Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
'82... Spot on.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
'82... Spot on.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
12' Fletcher Engine Decision
- Thread starter sblake161189
- Start date
AndieMac
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Firefly, your boats seem to be very tidy, well done!
We have a mercury 75 2 stroke on a 17 foot alloy workboat at the marina, yes it is a smelly old thing with the stern to the wind, but my goodness it won't die. For six years now it has been utterly abused, always towing, pushing and pulling for construction work etc... Two years ago it was sunk in a storm, submerged for 12 hours (salt water), cleaned out and hasn't missed a beat.
On the other hand, the 2nd workboat, 90 Evinrude (Etec), was treated with great respect, in fact rarely used, and after 100 hours, complete melt-down and has been nothing but consistant trouble.
Sorry about moving away from original post, but it appeared the issue was solved!
Firefly, your boats seem to be very tidy, well done!
We have a mercury 75 2 stroke on a 17 foot alloy workboat at the marina, yes it is a smelly old thing with the stern to the wind, but my goodness it won't die. For six years now it has been utterly abused, always towing, pushing and pulling for construction work etc... Two years ago it was sunk in a storm, submerged for 12 hours (salt water), cleaned out and hasn't missed a beat.
On the other hand, the 2nd workboat, 90 Evinrude (Etec), was treated with great respect, in fact rarely used, and after 100 hours, complete melt-down and has been nothing but consistant trouble.
Sorry about moving away from original post, but it appeared the issue was solved!
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Hi AndieMac... yes completed the original post nicely I think, now just diverted on talking about boats and engines... what ever will become of the forum next!
Thanks for comments on my boats etc.. I do like a polishing cloth always to be close at hand!
These old Merc 2 strokes were strong engines, just talking to an outboard service engineer a couple of days ago and he was saying that new engines, once submerged are just ruined whatever anyone says! Not so it seemed for your old Merc... simple & robust engineering always wins the day. Yes they may have always been a bit heavy but I would prefer that then running just 100 hours before they thrown in the towel!
Oh, and JFM I have always wanted a 90 or 115 6 cylinder (Tower of Power), such great iconic engines...IMO. I know a couple of people with them, that is my next project to get hold of one of these... but also have a desire to get hold of a 70's 85hp XS... but that is like looking for a needle in a haystack and would be rather costly I fear..
what a sexy outboard.... oooh I must be a geek!
James aka Firefly
Hi AndieMac... yes completed the original post nicely I think, now just diverted on talking about boats and engines... what ever will become of the forum next!
Thanks for comments on my boats etc.. I do like a polishing cloth always to be close at hand!
These old Merc 2 strokes were strong engines, just talking to an outboard service engineer a couple of days ago and he was saying that new engines, once submerged are just ruined whatever anyone says! Not so it seemed for your old Merc... simple & robust engineering always wins the day. Yes they may have always been a bit heavy but I would prefer that then running just 100 hours before they thrown in the towel!
Oh, and JFM I have always wanted a 90 or 115 6 cylinder (Tower of Power), such great iconic engines...IMO. I know a couple of people with them, that is my next project to get hold of one of these... but also have a desire to get hold of a 70's 85hp XS... but that is like looking for a needle in a haystack and would be rather costly I fear..
what a sexy outboard.... oooh I must be a geek!
James aka Firefly
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Oh, that takes me back. Here was our old Fletcher 127 with a Johnson 60:
The motor died and was subsequently replaced with a Mariner 60 ELPTO:
I can confirm that with a 60hp 2-stroke on the back, it went like a scalded cat - 50mph on the speedo - but was still stable.
Oh, that takes me back. Here was our old Fletcher 127 with a Johnson 60:
The motor died and was subsequently replaced with a Mariner 60 ELPTO:
I can confirm that with a 60hp 2-stroke on the back, it went like a scalded cat - 50mph on the speedo - but was still stable.
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Excellent! That Fletcher 127 hull was great. I used to go wave jumping in the Solent. Always amazed how softly she would land! But that was with a 50hp... a 60hp would not be for the faint hearted, but interesting to see once again the transom can take it!
Excellent! That Fletcher 127 hull was great. I used to go wave jumping in the Solent. Always amazed how softly she would land! But that was with a 50hp... a 60hp would not be for the faint hearted, but interesting to see once again the transom can take it!
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
The transom plate said max 40hp, for sure, but it never felt overpowered, to be honest. The only hairy moment was when she hit a wave badly, jumped and came down on her side. The rubbing strake was a big rubber moulding held on with tie wraps every 8" or so, and she landed so hard it ripped most of the strake off the port side. But when the hull bit, she turned like she was on rails and recovered with no problem.
15 years on, I still wish we had that boat...
The transom plate said max 40hp, for sure, but it never felt overpowered, to be honest. The only hairy moment was when she hit a wave badly, jumped and came down on her side. The rubbing strake was a big rubber moulding held on with tie wraps every 8" or so, and she landed so hard it ripped most of the strake off the port side. But when the hull bit, she turned like she was on rails and recovered with no problem.
15 years on, I still wish we had that boat...
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
[ QUOTE ]
15 years on, I still wish we had that boat...
[/ QUOTE ]
Just thinking much the same thing. Nice and small, didn't take up much room. Could be launched single handed in minutes,... I bought mine for £1500 and sold it a couple of years later for £1800... and apart from cleaning it and replacing the graphics (which some kind Fletcher employee sent me FOC), all I had to do was put fuel in it... who says boats have to be expensive, this was cheap fun!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
[ QUOTE ]
15 years on, I still wish we had that boat...
