Your thoughts about powering my boat

[leonardbaker1]

I have a late 1960's Starcraft aluminum boat. 16' V-hull maximum HP rating of 85. The boat has 3/4" wood floors, some built in's etc. so it is not a bare bones weight. I will be using this as a river fishing boat and occasionally will pull a tube. Generally we will have 4 people and a large dog in the boat... unless one of the four is on a tube. I have been doing this on the cheap by waiting for things on CL and so forth instead of new. Now I am looking for the outboard. I already have steering in the boat so will not be looking for a tiller model. A couple of years ago I had a 15' crestliner, A little lighter when full and was able to use a 99 Force 40hp engine for everything including tubing. I am looking at Johnson/Evinrude motors between 50 and 85hp from the early 70's to early 80's. Does anyone have recommendations or cautions for me regarding these motors? Would you recommend others such as Mercury? Any of your thoughts and experiences, things to watch out for or check on a motor before purchase, would be welcome.

Thanks,
Lenny

 

[JB]

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

Seems to me that a JohnnyRude 70HP triple looper would be perfect for you, Lenny. It was many years ahead of the industry in to 70s.I have used three of them and loved every one.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

Seems to me that a JohnnyRude 70HP triple looper would be perfect for you, Lenny. It was many years ahead of the industry in to 70s.I have used three of them and loved every one.

Agree. Strong running motors and parts are still available in most places. Just be sure to run the usual compression test and check lower unit oil. Plugs tell a lot too. A 70HP should make the boat fly and you happy.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

A 60hp 2 cylinder Johnnyrude would put you at the bottom end of the 70% rating but only saves you about 65lbs. over the 70hp 3 cylinder. One of those would be my choice over the V4's for a fishing rig.

The Alumacraft project I recently purchased is rated for a 70hp and came with a damaged 70hp. Repowered with a 50hp 2 cylinder that I was able to locate on the cheap. Reason for the change was to save weight on the stern and decrease the draft a bit. If I find it a bit under powered I will then start looking for a 2 cylinder 60hp.

 

[leonardbaker1]

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

Thanks to all of you for your help. I was leaning towards a late 70's evinrude/johnson after browsing through the forums. This is what I needed to focus my search.

Thanks,
Lenny

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

Lenny, best of luck on your quest.

From my own experience watching LC the 3 cylinder 70hp and the 2 cylinder 55hp are probably the most widely available Johnnyrudes. The post 1986 or 87 models will be the VRO oil injection models, pre 86-87 they still used premix. If you can find a VRO try to find one that includes the oil tank as they can get pricey if you decide to use it that way.

The 2 cylinders came as 50hp, 55hp, and 60hp. In my area the 60hp are rare to find. The 3 cylinder came as 60hp, 65hp and 70hp. For your application I to believe the 70hp would be the way to go.

At all cost stay away from the pre 1974 models. Those have Selectric shift and parts can be a problem finding. Also from reading here those models have some serious ignition gremlins also that had been corrected in the post 1973 models.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

I agree with the recommendation for an old 70 (I have had 2).

However, growing up, we had two 16' starcraft bowriders and they had 55's on them IIRC (at least one did) and it worked well for (a) family of 4 plus lots of gear for transport to an island (b) 2-4 adults fishing in the Chesapeake Bay (c) 4 teenagers waterskiing or pulling a tractor innertube (before the days of the fancy ones!). Because it is a light boat wth a falrly flat bottom you can get away with a smaller motor than a heavier boat.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Your thoughts about powering my boat

Not to take away from the Johnny/Rude pursuit but do not dismiss a newer Merc 75 HP three cylinder if you run across one at a price that fits your budget. Those are good engines. Bigger displacement and nice 2.34:1 gearing.