why is 50hp hard to find?

[pcrussell50]

been doing some searching around for "lightweight-era" 2-stroke 50hp johnnyrudes. by that i mean, 2-stroke, non-oil-injection. pretty much searching the whole southwestern usa craigslist. and at any given time there are either 0 or maybe 1 for sale, while there are dozens of 25hp and lower and 75hp and higher.

i'm new to boating, less than a year, even though in now own two. wondering why 50hp is so rare on the used market? are they:
1] hugely popular?
or
2] hugely unpopular, so not many were made?
or
3] an awkward size where there aren't many boats sized right for them?

curious and frustrated.

where else is a good place to look besides craigslist?

-peter

 

[CATransplant]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

Well, for one thing, more will show up in the next couple of months, as people shift from winter to summer modes.

The 50hp size had huge sales in the first part of the 1960s, but the 75s weren't far behind, and it went up from there, as did the size of the boats and the need for bigger outboards.

So, you're at least partly right that there aren't as many of them from the period you're looking at.

I seem more of the older ones, actually, in my area, the big 4-cylinder ones. Maybe it's a longevity think, too.

Keep looking, though, and you'll find one.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

the four cylinder models r big gas guzzlers just to let u know. im running an 35hp around that era and its uses quite abit of gas at idle i mean quite a bit more then u would ever think. those motor the 50hp mught use maybe 5-6.5 gallloins of gas at full throttle just an idea. i never acually run one before though

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

for the newer 50hp with out auto oil mixing, you are looking for the wrong motor, you need to look for the 48 spl. that is a 50 without the VRO. about 1986 to new. they are very dependable motors, and people like them and keep them.

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

for the newer 50hp with out auto oil mixing, you are looking for the wrong motor, you need to look for the 48 spl. that is a 50 without the VRO. about 1986 to new. they are very dependable motors, and people like them and keep them.

I'm looking into buying one of these right now. Always liked them, never could find one I could afford in or close to Orlando. There is a 55hp commercial 2cyl engine, I own one, but it's manual everything. Start, tiller steer, tilt, etc. Mine's a 2000 model.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

they are hard to find, but if you find a 50 with oil mixing they are very easy to convert.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

they are hard to find, but if you find a 50 with oil mixing they are very easy to convert.

I have a '97 Johnson 50 spl w/VRO that I'm going to install on a project boat I'm working on. Just curious, why would you convert to a mix? Is the VRO unreliable? If so, where can I find more info on how to convert it?

I tried to post this a second ago, but it didn't show up. If this is a double post I apologize in advance. Thanks.
BOB

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

Bob, you 97 has a OMS, pump, i would not change it. there is a difference in a VRO>VRO 2 and a OMS Pump. OMS is a constant fuel mix, much more reliable than the previous pumps.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

As the owner of one of the motors your looking for, 1977 55 horse eninrude , I'm very happy with the it. If I don't start it for a couple of weeks the first time It try it starts like a mercury after that though just bumping the starter and it's running It is happy pulling kids on tubes all day or just idling around all day so I'm not looking to sell. But with gas prices compared to last summer if you have a good 75/85 horse motor of the same era in good shape I'll trade even up
jamie

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

Bob, you 97 has a OMS, pump, i would not change it. there is a difference in a VRO>VRO 2 and a OMS Pump. OMS is a constant fuel mix, much more reliable than the previous pumps.

I'm going to pretend that I already knew this and that it was a major factor in my decision to by the motor. Thanks for the good news TD! Sorry pcrussell50, I'm keeping it.
BOB

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

I'm going to pretend that I already knew this and that it was a major factor in my decision to by the motor. Thanks for the good news TD! Sorry pcrussell50, I'm keeping it.
BOB

oh darn. I was looking forward to driving out to va from southern cal to pick it up.

-peter

 

[5150abf]

Re: why is 50hp hard to find?

Keep looking, something will turn up eventually, they are extremely good motors.

I have an '81 evinrude 50 with the original power head that still has 135 compression.

You may need to build one, get one with a bad lower or power head and make it run again, you are looking for a 30 year old motor so alot of them have died and been parted out.

Around here in Indiana there are a ton of them on pontoons and mid size fishing boats.