A word from the wiser needed...please.

[Egghead]

Hi, I am new to boating and to this forum and would greatly appreciate a helping hand. I have bought a 14' Riamar boat, but now it´s time for an engine. It´s a tossup between 60HP Johnson triple 1995 and 60HP Evinrud Twin 1985. The Johnson has VRO - the Evinrude doesn´t. Both look, test and run really well. Money aside and other things being more and less equal, - from reliability point of view - with perhaps a few ounces of fun-factor added, which one should I go for?
I kind of need to decide within a couple of days, so any advice would be great - Thank you.

 

[cptshed]

Welcome,

I had a Johnson 60vro & had no probs, it was a1992 model,used it on a Shetland 570,
used to get about 25knots out of her,she was very old and very heavy for a 18ft, so a 14ft should fly.

You say the Even-ruder is 10yrs older than the Johnson,thats a big age gap,more
importantly is how both engines have been treated, i.e. have they been used in salt
or freshwater,if in salt water were they flushed through with fresh after each use.
Have the engines been serviced properly, and an idea of how many hours they have done.

One other point, the vro unit on the Johnson may cause prob's at some point, 2stk
engines dont run very well with too much oil in the mix, even worse with no oil !!!.
The pre-mix in your can method with the Even-ruder is safer.

Cant say which would perform the best, leave that to some of the wiser ones on the forum!!,
all the best with your boat, have a good season,

Nige'

 

[Egghead]

Thank you Nige'
Looks like both engines have been treated well and serviced regularly.
Perhaps safest bet would be to go for the Johnson, disconnect the VRO and premix...?

Siggi

 

[Ifraser]

Not trying to be funny but is 14' big enough to handle 60hp??

 

[longjohnsilver]

I was thinking just the same, I'd certainly want to check with builder/dealer. I'd have thought 40hp would have been nearer the mark.

 

[BarryH]

[ QUOTE ]
Not trying to be funny but is 14' big enough to handle 60hp??

[/ QUOTE ]

Depends on the boat. I had a fletcher 14 built in the 70's that was rated for 70 gee gee's max on the plate. We had a 60 on that it was fun with a capital F.

 

[BrendanS]

Don't know the particular boat, but Riamar's are pretty deep V hulled typically, so would guess 60hp OK, but pics of boat would be useful. Like any other boat, unlikely to use WOT often?, but extra grunt useful, and pretty stress free cruising in tides.

 

[Col]

So. My ring 16ft with 115 is over the top??

 

[cptshed]

"Ring" with a 115 on it!...sounds like it be awfully sore! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Wiggo]

No more so than our old 12.5' Fletcher with a Mariner 60...

Seriously, the newer triple will be far smoother and easier to start. It will also be more reliable and slightly less thirsty. I can see no issue whatever with a lump that size on that boat.

Mind you, we could get 55mph out of the old Fletcher...

 

[Egghead]

Thanks to all you guys - you have helped me make my mind up - I´m going for the triple and from other info I have gathered, I think I will have the VRO disconnected and premix - just to be on the safe side.

I have not been able to find out the max HP rating for this boat - nothing on the dataplate, but I was thinking about some stainless steel re-enforcement - just in case.

I did not mentioned this previously, but I am buying this engine, as well as seats, controls and just about everything else for the boat from the States. I have seen some previous threads on this subject - I will let you know how it goes.... With a bit of elbow grease, I hope to have the boat on the water in June/July....

 

[BarryH]

Be a bit sluggish tho won't it! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Egghead]

Why do you say that? Some guys seem to think that 60HP on 14' footer is overdoing it....? You got me confused now... please explain.

 

[BarryH]

If you look at may reply you'll see it was to col's post (Re col). The 60 on a 14 foot boat should be fine. The likes of fletchers and sunsports were packaged with various motors of 60hp around that size of boat.

You mentioned that you'd be looking to add some renforcement to the transom. I doubt this will be needed. Just a note, make sure that the transom height is ok for the engine your proposing ti use. Also the sterring gear is man enough to handle the engine.

 

[Egghead]

Thanks Barry - yeah, I see what you mean. Just getting used to how this forum works.

Transom is exactly 20" so that´s the motor I´m going for. Steering will be a new Teleflex. I am replacing just about everything inside the boat, including FULL instrumentation, so should be good when I´m done.

Is that a good old Yammy XJ on that little photo? I know this is a boating forum, but I have a GSX1100ES myself in almost mint condition - only thing it´s missing is a shaft! Like those good old big air cooled bikes where you don´t have to cover everything up with cheap plastic.... It´s built like a brick and could probably tow my boat if I put a towbar on it...!!

 

[BarryH]

Wash your mouth out!!!!! XJ indeed. Nah its an 85 CBX750FE. All original apart from the pipe. I could'nt/wouldn't pay 950 quid for a new system from Honda and wait a month while they shipped it from Japan.
Still goes well. I've had it hitting 140 on a good day, on private ground of course officer!
For your shaft have a look at the Classic Japanese Motorcycle Club. Loads of old jap stuff on there.

 

[enterprise]

Had a 16ft6 picton with 200hp mariner.
Was very lively but great for fuel economy, running the engine at only 50-60% was ideal rather than thrashing an under powered engine.

Caution though, check with your insurance as if you exceed the maximum HP rating for your boat, in the event of a claim it may well be void.