Topic: I bought a boat...

[kneedownnate]

Ok, so maybe "bought" isn't the right term.  I was given a 97 spectrum 16 ft fisher with a bad 40 hp force outboard.  So now I have the dilemma of trying to find another force to drop on or getting something altogether different.  Dropping on another well running force (lol?) would obviously be the easiest, but I would prefer something 4 stroke and bigger.

It's rated for 40-75 hp, and I've seen guys running up to 90 hp on them, but I think I would prefer to stay within the manufacturers specs.  I have seen a couple 40-50 hp hondas and yamahas within a 3 hour drive, but most either claim to have various issues or are priced a bit higher than I think is right, like a 99 honda 50 hp for $3,000.  That said, if I can repower for that or less, I will still be within my budget for a running boat anyway.  I have considered that I may have to buy a running boat to steal the engine from, but then I would have to figure out how to get rid of that pile when I was done.

If anybody sees anything worthwhile from northern california to sourthern oregon, post a link or let me know.  I don't mind a little drive, though I'd prefer to be able to pull the boat to wherever the outboard is and drop it on for simplicity-sake.

[emsvitil]

Use the back half of your 600rr.   


Just add paddle tire...……..




 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

But it’s only rated for 75 hp...

[emsvitil]

Pull a spark plug wire to cut down the HP

[redneckcustoms13]

I've been on the water my whole life. I've learned quite a bit about outboards and boating in general. First off throw that force in the trash. It's a cheap knock off of either a Chrysler, mercury or Yamaha depending on its year. I have hundreds of friends that I hunt or fish with in the aluminum mafia as we call it. It's about 45% Yamaha 4 stroke, 35% mercury 4 stroke, 10% Suzuki 4 stroke, and the remaining is older 2 stroke. This is for a reason.

Hands down the small Yamaha 4 strokes are the quietest and most fuel efficient. That is not up for debate, it is a proven fact all over the world. They are not cheap but they are great engines.

I personally run many different brands. My 1648 g3 I put a 2013 mercury 60 4 stroke on has over 3700 hours on it now and I swear to you I have done nothing but change the oil and fuel filters. Never even done an impeller in the lower unit. I absolutely love this engine. The only thing i do not care for is the noise compared to a Yamaha 60 idling next to it. There is certainly an audible difference. Every 4 stroke mercury 115 hp and down is actually a tohatsu engine. You can buy a new tohatsu for about $1500 less than a mercury and have the same engine with a different shape cowling.

Suzuki has come a long way in the past 10-15 years. Their new 4 strokes are becoming the way of life down here on the gulf coast for our larger offshore boats and the Yamaha's are being replaced by them. The big Suzukis make more power and are more efficient and faster per comparison on the same hull with the same hp rating. The smaller 4 strokes are doing well also. Just havent gotten to the point of their big brothers.

Honda outboards are not known for their durability as compared to Honda cars. Alabama power bought a fleet of cab boats, push boats, jon boats, and general working barges in the early 2000s. All of them powered by Honda. Within 2 years they had swapped almost all of them out for Yamaha and mercury. I wouldnt personally never own a Honda outboard. Parts are expensive and no one close keeps them in stock. I will say though that they re quite fuel efficient when they are running.

All of that being said, if I were in your shoes and had about 3k to spend I would be looking for a used mercury f60 or a Yamaha f60-f70.

[redneckcustoms13]

Also, dont forget you will be doing a lot of weight transfering and prop testing/tuning to get all you can out of it. The 4 stroke is quite a bit heavier than the old 2 strokes ate.

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Great input, thanks!  I have looked into it enough to know there were a lot of companies sharing.  The fleet of rental boats I used to oversee ran evinrude/johnson/omc from the era where their 4 strokes were basically suzuki.  I am also used to straddling 60-70 hp 2 stroke outboards and am not nearly as bothered by the noise as most, actually kinda like it!

That said, having to top off premix oil or worry about a troublesome vro pump and excessive leak-prone fuel fittings doesn’t have me too excited, but the need to get on the water trumps some of my concerns.

I am waiting on a call from a guy selling an ‘84 60-70 hp evinrude that “ran when removed a few years ago” for $100.  I have a too long wiring harness and may even have the appropriate control box around. 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Oh, and we have a very well reputed prop tuner who will no doubt have the right setup in mind for me, depending on what I get.  Should help cut down a bit on testing...

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Just spoke with the guy with the 70 hp evinrude and he’s gonna hold it for me till I can get it next weekend.  Turns out he’s a customer of mine and knew who I was.

