeing the bow pull down? Once it gets over the step and the motor unloads its really a rocket. Riding on the back 1/2 to 1/3 of the boat with the bow down tight. <br /> The speedo isnt working but the tachometer is, at WOT it was around 6200 and from what Ive read here that must be pretty decent, BUT is this the good WOT range for this older Johnson??<br /> "In plane" and backing the throttle off a bit is a really nice cruising pace for the boat and the engine, I think it actually ran the best here. Unfortunatly I did not check the tach at this "cruising speed". <br /> The previous owner has put a big "whale tale" on the lower unit of the motor , he said to help it the back of the boat from setting so low in the water. My next question here is ,,,, how is this affecting the plane-out , tilt trim??<br /> I noticed to get the boat down and over the step better, I needed to trim the motor WAY down , is this because of the "whale-tale" on the lower unit? In WOT and planed out I was playing with the trim and when I trimmed the engine UP I started to bounce and trimming it down smoothed the ride out. It seemed to ride best with the motor trimmed as far down as it would go , is this the norm??<br /> Thanks for any info, <br /> as mentioned before Ive used the forum when getting my 1950 15hp evinrude to run and always reading material available here even if it doesnt apply to myself. <br /> Tom

 

[majornflfan]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

About the SPEED of this boat. <br /> Like I said it seems to really be moving when on plane and motor unloads ,,, I would GUESS about 55 - 60 MPH ,,, the speedometer isnt working but hope to look into that. <br /> What Im wondering is would it be easier to FIX the speedometer / pitot tube, or buy a GPS hand held system??<br /> How much do those run , and are they available at a marina?

 

[tylerin]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

majornflfan, You should probably post this on outboard motor questions, you'll get better results. The whales tale you referred to will help to get on plan, but 20-25 seconds to get on plane seems like a long long time for a 17 footer. Also 60 mph on water is moving pretty good for that 115 horse Johnson. I would look to give up some of that top end for some hole shot especially if your gonna tow that 250#er. Possibly smaller prop?

 

[majornflfan]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

bump

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

I am NOT an expert, but I do have a 1971 18ft modified vee with a 1978 Johnson 115, and it always pulled me out of the water on 1 waterski (I'm 6'2" & abt 250)>>>I am now running an OMC aluminum 14x17 prop with a Stingray hydrofoil(whaletail). With a 14x19 prop, the boat was slow to plane ( abt 20 sec) and would only turn 4800rpm. Now with the 17"pitch, shes up on plan in less then 5 seconds & excellerating like a bat out of hell, up to 5300RPM. <br />With the tail I find it better to start out with the engine tucked in (down) and trim up as I gain speed.>>>With my boat, it likes to be almost all the way up in the trim for top speed. WHAT prop do you have??? <br />6200 rpm is cranking!!!but I kind of doubt your doing over 50mph>>>heck 40 on the water feels like 100 on a motorcycle!!!<br />As far as pulling a tube, does the points for towing on your boat bolt thru your transome???>>>On mine, I have 2 stainless steel bow hooks bolted tru the transome. Thats about 2 inches of plywood covered with fiberglass going across the entire back of the boat.>>>PLENTY STRONG ENUFF!!! <br />Congrats on stepping up to the new boat!!! HAVE FUN!!& GOOD LUCK!!!<br />

 

[majornflfan]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

Thanks for the info Boilermaker, <br /> As for the tow hooks, thier on the sides of the boat and pretty small really. I wish they were at the back and bolted thru the transom , but not the case. <br /> After reading some info here I thought 6200 RPM was a lot also. I have no idea as to the size of my prop. My next venture into the archives will be about determining that, now that you mention it. Maybe a different prop size will get me down on plane faster. I agree it seemed to get down faster with the motor tucked in, or way down, but once on plane I tried to trim the motor up and the boat began to bounce pretty good so I trimmed back down and let it ride. Maybe I should try trimming UP , THRU the bounce ??<br /> I failed to mention that on my trip last weekend the boat was carrying me and my dad , both about 250 lbs. It was also LOADED down with fishing gear, cooler, life jackets, ect. All the storage was pretty much full on the boat. The riding seats are relatively far back toward the transom, something I think they may have modified a bit on earlier years. This my contributed to the long time to plane out. <br /> Possibly my tach is incorrect, but Im SURE it was reading 6100 - 6200 RPM when the motor was unloaded. If I DO have say a 19 inch pitch prop and a drop to a 17 , wouldnt this INCREASE my RPMs ,, thats starting to sound a little dangerous. I would certainly give up some of that top end for quicker plane out tho. <br /> Thanks<br /> Tom

 

[Solittle]

Re: Info about a 1979 CHAMPION bass boat w/ Johnson Sea Horse 115

Dropping to a 17" from a 19" (if that is what you really have) will definately increase your rpm. I would guess the max rated rpm for that motor is 5500 rpm.<br /><br />From what you have said I would start out by moving some of the weight froward. Then try to get some more experience with what you have - though I would try to keep the max rpm under 5500. You can do this with the throttle. Try different trim settings both from a stop and while under way. At some point you will have a better feel with what the boat is doing. You may have to adjust the height of the motor and either get your prop repitched or get a new prop to get the rpms down.