78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

mmawonder

Seaman
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
55
Hello guys this is my first post here. I am new to outboards and over the last 4 months owned/traded a small 4 hp suzuki, 2hp mighty mite, 6hp evinrude and now a 25 hp johnson seahorse. My boat is too small for this motor, but I ended up getting a good deal on the motor. Seahorse is on the back of an 11 foot dinghy. The dinghy has a dual aliminum bottom. I dont know what kind of metal the transom is made of, probably aliminum too.
Now here is the issue, when I try to go any faster than 5 mph, my boat basically stands up on a 50 degree incline and you cant even see where you are going. It is good if I have my girlfriend about 110 pounds on the bow. So when I am by my self, I like to lay on the front and act as ballast but then the tiller is too short to be driven from the front of the boat. I was thinking about a tiller extension but ultimatly , I would like to rig this thing up with a steering wheel and up front throttle cables. motor is pull start which is fine.

I looked at other posts about the conversion and went to some sites like flex something.com but I have no idea what I would need. I am not working with a lot of money so the cheaper the better. I took some pictures and they are below, there was a moderator here, with a 60's johnson remote rigged, that responded to most of those posts, I hope he chimes in here.
Oh serial numbers are 25r78c and e4863343.
On two of those pictures you can see a small bracket on the right side of the motor ( left on the pic) and something that looks like an external throttle cable connector on the left side of the motor ( right on the pic). I dont know what these things do ,or if they can help me with my quest.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give as much detail as possible.
Ps: My transom has 2 vertical support bars runnig diagonally to the floor, which may complicate the installation of that tube thingy...











 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

the cost to do this to take particular boat, is astronomical. the boat just is not built to do this. there is nothing to fasten to. get you some sand bags, or lengthen the fuel line, just get some weigh in the bow. a big dog comes to mind. i going to guess, $800 maybe more to set up up.

moving to inflateables.
 

Drowned Rat

Captain
Joined
Jan 20, 2004
Messages
3,070
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

Yeah, the problem is too much weight in the back. Try Tashas' idea, but I'm guessing it's still going to be too heavy in the back with that big motor and all that torque. You can't move the motor any further forward, but you can move the planing surface of the hull back and that will help with the problem you're having. Look at Smart Tabs (sold here on iboats) and look at this product>>> http://www.allinflatables.com/shopping/lifters/ What you plan to use the boat for should determine which product would work better for you.

Good luck.
 

mmawonder

Seaman
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
55
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

Can you tell me what those little bracket and external throttle loking thingys?

Also I have seen some inflatables with a plastic brace that runs from one side to the other which has throttle cables and steering wheel. I have a friend of mine who has that setup on a non runnig dinghy, but nothing to connect the cables to, are these cables , steering wheel and controls usualy standard? I was thinking maybe I could just buy the tube thing mount it on the transom, conect the cables and go...

Hmm maybe if I had fins over the propeller, it could help some? I installed a set on my 6hp evinrude and it did help it go on a plane easier. On this one, I thought I didint need any help to go on a plane sinceI have so much more power, I was wrong, its much harder to plane at low speeds with this thing than the 6 hp. After 10mph or so, the boat levels itself and up to 25 mph ( I dont think its the top speed for this setup but it started to get scary so I backed off) it stays on a nice plane. My problem is doing 6 mph around the marina, with the bow pointing at the sky and me looking like an idiot on the back.

Weight would obviously help, but I need 100+ pounds at least
 

mmawonder

Seaman
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
55
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

Here is a picture of my homemade tiller extension, it consist of whatever I could find at my boat. about 2 feet of 1 1/2 inch pipe (stuff I used for my holding tank, very rigid) a soft pvc connector and an old clamp. It works pretty good, and stays in place, you have to yank it really hard to get it off. I can twist the throttle and steer with it. It does feel a little flimsy and I wouldent trust it over 10 mph but it works for now..


 

Howard Sterndrive

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2008
Messages
4,603
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

hmmm..different boat, and inflatables can be finicky but I have a 25 Johnson on my 11' Inflatable. (Avon 3.4m)
I just pin the motor on the second hole and the boat planes beautifully. I have two 5 gal fuel tanks at the back and I sit at the back.
I would not want to move forward for an even bumpier ride....
although your boat has bigger tubes than mine.

Your 25 should have enough power to put the bow where ever you want it based on pin position.

In all those pics, I can't see what hole your tilt pin is in. Have you tried different positions?

you can see mine planing just fine here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuaUZGlgh10

Whether or not you are using a tiller extension, use a safety kill switch and lanyard.
 

mmawonder

Seaman
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
55
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

U know I never messed with the pin position, i dont even know where it is, I will take a look at it tomorrow. Also how did you do the killswitch and lanyard installation? I definatly need one. My boat planes fine over 10 mph, I am just trying to make it go flat under 10 mph...
 

Howard Sterndrive

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2008
Messages
4,603
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

On the lowest pin setting, I can actually creep through no wake zones on plane about 7mph,
but all planing boats have to climb their own wake before leveling out. The shorter the boat, the steeper the angle....
Just tell your gal to hang on :)

I like slowing down till the boat comes off plane...makes a big wave, then I crack the throttle and jump it....the boat almost leaves the water.

little boats with big motors are fun.

lanyard thread:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=284508
 

mmawonder

Seaman
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
55
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

I found the pin, it was rusted shut in its spot, on the second to lowest setting. I destroyed the cottor pin looking thing at the end in process of removing the bolt. Now its on the lowest setting, but kinda loose, I am gonna have to micky mouse something to hold it in place or a new bolt. Anyways, I will give it a shot today to see what difference it made.
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2009
Messages
26
Re: 78 Johnson tiller-remote conversion help need, pics inside !!!

throw the tank in the front and pin it untill you get off a plane
 
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