HP on OLD boat

[mnkelsner]

I also have a 50's 12ft bluestar aluminum boat about 5ft wide with a console and not rating plate, a very stable boat but needs a new deck and stearing cables. <br /> <br />I recently aquired a 30hp 57 Johnson Javelin motor with electric start and control box in a garage sale really cheap, ran well before it was stored for several years.<br /><br />Anybody have a list on where to start this project ie carbs, oil in cyls's, lower unit, water pump, ect ? <br /><br />I also have a 60's Alumicraft 14ft boat about 4 ft wide and it's rated 22-28Hp.<br /><br />Could I lower the HP (UNNATURAL) with say a different prop or different carb or govenor.<br /><br />Wouldnt the prop and carb be the main differance<br />between a 25hp and 30hp motor, the size and weight seem to be close to a 25 I dont really know about displacment.

 

[The_FoX]

Re: HP on OLD boat

I wouldnt touch a thing. An extra 2hp wont do much.

 

[SeaHorse]

Re: HP on OLD boat

Where to start the project? That depends on where you want to end up but first you have to know what you're starting with. I took on a similar project and have spent probably $500 and countless hours getting a motor like this reconditioned. And that's without anything major being needed since I had a good powerhead and lower unit. Every time you go the the dealer for a "few parts and gaskets" it costs $100. Some items i couldn't get locally so I had to scour the internet and import from Canada. These are the "unobtanium" parts. Many parts have been "no longer available" from the factory since the eighties. If you like to tinker with stuff,have a high frustration tolerance and get a great deal of pride out of resurecting old stuff then you should proceed. If you think you can make a modern, reliable motor out of this unknown engine for a few bucks in gaskets and new spark plugs, think again. Unless you've taken everything apart on the motor you have no way of knowing what's good and what isn't. Gaskets, rubber seals and orings dry up and harden after 45 years and they all need replacing and some of them you can't without the help of the experienced people on this board. <br /><br />Since you are not an expert I would take the motor to a dealer you trust and let him/her evaluate it for you. They can check the compression and test the lower unit to see if you have any major problems. If that checks out, then you can decide to fix just what's keeping it from running now or to fix it to last for many years. <br /><br />Good luck with the project.

 

[Lark40]

Re: HP on OLD boat

First of all, you need to find out what you really have as Johnson did not make a 30hp engine in 1957. The 30hp was only made in '56 and 35hp was introduced in 1957.<br /><br />Check out your engine's model number against some of the websites mentioned in other "what year is this?" postings.

 

[mnkelsner]

Re: HP on OLD boat

Right about the year looked up the Model Numbers up in the Old Outbaord book when I aquired them one was a one is an 18hp Johnson missing the bonnet and recoil and the other a 30hp Javelin which is very complete and the medallion on the front control cover says "30". <br /><br />FD and RJE were the models I will have to look again