interesting article on old outboards

[kg5388]

from outdoors with Doug Markham

http://www.dougoutdoors.com/Articles/2009/week07/w07-s02.php

What are we going to do when all these old guys are gone?? In the old days you walked to the parts counter and told the man what you needed and He went in the back and got it NOW you got some kid that looks it up in a computer He don't know what it is or what it does or how it changes from year to year or model to model

I've seen a mechanic diagnose a problem with a section of broomstick pressed to the engine and his ear now you need a computer degree to hook the machine to the car

thought it was interesting that there are some of these old guys still out there hid away still working on old stuff

I hope this will help some of you that have Grandpa's old outboard in the barn to get it out and let it push a boat again

 

[Varago]

Re: interesting article on old outboards

You can never go back home.

"In the old days you walked to the parts counter and told the man what you needed and He went in the back and got it NOW you got some kid that looks it up in a computer"

I remember the good old days in a different light then you, ya see I was that kid behind the counter in the 60's and 70's. And yes for some parts we did know the part number but ya know we had books that were over 5 FEET in total width to cover MOST of the different makes,models and years. We even sold a tool to replace your broom stick

I knew a lot of mechanics and only about 10% really knew what they were doing, there was only one I trusted my car to. I never saw any reason to think that boat mechanics were any different back in the good old days

From what I have read from this forum I would say that we have FAR BETTER mechanics for our boats today then we ever had

Dave

ps I think it was a few of the mechanics from the 60's that perfected the art Easter Egging.

oh one little thing a mechanic != machinist in my book

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: interesting article on old outboards

back in the old days outboards were a mystery how they worked. since the internet, there are far more people restoring old motors, and doing there own maintenance.