[/ QUOTE ]
Just thinking much the same thing. Nice and small, didn't take up much room. Could be launched single handed in minutes,... I bought mine for £1500 and sold it a couple of years later for £1800... and apart from cleaning it and replacing the graphics (which some kind Fletcher employee sent me FOC), all I had to do was put fuel in it... who says boats have to be expensive, this was cheap fun!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Now it has come to light that a certain person I know may well have a 14 (or it could be a 12) with a 40hp merc on the back......PM me for details!
Now it has come to light that a certain person I know may well have a 14 (or it could be a 12) with a 40hp merc on the back......PM me for details!
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif alas it won't be for me... I am currently over boated! Technical term used by SWMBO. Therefore the one that is taking up room on the driveway has got to go to allow for the one sitting at Hythe Marina to remain. Increasing the boat ownership number to 3 would probably cause sense of humour failure... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif alas it won't be for me... I am currently over boated! Technical term used by SWMBO. Therefore the one that is taking up room on the driveway has got to go to allow for the one sitting at Hythe Marina to remain. Increasing the boat ownership number to 3 would probably cause sense of humour failure... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Ditto.
Ditto.
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Ditto that's why is for sale in fact they are all for sale!
Ditto that's why is for sale in fact they are all for sale!
jfm
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
With your renovating skills you should definitely get a ToP. It's just one of those things you have to do in your outboard-geek career. The noise at 5000rpm is wonderful (it's mostly intake noise). I'd favour a 1981 or 2. From 81 onwards they were bhp rated at the prop not crankshaft, and they still had the classic twin cylinder power trim with separate pump rather than the later unit built into the transom bracket. I so regret selling our 1981 model, about 5 years ago. I should have kept it, and I'd have had it restored then use it on a new centre console boat, cos it's loads better than the modern 4 cyl job I have now, and I'd have had it since new, nearly 30 years now... Dang
I'll post some pics soon
And yes, that 850XS is gorgeous, but you're v unlikely to find one in UK. Maybe Grubbs at OldMercs.com or one of the US forums could lead you to one, in the US? The one in your pic looks like a '74, and is rigged with pull-pull steering, sheesh!
With your renovating skills you should definitely get a ToP. It's just one of those things you have to do in your outboard-geek career. The noise at 5000rpm is wonderful (it's mostly intake noise). I'd favour a 1981 or 2. From 81 onwards they were bhp rated at the prop not crankshaft, and they still had the classic twin cylinder power trim with separate pump rather than the later unit built into the transom bracket. I so regret selling our 1981 model, about 5 years ago. I should have kept it, and I'd have had it restored then use it on a new centre console boat, cos it's loads better than the modern 4 cyl job I have now, and I'd have had it since new, nearly 30 years now... Dang
I'll post some pics soon
And yes, that 850XS is gorgeous, but you're v unlikely to find one in UK. Maybe Grubbs at OldMercs.com or one of the US forums could lead you to one, in the US? The one in your pic looks like a '74, and is rigged with pull-pull steering, sheesh!
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
[ QUOTE ]
With your renovating skills you should definitely get a ToP. It's just one of those things you have to do in your outboard-geek career.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just before I bought my Winner I drove 200 miles to collect a Broom Aquarius which was fitted with a Mercury 140hp ToP, the boat was very restorable and I had agreed the sale subject to viewing. However the trailer was so corroded that one of the wheel hubs was held with one solitary bolt, all the others were rusted right through. The seller of the Broom who was quite a large chap covered with tattoos got a bit excited when I said I couldn't possibly drive on the road with the trailer, in the end I pretended to be calling up haulage companies to come and pick the thing up and made my escape... it was all quite bizarre! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I like buying projects like this around November time so will start looking the tail end of the season; it gives me something to do over the winter and ensures my expenditure of boat related products sees no season downturn... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[ QUOTE ]
With your renovating skills you should definitely get a ToP. It's just one of those things you have to do in your outboard-geek career.
[/ QUOTE ]
Just before I bought my Winner I drove 200 miles to collect a Broom Aquarius which was fitted with a Mercury 140hp ToP, the boat was very restorable and I had agreed the sale subject to viewing. However the trailer was so corroded that one of the wheel hubs was held with one solitary bolt, all the others were rusted right through. The seller of the Broom who was quite a large chap covered with tattoos got a bit excited when I said I couldn't possibly drive on the road with the trailer, in the end I pretended to be calling up haulage companies to come and pick the thing up and made my escape... it was all quite bizarre! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I like buying projects like this around November time so will start looking the tail end of the season; it gives me something to do over the winter and ensures my expenditure of boat related products sees no season downturn... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
BartW
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
some very very nice outboards posted on here !
If you are desparate to find a short shaft,
I still have an old 50HP Evinrude Short Shaft with electric start and remote steering. It is at least 30y old, but has never failed running while we had it on our zodiac Futura MKIII.
And it still looks quite clean.
PM if you are interested and don't mind the distance to Belgium...
some very very nice outboards posted on here !
If you are desparate to find a short shaft,
I still have an old 50HP Evinrude Short Shaft with electric start and remote steering. It is at least 30y old, but has never failed running while we had it on our zodiac Futura MKIII.
And it still looks quite clean.
PM if you are interested and don't mind the distance to Belgium...
AndieMac
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
James
The pic of the 80 on the blue runabout, as it is underway, appears to be throwing a fair bit of spray.
Is the motor a tad long for the transom, or is it trim angle related?
James
The pic of the 80 on the blue runabout, as it is underway, appears to be throwing a fair bit of spray.
Is the motor a tad long for the transom, or is it trim angle related?
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Re: 12\' Fletcher Engine Decision
Length of engine fine, length of swimming ladder perhaps not... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
amazing what people notice, very good!
Length of engine fine, length of swimming ladder perhaps not... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
amazing what people notice, very good!
