late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

[jbjennings]

I was looking around and noticed that some of the late 50's sea king (gale?) outboards looked like they had parts identical to john/rudes. I also noticed that sea king made a 12 hp outboard. I really like 50's 10hp johnson/rudes and like the looks of the 12hp seakings. Are the powerheads as good quality as johnsons and evinrudes? Why did Johnson/evinrude let gale beat 'em out by 2hp? Anyway, basically I'm wondering if one is worth buying, because I've got a gale buccaneer 5hp and don't like the carb design and lower unit design and it is not that similar to the johnsons---ignition parts are the same but not everything else. How close is the late 50's 12hp seakings? Are all lower unit, carbs. (the carb. knobs seemed to be just like the john/rudes), and ignition parts the same?
And if you have one, how do you like it? Are the extra 2hp noticeable?
curious,
JBJennings

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

gales were made by OMC, for retailers, like goodyear, spiegel, monkey wards. they are almost identical to the mainline OMC motors, and maintained, just as reliable.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

IMO the Gale 12 hp motors from the 50's and into the 60's, right up until Gale ceased production, are just as good/serviceable/stout as their Johnson and Evinrude cousins. I've got a 62 Gale Sea King 15 hp, a 56 Johnson 15 hp, and a restored 57-58 Johnson 18 hp. The Gale pushes the boat just as well as the 15 hp. And just as easy to service, too. I'm partial to the 18 hp because I spent the time/effort to restore it, but for my money there is very little real difference on the water between the 15 and 18 hp motors of this era, and most parts are interchangeable as long as you mostly stay within the name brands. It's great that there is some parts crossover there amongst brands. I've also run similar era Evinrude's and like them as well, only thing I don't like about them is the top cowl that hinges sideways at the top...harder to remove/replace on the water and in the shop than the Johnson or Gale covers. Other than that, all three are sweet and reliable companions on the water. The only downside about these motors over 10-12 hp is the weight. I'm a BOB (big ole boy) so I can heft the 75-80 lbs. around without much problem, but it gets harder with age...but what doesn't, right? Send me a PM and I tell you more about my experiences with Gales, if you're really interested in them.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

The 12hp Sea King/Gales weren't so much making 2 hp on the 10s as they were LOSING horsepower on the 15s. The Sea King 12s were based on the Johnrude 20cube powerhead used on the 1956 & prior 15hp models. When Johnrude bored out the 20-cuber to become the venerable 22-cuber in 1957, the 20-cuber didn't disappear - it just got re-badged into the Gale line-up and replaced the 1940s style 12-hp, 20-cube powerhead they had been using.
- Scott

 

[jbjennings]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

So let me get this right....the gale seaking 12hp has a block that made 15hp for the john/rudes?? So rather than the 10hp block making an extra 2hp, it is a 15hp block that makes 3hp less? And.....since it is a depowered block, I'd be getting 12hp for the weight of a 15hp? Now.....I don't mind since there probably isn't but about 8 or 9 lbs. difference between a 10hp and an 18hp from the 50's, right?
Also, I like the tank on the 12gale along with the remote hook-up....kind of like a "reserve" tank on the motor for me. I also like the smooth front of the cowl on the gale seakings. Speakin' of metal cowls, I saw a post the other day that someone thought the new fiberglass cowls are quieter (true) and therefore in his opinion better than the old alum. ones. I have to say that is one of the reasons I like the old 50's so much, they're all metal! What is rubber is GOOD rubber (I've got some as I'm sure you do with the original bumpers, etc. that are still in great usable shape) and as long as the rubber is there, the cowls don't rattle enough to bother me. And they don't break down, chip, crack, etc. nearly as bad as fiberglass. No crappy plastic linkages and such on 'em either. So I'm going to be on the prowl for one-- hopefully not as many people like them and I can get one cheaper than a john/rude, as I am into CHEAP! Thanks for your responses---I'm really interested in one for sure, now! I LOVE MY OLD OMC's... Will never buy another new motor!
JBJ

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

i think the best motor is ever had was a 1960's 60 hp Gale.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

Hi TD,
You've got it. The 12hp was a detuned 15hp powerhead, although in my experience it is a generous 12hp! Seat of the pants it is hard to tell the 12 from the 15 in performance...
I've also liked the looks of the Gale based motors. My fave is probably the "Brooklure" in brown & cream... I think it came through Spiegel's catalog...
- Scott

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

My 62 Gale 15 hp is just laying around in the shop, love it but rarely use it. PM me if you're interested. Where are you in NW LA? I'm in W. Texas, out where the prairie dogs roam.

 

[steelespike]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

Hi TD,
You've got it. The 12hp was a detuned 15hp powerhead, although in my experience it is a generous 12hp! Seat of the pants it is hard to tell the 12 from the 15 in performance...
I've also liked the looks of the Gale based motors. My fave is probably the "Brooklure" in brown & cream... I think it came through Spiegel's catalog...
- Scott

There are 4 different 12hp "Gales"The 12 S10 51-53 12S12 56 is 66 lb. straight drive 19.94cu in powerhead using a tillotson carb with integral tank.The 12D10 51-53 is the same basic motor with full gearshift at 64.5lbs.The 12D11 54-55 is a different animal.17.89 cu in 66lb with I believe an OMC carb integral tank and full gear shift.Outward appearance close to its E/J cousins.12D13 56 75lbs less tank has a remote tank and was available with electric start 12DE13.And further resembled its cousins.Became the 15hp 19.94 cu in. in 60, 15D10.

 

[F_R]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

The 12 Gale was based on the 15hp Evinrude/Johnson but were NOT the same! Yes it uses the same block but it is 2 1/4" bore instead of 2 3/8" like the 15, for a displacement of 17.89 cu in vs 19.94 cu in. In addition, the Gale has integral bronze main bearings and silver-plated aluminum connecting rods, whereas the J/E have needle bearings. Don't even think about running the Gale on 50:1. Most parts other parts are interchangeable. The head gasket is different.

The newer, 15hp, Gales are similar to their J/E 15hp cousins in that they have the bigger bore powerhead with needle bearings. The 15 Gales have fiberglass hoods.

On the other hand, the older 12hp Gales with the flat-sided powerhead is based on the old 14hp Elto/Evinrude.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

F-R, is there ANYTHING you don't know about OMC motors?
Thanks for the info,
JBJ

 

[F_R]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

Yeah, some of the newer ones are out of my league.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: late 50's sea king 12 hp outboards?

See what happens when I think I've got something straight in my head? Frank comes along and straightens me out.

I had assumed that the late 1950s Gale 12s were all based on the 15 powerhead, as the 1960 onwards ones were. This was only partially true. That's what I get for assuming something, eh? I learn something new every day...

Thanks Frank!
- Scott