How old is your outboard?

[ShoestringMariner]

For all of you recreational boaters, how old is your outboard? I just “upgraded” to a 1995 and I’m wrenching on an 1986 and 1990 for fun. The parts dealers I’m dealing with are saying they “don’t stock parts on motors that old”.
I find that statement quite odd because there are millions of motors from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s still in use out there.

Please feel free to participate in this poll. It’s just for fun I’m not a market researcher or anything.
I just can’t believe that most people are only using outboard motors that are considered relatively new.

please make the choice based on your main motor or most commonly used if you have several boats. This does not apply to trolling motors etc.

 

[Scott Danforth]

which one, I have one that is coming up on 65 years old, one that is turning 50

 

[ShoestringMariner]

which one, I have one that is coming up on 65 years old, one that is turning 50

I was just using a 45 year old motor.
are these just for fun, or your main motors?

 

[Scott Danforth]

nah, these are the fishing barge motors. my main motor is a custom built big block

 

[racerone]

Parts ( consumable items ) for older motors are easy to find.----Just have to educate yourself on how and where to look !!

 

[dingbat]

Main, soon to be replaced, motor is 24.
Fun motor is 60

Parts prices and delivery times for the main motor have gone through the roof.

Time for an upgrade

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Parts ( consumable items ) for older motors are easy to find.----Just have to educate yourself on how and where to look !!

I’m starting to think online is going to have to be my option of choice. Which is too bad, I like the saying “shop at the stores you want to keep” AKA, support local.

 

[Chris1956]

OEMs are generally required to produce parts for motors for 20 years. After that they make a business decision on how long to provide parts. Popular motors usually have aftermarket parts available, for a very long time, especially for the normal replacement items like fuel, ignition and cooling parts.

The internet allows us access to NOS and used parts. For example my '93 Merc had a steel steering swivel shaft. After 20+ years in saltwater it rotted away. Merc saw the light after '93 and went to an incompatible SS steering swivel shaft, so no new part replacement was possible. I did find a used one from Wisconsin, which was in good shape, on the internet.

 

[JimS123]

Most local dealers don't stock old parts and refuse to work on old motors. One reason is that all the old mechanics have retired and the new ones don't have the experience. Today, its just hook up a puter and read the diagnosis.

Because its a lost art, if you have an oldie you better be able to work on it yourself. Sure, parts are available, but you must search for them. Not like simply going to the local marina.

I am fortunate in having a marina 1 mile away that ONLY works on oldies. He has been on the net since its inception and his inventory of parts is amazing.

That said, my 2 daily drivers both sport Merc 4-strokes that are no more than 4 years old. I like to play with oldies just for fun, but when I go fishing, take a vacation, or simply take out the family I want 100% reliability and an engine that is so smooth that you can't hear it running.

 

[matt167]

Main is a 1966 Johnson 40hp and secondary is a 1997 Evinrude 4hp. I can get anything I need for either one

 

[82rude]

2011 60 etec and 1974 6hp Johnson.Old fun motor is 1939 22.5 opposed twin Evinrude with a speed lowerunit.Old smokey!

 

[tpenfield]

My oldest outboard remembers rotary dial telephones.

 

[JimS123]

My oldest outboard remembers rotary dial telephones.

My oldest outboard remembers when telephones were not even IN most houses. (The old iron still runs too!)

 

[bwkre]

1961 Evinrude 18hp, using since 2012

 

[LundAngler1650]

About to replace a 3 year old 25 Merc, with a new 50 Honda. My fault for buying a new boat show package deal boat, without an in water test. Had I not broken my own rule, because it was new, and a special weekend price, I would have discovered it was severely under powered. The boat really needs a 50, not the 25.

 

[jhande]

43 years old

 

[I.Yogi]

Currently running a 98, but I have a 67 9.5 kicking around too.

 

[tbetty]

1971 merc 1150 tower of power, still rippin around pulling tubes and fishing. Owned since new.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Main boat has a 2009 Suzuki, but my 12ft Starcraft has two options: a 1957 Johnson Seahorse 3hp or a 1960 Johnson Seahorse 5.5hp. I channel my inner Walter Matthau when sneaking up on my fishing holes.

 

[slowleak]

Just inherited a 55 year old boat and motor. I doubt either has more than 20 hours on it.
It belonged to my uncle, who bought them well into his 50's to run on his private lake. From what I was told, he only ran them once or twice a year if the weather was good when they had a family barbecue there.
The boat is a 65 14ft Starcraft, the motor a 1965 Chrysler 20hp.
The boat and motor are mint, both stored indoors after every use and only in fresh water. The bad part is that all the lakes here are 10hp max, so the motor will sit on the stand from now on.
My boat, and motor, which I've owned since the 80's, is only 43 years old this year. Its a Mirrocraft Lake Fisherman with a 35hp Johnson on it that still runs like the day it was new.