OK which small "johnnyrude"?

[guy48065]

I have 3 small outboards for my 12' aluminum boat that all run well but have some aspect about them I don't like.
Mariner 5 HP - heavy at 54# & needs external tank...just more weight to lug uphill.
Eska 7.5 HP - Starts & runs fine but a little noisy and shaky. 44# dry.
Sears Gamefisher 7 HP - Noisy, shaky, no tiller throttle, ugly as sin. Favorite because it's light weight... ~35# dry.

I want to get rid of all 3 of these and get ONE I like.
IS there any such thing as a ~35#, ~4 HP, tiller-throttle, 50:1, 2-cylinder, short-shaft Johnson or Evinrude (or any brand) that puts it all together for me?

I'm not having much luck on Craigslist or eBay. Maybe nobody will part with an outboard that has all these qualities?

 

[JimS123]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

There is nothing that meets all of your requirements. Either you need to settle for smaller HP or be willing to settle for a heavier weight.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

not to offend you, but you really need to buy a real motor. if you have to take it off every use, buy a motor dolly. then roll the motor. i think a Johnson 9.9 would do the job very well. they make smaller tanks, than the standard 6 gallon. 3 gallon plastic, and the transom tank.

 

[kbait]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

Here's a photo of an early 90's 3hp:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/Bandit240/Dingys/IMG_0676.jpg

Tiller control, forward and neutral, 34lbs, integral fuel tank, 50:1 mix, twin cylinder. Not gonna win the race, but will have fuel left over. Nice and quiet and smooth too.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

Yea, that is a nice motor kbait. If you're not in need of speed, this will push around a 12 foot aluminum boat fine and it is light enough to lug around.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

I have 3 small outboards for my 12' aluminum boat that all run well but have some aspect about them I don't like.
Mariner 5 HP - heavy at 54# & needs external tank...just more weight to lug uphill.
Eska 7.5 HP - Starts & runs fine but a little noisy and shaky. 44# dry.
Sears Gamefisher 7 HP - Noisy, shaky, no tiller throttle, ugly as sin. Favorite because it's light weight... ~35# dry.

I want to get rid of all 3 of these and get ONE I like.
IS there any such thing as a ~35#, ~4 HP, tiller-throttle, 50:1, 2-cylinder, short-shaft Johnson or Evinrude (or any brand) that puts it all together for me?

I'm not having much luck on Craigslist or eBay. Maybe nobody will part with an outboard that has all these qualities?

Dude, buy an outboard dolly and keep the Mariner. 54 lbs isn't all that heavy. Get a smaller tank, 3 gal or less.
Sell the Eska and the Gamefisher on ebay and buy the dolly and the new tank.

 

[JB]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

The closest to your specs that I know of would be a JohnnyRude 4 or 4.5 deluxe with gearshift and integral tank.

You didn't indicate whether you want to zoom about or will settle for putt-putting about. BIG difference.

If you need to zoom, go with TD'd suggestion and buy a dolly and fuel tank. You can probably haul the fuel tank in a little red wagon. Probably ought to start working out, too. That 9.9 is not a one handed load.

If you will settle for putt-putting about several of the Johnny JWs weigh in at under 35# with integral tank but have the sliding throttle and no gearshift. Add features you add weight.

I favor the Johnny JWs and their Evinrude twins because they are the best small outboards ever made.

 

[guy48065]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

My lightweight Sears gets my little boat on plane in a hurry and runs great. I'd really like a tiller throttle and I'm willing to fabricate one if necessary but I'd really like a quieter, smoother motor. The usual advice here is that these Eskas are over-rated and a 4hp would be just as quick. I see 4hp Evinrudes all the time at 35# but always see plain tillers. I assume a twist throttle doesn't add 10#.

As for rolling a heavier motor uphill on sand & wet grass--not going to happen.
Much safer for me to carry it up the steps.

 

[guy48065]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

If there are no Johnson or Evinrude 4hp with twist throttle that weigh less than 45# how about Suzuki, Tohatsu, Yamaha or anyone else? Sorry to be a pest but I need to do the basic research here since any dealer with used outboards is at least an hour's drive.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

I know of none. I'd be suprised if a 4hp would plane you out unless you weigh under 135 lbs. There are plenty of 5.5hp and 6hp, and 7.5hp johnson/evinrudes out there that have twist grip throttles, but weigh about 65lbs. and need a separate tank. Why are you so set on a twist grip throttle for a 4 horse???
I was thinking the 4hp johnson with the integral tank and F-N-R that JB mentioned would be ideal for you as far as weight and reliability. There are also plenty of good 3hp OMC's from the 50's that are very light and have integral tanks and are super reliable, but have no throttle like you want. There are also some nice 7.5 hp OMC motors that would treat you right and only have a 4gallon tank which is easy to carry.
Just some ideas.​

 

[guy48065]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

I'm not totally set on 4hp--I'm just going on past advice that states my 7 & 7.5hp Eskas would be equivalent to a 4hp johnnyrude. If that's not really accurate then maybe the power/weight of my ugly old Sears can't be beat & I should just run it til it dies.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

That's what I'd do......run 'er till she flies apart.
I doubt there is a motor with much better power to weight as your sears, but along with the light weight, you lose reliability. There are few, if any, motors that equal the reliability of a decently maintained small johnson/evinrude. There are countless thousands of them from the 50's that are still dependable. I can't see a 4horse evinrude as being too heavy to carry unless it was for a really long distance. The 10horse OMC's are the cat's meow to me. The 7.5's are nice, but for a lard butt like myself, not as speedy as I'd like.
Later,
JBJ​

 

[ezmobee]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

Best lightweight motor I've ever used:

 

[guy48065]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

The Evinrudes appear slimmer than the hunky-looking Johnsons. What's the weight of a 4 or a 6?

I've searched but I'm surprised there isn't a "weight" thread for portable outboards. I can't be the only one who thinks weight is important in a portable?

 

[bktheking]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

The Evinrudes appear slimmer than the hunky-looking Johnsons. What's the weight of a 4 or a 6?

I've searched but I'm surprised there isn't a "weight" thread for portable outboards. I can't be the only one who thinks weight is important in a portable?

Sounds like a folding evinrude from the 60's with a case would be right for you. Twistgrip no, but has everything else you are looking for, no shift reverse but it can be rotated. The 5.5 from the 50's even through runs a fuel tank is light , has the twist grip and full shift and weighs in at 47 #'s.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: OK which small "johnnyrude"?

Didn't the Gale Buccaneer make a 5hp that was full shift, with an integrated tank? Now that would be a good motor to think about.