JOHNSON 2 HP

[Miker]

I've been asked if I want to buy a 1 year old "hardly used" Johnson 2 HP outboard. I need an OB for my tender as rowing can be a little tiring!

Has anyone any experience, good or bad, of this OB? The write up in the PBO last year seemed OK.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[steve_cronin]

I tried on of these and found it rather underpowered. It may be OK if you are going to use it on a very small dinghy in sheltered waters with little tidal flow but I wouldn't fancy crossing say Poole Harbour with it. Also, the one I tried had only one clamp screw which I thought alarming and possibly likely to let the motor skew sideways in sharp turns if it weren't tightened up VERY tight.

That particular motor was intended for lake use in the USA -(some electrics are more powerful) not as tender propulsion on a wild European offshore island!

I would suggest a Mercury 2.5, Mariner 3 or a Yamaha Malta as better alternatives.


Steve Cronin

 

[Miker]

WHAT\'S A REASONABLE PRICE?

Thanks for the advice. I will have the opportunity of trying it out first.

What would be a reasonable price to pay for an 18 month old OB capable of pushing a three man rubber dinghy?

 

[seaesta]

Re: WHAT\'S A REASONABLE PRICE?

Miker

I have had a couple of Johson 2 HPs and found them really good. They seem to pull my tender OK and I can carry then in one hand.

The first one lasted a few years but I knackered it by trying to service it myself (they are a bugger to dismantle)> I paid £80 for it abot 9 years ago. The second one was bought at a boat jumble 3 years for £85 plus the old wreck in part exchange.

be careful with the petrol/oil mix. Mine thrives on about 70:1 more than that it oils up the plug. Less than that is an act of faith beyond my stength of will- even though some folk say 100:1!!

Previous correspondents have noted an occaisional sticking of the float chamber and petrol flooding but this has not something I have experienced

My advice is "just do it" or as we say in the civil service "jfdi"


MartinD

p.s. are you related to Zoe Wannamiker?