Johnson Boats

[nitsuj]

Hello all. I don't post here often, but I do read the forum often. I've run across a boat I have no experience with, and I'm hoping for some input. A friend of the family has an early 70's Johnson Surfer. I've had boats, but I've never been "in to" boats enough to know much about any model I didn't have at the time. So I know nothing of Johnson boats. I've had their outboards though and always been satisfied with them. The owner said this boat was 19.5 feet. It has a 200hp V8 Buick motor with a Johnson outdrive. It's also sitting on a very unique (to me) Johnson brand tandem axle trailer. I never even knew Johnson made boats and outdrives much less tralers. Condition of the boat I would call darn near excellent.

It's only had one owner, and he's only used it a few times every couple of years. But the owner is a fanatic about keeping things nice. All original parts, always stored indoors. Original top and seats are completely intact and not cracked. All lights and horn are functional. Only non factory parts are a fish finder, ship to shore and what I imagine is a pretty obsolete GPS. (King Lorens or something like that)

Price is a non issue. Lets just say it's a steal. ;-) So I'm not concerned about value for my money. I would like to know more about boat though. The hull design is one I'm not familiar with. I've had tri-hulls and V-hulls, but this is almost a combination of the 2. The owner called it a tunnel hull. A web search hasn't turned up much info about the boat. Neither did a search of this site.

I wasn't really looking for a "classic" boat, but this one just strikes me right. To me, it's sort of ugly, but it a neat 70's sort of way. The boat is from before my time, so I was hoping maybe a few memebers knew them or maybe even have or had one and could tell me a little more about it. I don't want to drag it home and find out I got a boat with a shoddy outdrive no parts are available for.

Thanks for any input you all can provide.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Johnson Boats

This is a tough one. I'm sure the boat is cool looking. But your looking at a stern drive that takes obsolescence to a whole new level. You'll never find parts for that thing. If you can get it, and get it running with minimal $$ then go for it. But I'd hate to see you put any real $$ into something that just one impossible-to-find part away from the scrap yard.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

This is a tough one. I'm sure the boat is cool looking. But your looking at a stern drive that takes obsolescence to a whole new level. You'll never find parts for that thing. If you can get it, and get it running with minimal $$ then go for it. But I'd hate to see you put any real $$ into something that just one impossible-to-find part away from the scrap yard.

Thank you for your input. I should have made it more clear. It's running. Needs nothing, it's water ready as is. Everything works, power trim, all lights, pump, blower. Everything. Fluids changed religiously, receipts kept. The goofy 70's looking teal paint on the lower unit isn't even worn off. Fresh water only, by the way. I'm no boat expert, but I know a little. But I'm very mechanical (being a mechanic helps) and I can find nothing wrong. Motor purrs, burns no oil. It's really darn near showroom condition. And the friend of the family price is very attractive. As in, cheaper than I paid for my last couch. 3 digits cheap. I figure the tandem axle trailer in good shape is worth close to that. Plus the custom stainless internal gas tank the owner had made.

But I do share your parts concern. I had (Still have, actually) a Johnson 115hp outboard of similar vintage. Used that goofy hydro electric shifting system. I had a solenoid go bad leaving me stuck with no reverse. Big headache. I'm guessing this lower unit may use that same system since like I said, it's from a similar year. My hope is, the really low hours on this boat mean I could run it a few seasons before anything catastrophic happened.

I'm really torn, part of me thinks I should just get it for some cheap fun on the water for a few seasons. For the price, if something breaks I can't replace, it's no heartbreak. The other part of me worries about parts availability and things like that.