I just got some lumber and will be building a stand tomorrow.  If it turns out well enough I will build another stand and will get his 90 horse to play with.  I may even build a rack and start collecting anymore cheap evinrudes I find, though that may have to wait till Stocker and I build me a shed so I can attach it to the side

[redneckcustoms13]

Hell yeah! The old 3 cyl Johnny rudes are bullet proof as long as the fuel pump doesnt get weak. I killed the bottom cyl on my 70 because it leaned out due to lack of fuel.

[kneedownnate [OP]]

See if my phone will cooperate today...

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Got one step closer to having a working boat.  Guy just delivered my $100 evinrude 70 horse and insisted on starting it for me.  Started and idled fine, responded well to throttle input, though he did say it wants to stumble when shifted under load, which I am hoping will be fixed by rebuilding the carbs.

While buying the carb kits I will be buying a fuel pump rebuild, carb solenoid rebuild (or new solenoid), and was contemplating getting a coil and wire, just in case.  I really like these things in white, especially after he showed me several pics of his current outboard in white. 

[emsvitil]

You won't go very far with that prop...………….


 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

You won't go very far with that prop...………….


 

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Remember the best boat is a friends boat 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Or a rental boat, but I have no friends and I don’t work on a rental fleet anymore, so 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

No updates other than I went to dmv to get it registered in my name.  Fully prepared to pay $300-400 since it hadn’t been registered since 2013.  Only cost me $76.  That leaves me with more wiggle room to buy outboard parts or other stuff. 

Also went to home depot for some marine carpet they had listed for nearly $5 a linear foot but they were out of it, which sucks cause it was nearly the same color as mine.  They did have some on closeout in dark green for 90 cents a foot.  I was only gonna get a few feet but decided on 10 feet for good measure, only once he had rolled out 10 feet there wasn’t much left, so I got the whole roll for about $14.

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Finally got in my shipments of parts for the johnson, but they messed up and sent me 2 starter solenoids instead of 1 solenoid and a rectifier.  No big deal, not like I need them right away, just wanted to replace everything at the same time.  May just replace the plugs, rebuild the carbs (still not sure if I wanna pull and inspect the reeds or wait till I find some aftermarkets to swap in), fix some wiring and replace the water outlet hose nipple and hose.  Was gonna replace the thermostat but forgot to get the cover gasket so it'll have to wait till the next order of parts arrives.

I was trying to remove the side panel where the control box is mounted but it's not coming out.  Not sure if the control box itself is hanging up on something or if there's a certain way I have to tilt it to get it out, but it's not moving enough to remove it.  I pulled all the bolts holding it in place and it can slide front to back about 2", so there should be nothing more attaching it to the boat, but I'm stumped.

Been looking for a bimini top with no luck, plus I would rather try to find a full enclosure if possible, but it's a pita to find stuff online built specifically for this boat.  Also not looking forward to researching which batteries to get, and not sure if I wanna run an isolator or perko switch.  Kinda thinking of getting some small solar panels to fill the panels in front of the windshield, though I doubt they would be of much help.  Also trying to decide how to rig a swim ladder and kicker.  Kinda surprised there weren't pre-drilled mounting holes for a kicker motor.

[brainlessfool]

Well? does it float? 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

Haven't done anything on it yet.  55 hours a week at work has been sapping all my energy, plus I have still been pretty sore most days off and have barely even got out to deer hunt yet, and I just got hit hard by a bug while out hunting a couple days ago.  Hopefully after this week I can get back on it.  I sanded and added a little body filler to the hood and will get back on it and see how it looks in white, then will follow that up by cleaning and painting the engine white, too.  May try to get a friend's a-frame, which would make swapping outboards a lot easier than trying to lift them on and off by myself.

Also looks like I'm still on to head down to the bay area late november to grab 2 more similar era parts motors, both of which supposedly were last run 10 years ago before the boat was parked for good, and both have stainless props.  Got a pallet to build a mount for transporting them in the bed, similar to the crate they're shipped on, and will be widening it so it snugs between the fender wells and pushes snug against the cab and tailgate so it doesn't shift with 2 outboards mounted to it.  Should make transporting them a ton easier and safer!

Oh, and I still need to find the right control box for the johnson/evinrude setup.  The merc box and cables work really smooth but I cannot seem to find any adapters to hook the merc cables to the johnson outboard 

[emsvitil]

Oh, and I still need to find the right control box for the johnson/evinrude setup.  The merc box and cables work really smooth but I cannot seem to find any adapters to hook the merc cables to the johnson outboard 

Talk to Rube Goldberg


 

[kneedownnate [OP]]

After months of trying to find a good working period appropriate control box, I finally found a new one that still sits behind the side panel like the og merc box.  I will never again order from the place I got it, but after two weeks, it’s finally here.  If my back will cooperate today, I will try to get the old one out and measure the shift/throttle cables so I can get those ordered, and may run and measure the omc wiring harness to see how much I need to trim, or just roll up the excess and hide it behind a panel