which one would you choose?Johnson Seahorse or Evinrude Lightwin ?

[distrbd]

Here I am again asking more questions but your opinions matter.
I have the opportunity to buy either a 4 hp seahorse for $220 or fully refurbished Evinrude Lightwin (weedless) for $425,I don't know the year of the Seahorse (72?),the more expensive Lightwin according to the seller "[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]1972 Cleaned and painted new impeller new coils points condensers carb kit new propeller oil changed runs mint good enough to wax"
I'm always leary of buying things like a motor that has been painted,makes me feel like someone is trying to hide something,
Please let me know what you think,I talked to the owner of the $220 seahorse and he says he has done nothing to it because it's running fine!
The Evinrude has done what would cost me time & parts eventually to do but I'm paying for all that up front don't I?[/FONT]

 

[kbait]

The Johnson is a '76, and is cooler looking . If you're ok w/ replacing impeller, and cleaning/setting points, buy it. If you're going to pay someone for the work, maybe the lightwin is for you. Just make sure seller runs motor for you, and it idles to a whisper..
Good luck!

 

[distrbd]

Thanks for your reply Kbait, you are right about the Johnson and the eventual future repairs, I don't mind learning to fix these small outboard motors at all, but I need a decent motor that I can rely on and this Johnson is not the one.

I just came back from the seller's house , he tried to run it in front of me and it started only after 4 or 5 pulls,then not much water was coming out of the vents so it needs a carb adjustment and an impeller right off the bat, so I walked away from that deal.
I'm now thinking of reconsidering my other option ,it looks like you are not turned off by the fact that the Evinrude is painted,maybe I'll make an offer .
Thanks again for your time .

 

[tomhath]

I have both a '76 Johnson 4hp and a '67 Evinrude 3hp. Both will start every time and run all day.

The Johnson has noticeably more power, but both are trolling motors (3 MPH with the Evinrude versus 5 MPH with the Johnson on a 14 ft aluminum semi-vee). Neither of those motors pumps more than a fine mist of water out of the vent.

 

[distrbd]

Thanks tomhath,before I went to see the johnson, I watched the same model being tested on youtube and the one I went to buy had not much water at all coming out of the vents and that was at higher speed,at low there was no sign of water to speak of but it is good to know I shouldn't expect a stream of water , just a good mist is fine I suppose.

 

[bspeth]

The Evinrude looks brand new. I would get a 6hp minimum.

 

[Bullie]

That little Evinrude looks really good. JMO but that doesn't look like someone trying to hide anything but rather someone that enjoys restoring stuff. It is a little bit more...but Dang... it looks like it just came from the dealer. If it runs as good as it looks its a keeper. A little time and a manual and you would have the Johnson buzzing along too. Again, JMO, but neither of these really seems like a bad deal.

 

[Chinewalker]

The impeller would cost you less than $20 and might take a half hour to replace, even for a newbie.

 

[gm280]

Yes I concur the Johnson is indeed a '76 model. I noticed that with the cowling colors. I have a '76 forty horse and it used those same color scheme... If you have confidence in the refurbished engine, It would seem the better buy. The owner did a pretty nice job refurbishing it from the picture. But as stated above, you really need to see it run. Discounting your time and effort, if the Johnson has to have the same parts replace, you will be in for a lot more money to get it to run properly. Just saying. JMHO!

 

[tomhath]

Which ever one you decide to buy, if the head gasket hasn't been replaced it's worth doing that. The gasket itself is cheap and replacing it only takes a few minutes (no valves in a 2 stroke).

But the main thing is to clean out the water passages in the head, sediment and deposits build up in them and block a lot of the cooling water.

 

[distrbd]

Thank you all for your comments, I learned a few things.
I'm still looking.

 

[distrbd]

No Title

Here are two more potential candidates but the price difference is too much and I don't know why:
#1=1960-1970 Evinrude Fisherman 6hp. rebuilt and stored inside,the seller's wife is answering the emails and does not know what was done to it,no tank $400:
#2=Evinrude 1970,with new points, coils, condensors, lower unit seal replaced, clutch dog replaced,no gas tank ,$175.
I think it's no brainer to choose the 2nd one but for some reason it has been for sale for a few days whether it means anything I don't know.
what do you think?

 

[bspeth]

I would not hesitate to get #2.they are easy to work on.Even in bad shape 175 is worth it.Make sure it runs in a barrel and shifts.They are common motors and they will come up often if you keep looking.The metal gas tanks are nice though.you can bring your own primer bulb and just dip the hose in a mixed I gal can.

 

[distrbd]

I contacted the #2 Evinrude's owner,he told me straight up it's too old to keep going up and down the lake with it,although every wear item has been changed but he says it will not be as trouble free as I would like it to be, of course for $175 I didn't expect much but since a lot of work was done to it I thought to give it a shot.
According to the owner it's only good enough to be used for short periods! maybe the cylinders were worn out I don't know for sure.

 

[AlTn]

listen closely to what he's telling you

 

[MTboatguy]

Being honest with you for the prices you are looking at, you are overthinking it, they are all eventually going to need something.

 

[SparkieBoat]

the thing is you can get $$$ tied up into a little motor like that. my preference is to get a much newer motor and just pay more for it. but I know some of these guys have spare motors/ parts laying around and know how to keep these old motors going cheap. but for the average joe who will only own 1 motor, I would shuck out the dollars for something newer. I saw a 5 or 8 hp motor the other day for $500 and it was pretty new. I forgot the details but I see deals like that regular.

 

[distrbd]

the thing is you can get $$$ tied up into a little motor like that. my preference is to get a much newer motor and just pay more for it. but I know some of these guys have spare motors/ parts laying around and know how to keep these old motors going cheap. but for the average joe who will only own 1 motor, I would shuck out the dollars for something newer. I saw a 5 or 8 hp motor the other day for $500 and it was pretty new. I forgot the details but I see deals like that regular.

You are right,I have given up on the older models from the seventies although I admit I find them more attractive /pleasing to the eye (and the pocket) but good ones are hard to find so I'm now looking for a newer 5-6 year old Mercury/Evinrude for the same reasons you and others mentioned.