Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

thewollerts · Jun 6, 2012

So I'm rebuilding a 53 Evinrude fastwin when I come across a 56 Johnson Javelin in my town. It sits out in the elements all day and night on a 61 Crownline something or other. Both are in serious need of me... and I of them. I made the mistake of stopping and asking if it was for sale and what the guy was asking. He said that he use to have it on the internet and in the paper for $400 and it never sold. He told me it has been sitting for four years because the motor won't start any more. It pulls but no start. Several people have stopped and told him that it was a great motor and that they would love to have it to restore, and so I told him the same. I offered him the $100 I had at home which was supposed to be going into the Fastwin, just for the motor. He said he had to get rid of all of it or nothing. $300 bottom line trailer included. I said it would be a few weeks before I could put that together, and he said it had been there for years and a couple of weeks probably wouldn't matter. The boat had no for sale signs on it and was in a parking lot full of broken down cars and junk. Today I drove by... no boat... and no Javelin for yours truly. I drove through the lot thinking surely I had missed it or perhaps it had been moved. Nope, gone. I can't help but think that I may have put a fire under him to get rid of the "eye sore" taking up space in his junk yard of a lot. I'm not mad, I guess, except at myself for not putting the money together faster. I have to say that this is my dream motor. I have a 56 Lone Star Admiral Deluxe that I think this motor would look great on. I need to finish this Evinrude so I can sell it for Javelin money. Man oh man!!! I guess the moral of the story is... who cares Im depressed.

Bigkat650 · Jun 6, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

Don't beat yourself up about it, really... those motors are everywhere and there are a ton of them around. I recently scored a 1957 Evinrude Lark 35hp for $75 with a pressurized tank that was even serviced maybe 5 years ago. All it needed was new gas, a new starter battery, and a new prop and it fired right up and runs great.

You ever use Craigslist? Keep an eye on it, and you'll find those mid-late 50's big twin motors pop up all the time. I scored that Lark off Craigslist because I was the first to email him. I got to him about 10 minutes after he posted it. By the time I went to see it/buy it the next day, he said he had about 12 other offers, but honored mine because I was first to contact him. You gotta be quick to get the killer deals on Craigslist!

1946Zephyr · Jun 6, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

Yea, I feel ya, brother. I'm a big fan of Craigslist myself, when it comes to adding to my collection. Like Bigkat650, I recently picked up a nice looking '57 Big Twin, with a tank, for $60. I find motors like crazy. Unfortunately, I buy them like crazy too. About 90% of my collection, is from Craigslist deals and got them all for $100 or less.

Cool that you have a Lone Star. I'm a proud owner of a '59 Lone Star Newport, myself. I have my eye on a 1951 Lone Star aluminum boat, which I hope to snag this saturday, to run my smaller motors on. Keep lookin' good luck.

HighTrim · Jun 6, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

We've all been there, dont that waiting too long.

I found a '56 Javelin on this forum actually to add to my Javelin collection.I wouldnt sell it for 100 bucks though, lol

1946Zephyr · Jun 7, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

I'm kinda working with a guy to get his 1955 Big Twin Electric too. I offered to fix his 9.8 merc, for the Big Twin.

thewollerts · Jun 21, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

Thanks for the support guys. It's nice to hear that there are many of these motors out there. Zephyr I would love to see some pictures of your Newport. Looked them up on line, looks like they have some nice fins! My boat is still in storage waiting for restoration. It's rough but I think it'll shine again. Thanks again.
Grant

Solomon_Man · Jun 21, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

I also enjoy the look of the Javelin and have picked up way to many outboards on Craigslist.....

Been working on a 50's Big Twin (electric start\tiller conversion) and a Fleetwin...then I picked up another Fleetwin and a Fisherman from the 50's a week or so later (and a 1960's Fisherman for the son)....Missed a Elgin and Evinrude Zephyr....

On that Javelin, I would talk to the guy.....maybe he did get put under fire from some official and its at a local yard or maybe friends garage....The only way of knowing is asking.

