Thread: If I would have to replace,...what year motor is best?

I currently have a 1960's Evinrude Fastwin 18 outboard on a 1973 Sea Nymph
14R v-bottom boat. My motor runs very well,..but my question is this; If I should ever have to replace her for whatever reason,...what model year 25 HP Evinrude motor would be best? My boat is rated for a 25 HP max. I can't afford
the new 25 HP E-TEC,so I have to go used here. I want electric start tiller model as my boat is not a side console model,...and it would have to be short shaft,too. I am thinking about a late 1980's motor to early 1990's motor. Just
something to consider in the future should the unthinkable happen.

I really like the late 80's and early 90's johnnyrudes. They were at the top of their game then. I would think any later I would go with a yammie or merc. Just my .02 cents. As long as she's purring I would keep seafoam in her...the right oil mix...keep ethanol out of her and keep on tootin' along. I had a 76 1150 merc that I wish I still had...boat was smaller than I have now...but was completly paid off...and I did all the work pretty much myself. I miss that boat...lol. Probably won't come across a deal like that again.

I had a '86 Mariner that was a fantastic motor. Always started first pull and nothing ever broke except a fuel line. Just maintained it and used it. Very good motor. Sold it yesterday.

Scrapper is right. I deal only in OMC and really like the late 80's early 90s too. I run an 1990 model engine on the back of my personal boat. OMC engines are easier to work on. And they will last if treated right. Stay away from ethanol if possible. I just yesterday found the only station here that doesnt run ethanol. If you go with that year engine make sure its the newer style lower unit and no the old sp;it case lower unit. 25's will still have the old split case units in some cases. If you have to go with a 20 or 30.

I had an 84 35hp Johnny with thru hub exhaust. I put elec start on it and replaced the entire ignition system by choice. Coils and all. Didn't want to pull my heart out starting it by hand if the battery went dead from the trolling motor. I only ran one battery at the time. When I pulled it from dead cold there were 2 pulls with the choke and it would sputter. Turn off the choke and it would run for the rest of the day. Subsequent manual starts only used about a foot of rope. Put starter button under front of cowling to keep water off. Parts abound for these motors, and like west tenn says they're easy to work on if you have a basic manual. Look around and don't shy from a deal if it's proven(active word) to have good compression and no water in the lower unit. If in doubt take it to a tech you trust before giving up a dime.

Originally Posted by WestTennCrappie

Scrapper is right. I deal only in OMC and really like the late 80's early 90s too. I run an 1990 model engine on the back of my personal boat. OMC engines are easier to work on. And they will last if treated right. Stay away from ethanol if possible. I just yesterday found the only station here that doesnt run ethanol. If you go with that year engine make sure its the newer style lower unit and no the old sp;it case lower unit. 25's will still have the old split case units in some cases. If you have to go with a 20 or 30.

Just wondering if I stepped down just a little in power,how would a late '80's
15 horse motor do on my boat? Those motors have the thru-hub exhaust,don't they? Still,I like the idea of a 25 horse motor on there since my boat is rated for that size motor should the ole Fastwin give out unexpectedly.

I have a 15 hp johnson that is a 94 pushes my 12foot alweld jon boat 20 mph up on plane it is a short shaft.

The 15 horse newer model will probably be similar in power to the older 18 horse......

I would definitely consider a newer 15 HP motor as a replacement should the unthinkable happen then. I am an Evinrude guy,so the motor must be an Evinrude all the way!

Some may argue I dont know but I dont like anything but a jhonnyrude. Just the way I was raised :D