1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

[ShrimperJosh]

My wife and I just bought this boat a month or so ago. It is a '75 18 footer, v-hull, and is not in bad shape, other than a few cosmetics. It has the 1970 Evinrude 85 selectric, which is pretty clean outwardly. It had sat for a few years, so it was hard to start. I put a few drops of 2 cycle in the carb before cranking just for good measure and used a small tank with fresh gas (the tank in the boat had 8 year old fuel in it), and after a little patience it started. It seemed to need to be run out a bit, so I got her in the water and topped out at an astounding 8-10 mph! Fished for a few hours, didn't take on water, so that part of the test was good, just wouldn't run well at wot. Got it home and was going to clean out the carbs, but thought I would just try to clean the high speed orifices and, at least in a tub filled with water, it will run wot! I hope to have time to take her out for one more run before the winter sets in, and will change water impeller over the winter. Hopefully by sharing this experience, someone will benefit by checking the jets before getting to far into the carbs, when it may not be needed (yet). I should add that I ran a quart of Seafoam and a gallon of gas/oil mix before cleaning the hs orifices, and I will be running it through again now that they are open. Happy boating!

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Here are some pics of the boat, although I have the top on, which is in bad shape and dirty. It's been raining here a lot, and don't want to get the boat wet, right? Lol!

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Welcome to iboats! That boat should do at least 30-35 mph with that motor. Did I read correct 8-10 mph? Some things need to be gone over. What is the pitch on the prop? What does the boat weigh (may be water logged)? Change your lower unit oil right away with OMC premium blend. The electric shift is obsolete and troublesome.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

I can't believe you said you attempted to run an 85hp WOT in a tub!!!!??! Is that what you said? Man, if that thing was running correctly on all four cylinders, it would have exploded from excessive RPM. I hope I read it wrong.

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Welcome to iboats! That boat should do at least 30-35 mph with that motor. Did I read correct 8-10 mph? Some things need to be gone over. What is the pitch on the prop? What does the boat weigh (may be water logged)? Change your lower unit oil right away with OMC premium blend. The electric shift is obsolete and troublesome.

Yes, 8-10 mph. I have looked all over the prop for pitch, to no avail. If I had to guess, it looks to be in the 17 range (I know it is hard to tell by sight, but I believe this to be pretty close.) I'm not sure of the weight of the boat, but I don't think it is water logged, as I can still lift the trailer tongue with relative ease. It sat pretty high in the water also. Oil has been changed, and the electric shift works a lot better than I expected. I have cleaned out the high speed orifices as I stated earlier, and it doesn't bog anymore on the throttle up. We'll find out this week, as I plan on a fishing trip to try 'er out. Also, I think I need to lower the trim one notch, I think it is set for wakeboarding as it is trimmed a little high. Thanks for the input!

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

I can't believe you said you attempted to run an 85hp WOT in a tub!!!!??! Is that what you said? Man, if that thing was running correctly on all four cylinders, it would have exploded from excessive RPM. I hope I read it wrong.

You read it right, but I left out it was in short one second bursts. Before it would bog down and I hoped that on the water it would "run out" and do ok, but it was just too clogged. Now there is no hesitation on rev, and when I go wot and back to idle, the engine speed follows suit. Thanks for the concern though!

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Anyone have some input on battery placement? Apparently, it has been sitting next to the gas tank, just on the deck, and I personally don't like that setup. I have witnessed explosions due to battery placement. But there doesn't seem to be anywhere better on this boat to put it, so I think I will get a battery box to at least isolate the battery a little bit, just to be on the safe side. Since I may have stirred some curiosity with the mention of a boat explosion, I will give the details. It was a commercial boat, and my co-worker put 350 gallons in the tank. We thought it only took 250. He turned on the key, and BOOM! The gas had been leaking from the sender unit, and the batteries were under the deck, near the tanks. When the ignition was turned on, the connection must have been loose and it sparked, and it was lucky it was an aluminum boat so it held together. The guy was severely burned, but did survive. After we cleaned the boat up, we relocated the batteries to the outside of the boat, on the deck next to the cabin. BTW, the boat did not have exhaust fans, not that they would have helped in this case. The boat was a 55 foot flat bottom with dual 350 yamaha's.

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Around here you are required to have the battery in a battery box.
On an outboard you usually have to mount the battery under the splash well on the transom, not much room anywhere else. Without a fuel leak in that area you will be fine. A fuel leak anywhere should be corrected right away to prevent any accidents.

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

That was my thought exactly, even though I hate having the battery next to the fuel tank. This is my first go with a boat of this size. I've run smaller and bigger, but not 18'. I like it though, big enough to be fast, small enough to not be cumbersome. As far as I know, there are no fuel leaks. I've not used the onboard tank yet, since it had old gas in it. I have since drained the gas, and am going to replace all the hose, just to be sure.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

FWIW the cowl looks like a 1969. The V4s were called Starflight, Selectric was a reference that gears were selected electricly

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

The serial points to a '70. When I bought it, I was told it was a 1975 65hp, but it turns out to be an 85hp. But the year is 70, and it looks to have been pretty well maintained. The oil was relatively clean, filter was clean, but it had a leak at the fuel pump. I fixed that right away.

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Ahhh! Even more fun. Got 'er out again, and she'll do near 40, but there seems to be a restriction in the pickup tube in the fuel tank, along with the possibility of a weak fuel pump. Still, making good progress. The down side, I blew a head gasket on my tow vehicle, so like it or not that was the last boating trip of the year...
And with the head gasket, I guess that requires a different forum? Lol! I think memory will get me through it, just need the cash for the kit. Maybe I can clean out the upper end of the engine while I'm there.

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Quick question, anyone here used an electric fuel pump on an older boat motor? I thought about putting one on with a pressure regulator and return line. Any thoughts?

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Yes, I have a thought, Don't do it. Unless you have a way of shutting down the electric pump if a fuel line broke. Other wise you are going to fill the cowling with fuel, a very dangerous situation.

 

[ShrimperJosh]

Re: 1970 Evinrude 85 Selectric on 18'

Yeah, that would not be good. I thought if I did it, I would have a shutoff switch and also have it shut off with the ignition. But with the thought of getting fuel in the boat, may not be such a good idea. I could mount it outside, but wouldn't look good. Thanks for the opinion.