Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

You may have read my posts about looking for used outboard to repower my 1985 Bayliner project boat with the custom hard top. Have been looking at lots of used motors and used boats and only come away frustrated.

At this time, my wife just wants me to go buy a new motor and get it over with so she doesn't have to listen to me complain and take off every other day to check something out and come back and complain. Hmmm.... not such a bad idea.... What are the interest rates? LOL!!!

The 1998 Evinrude 90 hp w/tilt/trim is the motor I am looking at right now. Available as a complete rebuild from a few different shops, its within my budget (sort of) adds about 50-70 lbs to the boat, and is a proven performer with lots of parts and support. So that is my current choice to repower this boat:



My Bayliner 1600 currently has 85hp Force (no T/T) and a US Marine (made by Morse) concealed side mount control using 33-c cables. The easiest way to repower is to just buy a new/used Johnson side mount control and bolt it on. But I would like to keep the concealed side mount control for aesthetics. So I found the cable end kit that lets the 33-C cables from the Morse unit work with a '98 Evinrude 90hp (about $16 on iboats). But the rest of the connections need to be hard wired. Such as the ignition, neutral safety and over heat alarm.

So I am looking at various "adapter/conversion" cables to use with the 1998 model Evinrude to allow connection to the existing ignition, alarm, etc. The only option the boat currently can't support is tilt/trim. So both a tilt/trim switch and gauge need to be added. Both are easy enough to install. But I would rather have the tilt/trim on the control, rather than a rocker switch on the dash.

So.... any suggestions or comments about installing a 1998 Evinrude 90hp as a repower to the 1985 Bayliner with 85hp Force are greatly appreciated. I tend to list every aspect of a repower in detail, and the controls are an issue for me right now.

BTW, does a 1998 Evinrude use the big red connector under the cowl or something else? (I think its something else - something I am unfamiliar with).

Thanks!

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

Mark, That '98 motor does not use the red plug. It has a series of plugs that mate under the motor cowling. That '98 will have the OMS oil injection system which is a real good one. It will also have the ability to use the System Check Tach, which will indicate low oil, overheat and no oil (at the OMS Pump). I recommend you take advantage of this warning system.

See if you can get a wiring diaghram for the new motor at the Maxrules site.

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

Ficht???

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

As far as the trim switch, you might consider one of these teleflex units that mount on the helm:

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

Thanks guys.

Just so you know what I am planning on buying, here is a link to the rebuilders page:

http://www.outboardexchange.com/90_evinrude/index.html

90 hp Evinrude 1980-1998
We have remanufactured more of these outboards than any other. This was the most widely produced outboard from 1973-1998 in any size range. For these reasons parts availability and serviceability are excellent. They have been a very strong performer for us and that is why we have decided to continue to offer them to you. They are a simple but strong design that we have had very few problems with. We found that the few failures with this class of outboards are due to fuel contamination or oil injection failure. As with all Evinrude outboards we build we have removed the oil injection. Fuel contamination can be prevented by installing a Racor fuel filter and checking it regularly.

Benefits: You can expect low gas consumption with this outboard. It is very light; weight (306 lbs) compared to the newer 4 and 2 stroke units. As with all OMC products you will have excellent parts and service availability (They are extremely popular).

Click to expand...

As you can see from the link, they charge a premium for their motors. They say the motors are completely disassembled, rebuilt, painted, then reassembled and new decals applied. They look like new motors and run like new motors and have a 1 year guarantee.

The shop can supply a new or used control box, but I would rather keep the controls I have if possible.

I'm thinking of buying an Evinrude manual on CD just for reference at this point.

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

The CD manual is just a seloc, poorly scanned and very hard to navigate compared to flippin pages.
You also cannot study whilst occupying the smallest room in your house.
Whilst you can do that with seloc, its better to put it behind you, so to speak.

I got a used 1994 johnson 150, for $1500.
Runs good but I had to look for it.
Season is just about over , whats the rush.

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

jonesg said:

The CD manual is just a seloc, poorly scanned and very hard to navigate compared to flippin pages.
You also cannot study whilst occupying the smallest room in your house.
Whilst you can do that with seloc, its better to put it behind you, so to speak.

I got a used 1994 johnson 150, for $1500.
Runs good but I had to look for it.
Season is just about over , whats the rush.

Click to expand...

Fully agree with both these sentiments. The season for good deals on boating equipment is just getting started, I'd keep my eyes open and see what comes up.

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

jonesg said:

The CD manual is just a seloc, poorly scanned and very hard to navigate compared to flippin pages.
You also cannot study whilst occupying the smallest room in your house.
Whilst you can do that with seloc, its better to put it behind you, so to speak.

I got a used 1994 johnson 150, for $1500.
Runs good but I had to look for it.
Season is just about over , whats the rush.

Click to expand...

Whats the rush? WHATS THE RUSH??? The summer season is over, but THE FALL SEASON IS JUST BEGINNING!!!!!!

Seriously, this is the time to buy a motor, end of season, marinas and rebuilders want to clear their stock or get in the last of the purchases, even if at discounted prices. That is why I am pushing to get the motor now, rather than spring when everyone is rushing to repower/repair.

Re: Help needed with repower from Force to Evinrude.

I finally did it. Ordered a rebuilt 2002 90 hp Johnson. Should be here middle of next week. Just have to pull the Force off, mount the Johnson and new controls and its off to the water to break it in.

Hope I made the right choice!