Life is full of decisions...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Johnson Boats

Sounds to me like you should buy it and just take real good care of it and definitely post some pictures of this thing. Classic cars are probably a pain also but they sure are fun

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

Thanks. I think I've decided to get it. Sure, one bad part and it could be unfixable. But I can always get motor parts. And if the worst did happen, I could scrap the boat and have a darn nice heavy duty tandem axle trailer for the next boat. And judging by the lack of people who jumped in here with Johnson boat experience, and the fact that there's little information on the web, I'm guessing the thing is a bit rare, especially in this condition. I like old, odd looking stuff.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Johnson Boats

nit,
check this out............

http://www.cheapoldboats.com/FrontRunner.html

it's an old johnson boat,yours look loik this?

old red is the man to talk to from that site

woosterken

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

It looks very similar to that. Sort of. The hull design is similar. But the Surfer looks longer and it's an open bow. I'll see if I can contact "Red" if I have any questions. Thanks!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Johnson Boats

Check out this site:
http://www.ultimate.com/omc-boats/

I wouldn't be too afraid of that drive, they weren't all that bad and if used properly they did seem to hold up just fine. The big rubber boot around the drive is the main concern, but that's available still. Parts aren't too hard to find and there's always a ton of old I/O boats around for parts, often for free.
Since most people are afraid of the OMC drives and parts being hard to get, used or no longer running boats are usually cheap. There's still a good many dealers too that still have parts in stock and a few specialty sites who still carry basic parts.
While I'm pretty much an outboard only type of guy these days, I've owned both OMC and Merc I/O drive boats, from experience, I think I prefer the OMC drive since it lacks all the possible points of water leakage as on the Mercruiser. (No shifter bellows or exhaust bellows to crack and leak). The boot on the OMC drive is easy to inspect too.

My first boat years ago was a 1969 Evinrude Dolphin, very similar to your boat. I ran that for years as it was found. It was a free boat and in rough shape when I got it, but it never let me down. Mine had a 327 Chevy motor with the OMC drive. The only repairs I ever did was a tune up and carb overhaul when I got it. It had been sitting outside for 8 years when I got it and was pretty well weather beaten, not much on the dash worked, most everything was salt eaten but it still ran and got me where I needed to go. I traded it for a larger boat eventually.

I know where there are several sitting for free in NJ which would supply parts. The boats are rough but the drives are complete. One I believe may be a Surfer or Rogue model.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

Thanks for the link Reelfishin. I found that site because it's about the only one that comes up when you do a search for Johnson boats. I'm amazed by how little information is out there about these. There must not be many left. Usually, no matter how old and oddball something is, you can find a few websites dedicated to it, and several threads on this forum about it. But there doesn't seem to be many owners left of these things. I guess old boats aren't like old cars. People seem to move on to the nicer newer stuff and no one really preserves the old stuff.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

Well, its home and in the yard waiting for me to take it out. I thought I'd share some pics I snapped today.... By the way, it's a 1967. All original.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Johnson Boats

You should email that site to see if they want some pics, yours is probably one of the cleanest examples I've seen in ages.
Your right, old boats are not like old cars. Most older boats never gain any real collectible value. Only recently have some of the older really strange looking glass boats gained any serious attention and even then it's a very small, dedicated following. Most don't give those old OMC boats a second look. Most of the surviving examples will come from inland areas, away from saltwater. Its super rare to see an older boat here near the saltwater, most are pretty well corroded after only a few years and it seems that most people take little care of their boats. I don't think that I've ever gone to look at a boat in the 30 years that I've been boating and found the boat covered up and well protected.

The OMC boats were well built but they did tend to be heavy for their size.
They rode and performed just fine for boats of their day.

For the most part, when it comes to old boats, most don't seem to rebuild them to collect them as many do with old cars, most are rebuilding them out of necessity or lack of funds to buy a new boat for $20K plus or better.
The key in your case now is to continue maintaining and storing that boat as did the previous owner. Keep the deck dry, keep it indoors if possible and keep it in prime condition. With proper care it should last for another generation or more.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

Thanks Reelfishin. The previous owner was a fanatic about taking care of it. He gave me 3 covers with it, because every time one of his got a small hole, he'd go have a new one custom made. He really took good care of it. I hope to keep it as nice. Clean it up a bit, see if it will take a shine and just treat it well. I don't kid myself into thinking it will ever have any collector value, but it has value to me. 1967 is a few years before I was born. I like old retro looking stuff, so I was of course attracted to this boat. To my eyes, it's ugly as sin. But ugly enough to look cool. If that makes sense. I dig it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Johnson Boats

That is a very cool boat. Love the Johnson logos on the seats. Good luck with it! Whereabouts in PA are you?

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Johnson Boats

Thanks ezmobee. I'm located just north of Pittsburgh.