Re: 1956 Johnson 18 horse value
...but still an improvement on rowing! unless rowing is your thing, of course.
Weight distribution in a 12 or 14 foot aluminum makes a big difference. When I fish alone, I like to use an articulated tiller extension, and sit in the middle seat. For 5 through 10 hp, the weight distribution makes hull speed much better -- faster. The 18 has enough power, and really the 10 as well, to pop me up on plane steering from the rear seat. The 3 is a little faster with my 225lbs in the center seat, but it's still only a three (great troller). I'ts been three or four years, but I like to take the five motors mentioned (all '57s in my case) to a lake I like in upper Michigan. I'm there for some fishing, but fooling around with and testing out the motors is as big a part of it.