Best late '70s 20 hp

[Tagged]

I'm not Trolling. Looking for a good discussion. 30+ years later, is there consensus on what was the best 20 hp outboard?

Here's the criteria. In order of importance.

1. Reliability
2. Power to weight ratio.
3. Parts available today.

I chose the late 70s because omc started using plastic parts in the early eighties. My 1978 omc 9.9 has an all-metal carb. I think it's the best motor, lb for lb.

But what about 20.

Tag

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

I'll vote for my 1966 FD-20C 20 hp Johnson. It's essentially a tuned up version of the venerable 18 hp they made for years and shares virtually all of the same parts. It has great power for its weight and gets pretty good gas mileage for an old 2-stroke. I currently have mine on a homemade transom riser, with a PVC tiller extender and PVC gear shift extender. It's ugly as sin, but very reliable and will push me along at 20 mph +/- in my 14' semi-V tinny.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

Don't be so quick to poo poo the plastic parts. Just about everthing is made from plastics and the old school mechanics just need to realize they do not need gorilla torque!

I like the late 70's mercury motors and the POST 1984 Johnson and evinrudes.

I have a 1969 9.5 evinrude and a 1967 evinrude 18 which are both great motors......neither motor ever run in salt water ....ever.

I guess the BEST motor is the one that runs trouble free, starts fast and runs reliable.

You could find a dozen identical old motors from the 70's and they will all be different with starting, running, corrosion...... it's ALL based on how they were taken care of. A motor from 1950 that runs and is reliable is better then any year motor that has been neglected and has issues.

Weight is normally not an issue for the smaller motors.

 

[Tagged]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

Weight is an issue for these little motors because you have to carry them to the boat. In my case, that's down a significant hill. I'd say that matters more than the difference in edit between various 200 hp monsters,because they are permanently mounted on trailered boats.

Why post 84?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

Post 1984 the HP ratings were changed from the powerhead to the prop. There is a loss of HP between the two and having 10 HP at the prop is probably 11 HP at the head.

So an older 9.9 would actually put out about 9 hp at the prop and the newer one was 9.9. There was about a 10-12% loss from powerhead to prop.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

I agree with the OMC consensus, although I (reluctantly) replaced a 64 evinrude 18HP with a 72 Merc 200.

Merc is very temperamental and loud, and electrical wiring not very tolerant of salt and age. Harder to disconnect the controls at the motor, too.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

My very 1st outboard was a 1956 Evinrude 18hp that was on an old 12' plywood runabout. I still have a 1969 Johnson 9.5hp that I've owned sense around 1982. My 14' Lund S14DLX 1st had a 1966 Evinrude 18hp until I found a 1978 Evinrude 35hp. Guess I lean towards OMC.

 

[pecheux]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

Late 70's and early 80's Johnson 20 hp. Can run at low idle and be used for trolling motor almost as a 9.9 hp.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

I have a 75 Evinrude 20HP and a 75 Johnson 25- and they're great at everything EXCEPT trolling.
There are a couple of threads around here about how the later 22 CID's have some lame attempt at emmission controls that makes them idle poorly. There is a mod you can do apparently, but I think you want to stay pre-1973 or post 1977 without having to do the mod.

If looking at OMC - can also get a 25HP - same as the 18 and 20 just revs higher - bigger carb etc

nice and light though - about 80 lbs... not bad for a 25

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Best late '70s 20 hp

There are a couple of threads around here about how the later 22 CID's have some lame attempt at emmission controls that makes them idle poorly. There is a mod you can do apparently,

Can you post a link or a thread title please?