Johnson 20hp motor

[joza]

I'm starting a restoration on a '57 Red Fish and I have a question about the motor that I got with it. It's a 20hp Johnson, it has tiller controls so that tells me that it's not the original... duh but at some point fitted to work with controls.

Now here is my question (don't shoot me but this will show my ignorance when it comes to boat motors). Back in '57 did boats have electric start outboards? Or where they pull start. The controls that came with my motor don't have a place for a key, so it made me wonder.

Here is the link to Project Red Fish: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=343151

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Johnson 20hp motor

delete

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson 20hp motor

electric start was very rare.. if they had it the ignition was on the dash, not the controller.

 

[joza]

Re: Johnson 20hp motor

Ah... makes sense. I will investigate a starter. Thanks for the info. I'm wondering now if that motor will give me enough power for that boat. We won't be doing any skiing or tubing from it... basically just cruising near our home.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson 20hp motor

that probably had a 35 on it. that was the bigest motor in 1957,

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Johnson 20hp motor

THe '57 johnson 35hp would look awesome on that boat. I can't imagine it without a '57 or '58 35 johnson on it. I've seen plenty of electric start '57 35's on craigslist and ebay. You're wise to post a free ad on aomci.org in their free classified ads. There's a question forum there, too. "ask a member". I have an electric start '54 model 25hp, which I believe was not the first year of electric start motors, but the first electric start "modern" motor. It was a 6 volt system. '57 was the first year for the 12volt electric start. It's more difficult to find a '57 35 with a good clutch dog/forward gear in it.
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[joza]

Re: Johnson 20hp motor

Get info JB. I think I know what I'll be doing tonight. Hitting the www's to see what a 35 looks like then looking into finding one. I don't really plan on having that boat in the water before next season at the minimum (maybe late 2010 season) so that gives me time to look for one. Thanks again for the info.