Good Luck,
Chris

Chinewalker · Jun 21, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

I've been there. I recently missed out on a freebie because I waited too long on it. About two years ago a friend of mine offered me his 1970s era 25hp, free for the taking. It had been sunk, retrieved and not dried out, so it was stuck. But, it was otherwise clean and basically just needed a powerhead. His place is a little out of the way, so I never quite made it out there - until last weekend. And when I asked if I could grab the motor while I was there, he said he had just loaded it into the scrapper's truck the week before when they were doing a neighborhood clean-up... Doh!!

thewollerts · Jun 25, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

FOLKS YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS! GET COMFY IT’S A LOOOOOONG ONE…
So my job sends me to notify businesses in the village that we will be replacing water meters in the area and they need to set up an appointment to have their new one installed. So I go to the building next door to the guy who had the boat in his lot. Nobody's home. So I go around to the side...BAMM there's the boat with "my" motor on it. I figured someone in this building bought it from the other and I'm S.O.L. (a sorry old loser), but I still need to find someone who can get me into this building. So I go next door to ask the old owner of the boat if he knows who owns the building. I ask him. He says it's vacant. I say it looks like he sold the boat. He says he hasn't, but the village was getting on him about so much stuff sitting around on his lot. I tell him I'm still interested. He says he knows I'm only interested in the motor and to make him an offer. Before I say anything he says $150. I tell him I have to talk to the boss (my wife) and I'd let him know. I ask the boss for $100. Now remember, I have another motor in Tupperware so I know it will be harder haggling with my wife than a guy with junk for sale. So thanks to a little info from my good friends above I counter junk man with $100. He says he knows he can get twice that if he waits it out. I say mama won't go higher than $100. He says $150 with a gas tank and controls. I say mama's gonna be mad but deal... pending my beautiful, smart, and wonderful wife’s approval naturally. She bit, I bought. I get the cash and pay the gentleman at the boat. Now if you're still with me THIS IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD!!! So we pull the cowl. WASPS!!! About fifteen of them. I'm running, guy is flailing, I know one of us screamed like a little girl. I swatted them with a mulberry branch while he ran for some carb and choke cleaner. We prevailed.. sans stingers. So we are pulling the motor ever aware of the returning few live angry wasps when I notice there is no starter. Huh, I think to myself. Perhaps not all javelins have electric start. You're laughing already aren't you? Just wait... just wait. So I can't get the controls out with the few tools I have so I tell him I'll have to come back for them tomorrow. He says I can take pretty much whatever I want he's donating what's left. Why he couldn't donate it to me I don't know. So I grab the gas tank, an old cool looking ladder and a hefty anchor. I try to get some deck hardware but it’s so pitted I decide against it, and the wasps seem to be back in force. So I get the motor home. I’m looking at it thinking, 56 Javelin what an undimpled face plate you have, and what a long shaft you have 56 Javelin, and what wonderful flaking multicolored paint your cowl is leaving everywhere my 1956 Johnson Javelin. I know what you are thinking… Wow Grant you just made a great deal. You should be proud of yourself. I’m sorry, I use too much sarcasm. What started as too timid a buyer turned into too eager a buyer, and as you Javelin owners have probably figured out I just bought myself an 1958 35 hp Sea Horse with what looks to me like a 58 Golden Javelin cowl and possibly an extension making it a long shaft. I know you’re wondering how in the he… I’ll cut you off there. I’ll post some pics so you can see how I might have let myself think this could’ve been what I thought it was.
I will tell you this my friends, I will love my 1956 Johnson Javelin, long shaft, model number RD-19C with a Custom Golden cowl until the day I die, or till mama finds out… so yeah the day I die!

1946Zephyr · Jun 26, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

Interesting score. I think you'll have fun tinkering with it. The old Javelines and Larks were great motors. Enjoy.

HighTrim · Jun 26, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

Im curious to see what you have.

Bigkat650 · Jun 26, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

HighTrim said:
Im curious to see what you have.

x2

It sounds like your motor adventure started out with a bang! If the wife does come down on you, you can always counter with 'well if worst comes to worst, I can part it out and make double what I have into it'... it just might take you a year to do so! Good Luck!

HighTrim · Jun 26, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

Bigkat650 said:
x2

It sounds like your motor adventure started out with a bang! If the wife does come down on you, you can always counter with 'well if worst comes to worst, I can part it out and make double what I have into it'... it just might take you a year to do so! Good Luck!

I used to try to tell my wife that I was buying them to turn a profit. Im well over 100 motors now, and only sold a couple. She's onto me

thewollerts · Jun 27, 2012

Re: Missed out on 56 Johnson Javelin. Not a useful post just ranting.

HighTrim said:
I used to try to tell my wife that I was buying them to turn a profit. Im well over 100 motors now, and only sold a couple. She's onto me

I'm scraping some of the paint from the cowl to see if it's from a 57 or 58 and she asked "why is the top brown and the bottom red?" I said "it's gold baby, we've struck gold!" I went on to tell her the tale and that I now have the beginnings of two really great motors! What's it called when one cell splits into two?