1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

[JoeMan]

Mates, I have an opportunity to get a near mint boat with a near mint all original motor...both from '62. I am here in 'enemy territory' (or so my brother might say), as we've only ever run Mercs with great success. However! This boat is of particular interest to me, and it happens to come with this Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4 motor. Be brutally honest...is this a die hard, dependable, strong, worth-more-than-the-boat-itself motor...or is it just a pretty thing which is likely to give me trouble once she's really broken in? (has 25 or less hours on her) The original owner bought the boat & motor 1 summer before his boy went off to college. They used it during the summer of '62, covered it up, boy went to college and the boat never saw the light of day again until 2 years ago...years after dad died and the boy was now 64 years old. Wow, right? He says they've used it a few times since pulling her out of the garage, and he's now ready to sell it. Me being keen on the boat, I've got my eye on this rig and would like some honest feedback on how this motor rates in the world of Rudes.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

Top of the line in 1962, and thousands of them ran the wateways for years. But this is 2010, and normally that motor would be a pit to throw money into. BUT...considering the condition, it shouldn't need a lot, and can return to its intended glory. Normal out-of-storage procedures apply. Hands off the carburetor unless it is really necessary, because parts for it are obsolete. Hopefully it wasn't stored all that time with gas in it. If it was, there is your first money hole.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

Beautiful motor. IMO, much easier to work on than a Mercury. I have both and would take an Evinrude/Johnson anyday over a Merc. You can actually change the impeller on it yourself without special tools! And it doesn't take 45 minutes to pull the cowl off.

 

[JoeMan]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

F R and Lindy, thank you both!

Besides asking if she was stored for decades with gas in her...can you give me a few key questions I should be asking? I'll need to drive 12 hours to go and see her...and if I can eliminate at least the liklihood of a money hole with the engine, I'll be more confident with the ballpark estimate price to speak about with the present owner before making the trip.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

Ask him to run a compression test before you drive that far. If it has less than 25 hours, compression should be just fine, but I'd want to know. If compression is ok, everything else can be dealt with.

 

[JoeMan]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

I agree with the compression check idea. Got burned once with that in the past. Good news it was a $500 motor for cash and not $5,000.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

WOW! $5000? That's a lot of money for a 48 year old motor which probably sold for less than $1000 new. Is he just giving his word that it has less than 25 hours on it or is there some documentation? Still it will need new hoses, fuel pump rebuild, maybe some new wires, impeller, seals, coil. I'd make him pay to have all that done by a certified mechanic for that kind of money. Then I'd want a thorough test ride. Actually, I'm too cheap and wouldn't pay that much. In fact, my 1961 Merc 400 which came on my almost mint and unrestored 1961 Starcraft (see avatar), has very low hours, and I still had to replace most of the things mentioned. But I only paid $1400 for boat, motor and trailer.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1962 Evinrude Starflite IV 90 hp V4

That looks more like a 75 hp. I think the 90 hp was built in '64 and '65. But what ever it is it sure looks clean.