Crazy things to do with a 1954 15 Evinrude

robert644

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
40
In the 90's my friend had a 36' ex ww2 landing craft that had been converted a long time ago into a sort of floating home. My friend bought this for $100 or won it in a card game or some such thing. He enjoyed living at the harbor, but the harbor department had different thoughts about this rotten, non-functional, eyesore and the collection of different inhabitants it had sheltered over the years. So the harbor department demanded that the boat comply with the regulation that only boats able to propel themselves were allowed in the harbor.

Now I was 20, and my friend had a state job, and he wanted to pay me to fix it one the cheap. We quickly gave up on the Crysler Crown, but I had the solution. We'd clamp my 1954 15 Evinrude on the back. This worked well and I made a bracket for the thing, and ran cable steering and throttle (with custom linkages) inside. The problem came when we realized the short shaft didn't quite make it to the bottom of the boat.

So here's the thing.

I got this idea to wrap the head of the engine in a plastic garbage bag, sealed at the bottom with 5200 or whatever and duct tape. The engine wouldn't be completely submerged and we weren't worried about waves, we just had to do a victory lap to make the harbor master happy. My problem was trying to get a hose on the exhaust, so I could route the exhaust above water level. I thought about exhaust hose, cut at an angle on the bottom, sealed with 5200 and hose clamps. I'd pour a little water in there to try and keep it from cooking the 5200 off, but I doubted that would work.

Now 15+ years later, any ideas? could this have worked?
 

Huron Angler

Admiral
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
6,025
Re: Crazy things to do with a 1954 15 Evinrude

Easier to convert it to a long shaft...buy a lower unit used that is in rough shape for cheap and throw it together.

I like the resourcefulness and creativity:D

Was the 36' rig wooden?
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: Crazy things to do with a 1954 15 Evinrude

The motor only had to be in the water enough to pump water.at the speeds it would go It could operate like a kicker motor its not going to plane anyway.
Back then you probably could have put a long shaft on for 35 bucks.
If there was a problem with ventilation(cavitation) give it more setback.
If you were going to wrap the cowl how would it get air?
 
Top