2002 Johnson 50, Just tried and need your thoughts!

[lakelover]

I just went and looked at and drove a 2002 Johnson 50. The model number is J50PLSTD. It is at a boat rental and lake tour place and was on a center console fishing boat, selling for $1800 with no controls, fuel tank, VRO oil tank or anything, basically "motor only".

It started right up and ran smoothly, but what concerned me was that it wasn't able to plane the boat it was on, which I'm sure is rated for way more than 50hp. The rpm's were definitely low at WOT, it was lugging some, but steady. Also, at low speed, the boat kept "roaming" a little side to side requiring constant steering correction. I thought this was more a boat issue than motor issue. The guy told me it was purchased new in 2002 and has only been used for 2 or 3 seasons; it wasn't first mounted on a boat until 2005, then "wasn't needed" for a season or two, then was remounted and used last season and maybe the one before.

I asked about routine maintenance and all they do is change the lower unit lube and plugs; and "fix them when they need it"...no records of maintenance. He says it has a "plastic" prop on now, and there is a little damage to the cowl at the rear hand grip. He says they will put on an aluminum prop and put on a different cowl.

I have a call in to the guy and I'm trying to get a clearer picture of why it was used, then not used, then used again.

The long and short of it is I put down $100 and the arrangement is that I will pick it up later this week after they get it out of the water and unmounted. I have a call in to him now to discuss my concerns. I called and in the middle of the call, he said he has to call me back. I did see that he was quite busy when I got there, but it seems to me he'd be a little more interested in taking care of a purchasing customer.

I'm thinking of telling him to hold off on unmounting it and I want to think about it some more.

What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2002 Johnson 50, Just tried and need your !

Re: 2002 Johnson 50, Just tried and need your !

Those are good motors and depending on the location, nothing special is required in the maintenance area except lower unit lub changes. There are no valves, belts, etc. These are good motors and need only clean, fresh fuel and use of fuel system additive like SeaFoam to keep them running. Being a two cylinder they do shake a bit at low speed but they are tough motors. The prop they iinstall should be a 12-1/4 x 15P if the boat you have is a 15 - 17 foot aluminum or light glass hull.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 2002 Johnson 50, Just tried and need your thoughts!

It seemed to me to be a pretty heavy hull, 17'. I wondered if it had water bogging it down in the floor or flotation or something.

I think this guy is on the up and up, but spending $1800 on a bare bones unit, I want all my questions answered. They apparently don't do routine impeller changes, but the telltale had a good strong output.

My inclination with the VRO is to disconnect and pre-mix the fuel, I just feel more comfortable that way. I'll be putting it on a 15' aluminum Starcraft runabout.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 2002 Johnson 50, Just tried and need your thoughts!

I would try to swing a deal for the controls.
If you go premix on a OMS or VRO motor you need to block off the oil line.
I would do a compression test as well before parting with the balance of the money.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 2002 Johnson 50, Just tried and need your thoughts!

I just found out the test boat is rated for 90 hp so that might help explain the no planing off. The way it handled and lumbered, and wandered, it just had the feel of a waterlogged craft.

So I'm gonna take the gamble and pick it up tomorrow. In my mind, the plusses outweigh the negs.