sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

[general_1999]

I have a 1993 18 foot sylvan fisherman, riveted hull,tired with a rebuilt 94 115 johnson 2 years ago. I purchased a 1997 spectrum fish and ski 18 foot, welded hull with a good running 1997 force 120. My plan is to move force to sylvan boat and sell. both are 4 pedestal open front. spectrum is 10 inches wider and more storage. Will do compression tests on both motors first. Is motor swap worth the work?

 

[rogerwa]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

Long term I would rather have the 115 Johnson. I have owned force and am not a blind basher of them, but I feel the Johnson is a superior motor.

 

[general_1999]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

Do think motor mount holes will line up?

 

[roscoe]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

Do think motor mount holes will line up?

Yes. Steering cable too. Controls, and wiring harness will not.

But I'd rather have the Sylvan with the Johnson. I've had both of those hulls, and the motors.

The sylvan is built like a tank, with a Starcraft gullwing hull.

The Spectrum is thin gauge welded Brunswick hull, no external chines, boat slides around, does not carve turns, kind of the 1866 Bayliner Capri 1400 of the aluminum boat world.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

WoW!! You actually paid real money for a Force? The Sylvan is a much better boat than the Spectrum. I'd see if I could find anyone to take the Spectrum/Force off my hands without paying them.

 

[general_1999]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

sylvan is built like a tank but unfortunately has been thru 2 wars not just 1. hull is thin between back of keel and transom and floor has only 1 or 2 seasons left. spectrum has reverse chine and is in very clean condition. Will it handle waves like sylvan but with less banging since it has a more tapered bow?

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

Trying to recall if the Sylvan has aluminum or wood stringers..... not a fan of Spectrum and have had 3 Sylvans to 22'. Other than as an anchor I can think of little positive to say about the Force-- just my $0.02 and you have seen both. Best of luck with which ever you choose.

 

[roscoe]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

My Spectrum was a 17'.
The bow bounced like crazy, did not cut through a single wave the 8 years I had it. It bounced up over them.

The bow of the hull actually had hit the waves so hard that the skin was distorted and you could see every support location.

It may work for you, but I was glad when I sold mine.


For what its worth, according to NADA, 1996 was the last year for Spectrum, and they never made an 18 or 19' rated for more than 90 hp.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

I have the Spectrum 19.5 "sport fish" I think, it's got a 90 merc on it and I can see a huge difference in quality from my Lund. You will too from your Sylvan. The Force is not going to be any kind of outboard to be proud of either, they were built with about the same thought as my Spectrum was, for cheap! But that said, my Spectrum does run well in the great lakes of Michigan, it has nice high sides, and has never left me stranded, but then I have a true Merc engine, not a Force. I'd take the Sylvan and Johnson set up any day! And I would not invest a penny in moving that Force to any other rig except to sell it.

 

[saumon]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

The Spectrum is thin gauge welded Brunswick hull, no external chines, boat slides around, does not carve turns, kind of the 1866 Bayliner Capri 1400 of the aluminum boat world.

Didn't know they made them back then...:lol:

 

[V153]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

Didn't know they made them back then...:lol:

Correct that's when the project began, it took 100 yrs or so for the Bayliner/Force concept to reach fruition ...

J/K! I've never owned either so I can't speak from personal experience. But ya gotta admit, deserved or not, both brands have a purty lousy reputation.

Back to the OT I'd choose the Johnson over the Force anyday. Much more reliable motor overall.

 

[general_1999]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

sylvan has aluminum stringers.northwood 18 ft hull on hp plate.

 

[64osby]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

G - It's your call on what to do, and your money. I have no experience with Force or Blue Finn's. I have a Starcraft and an Johnson V90.

The Force vs Johnson would be an easy call for me, the Johnson. Better parts support and better reliability.

On the boats, if the Sylvan is really as beat as you say, it may be best to use the Spectrum. At least give it a couple runs to see if it will perform up to your needs.

There are not many kind words about Spectrums here, but I'm sure there are a lot of owners out there using them everyday.

 

[roscoe]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

Starcraft made the Sylvan hull.
Starcraft, Sylvan, Smokercraft, all the same company.
They made and sold hulls to several other companies, including Mirrocraft, BlueFin, Sea Nymph, and Northwoods ( Link Bros. Recreation, same family as Jack Link's Jerky)

THe Spectrum was made by Brunswick, after they bought the BlueFin company and converted it to welded hull production. After a few years, they upgraded their design and put the Fisher name on it, after they bought Fisher.


I really have no problem with the Force motor, other than its an orphan, and hard to find a shop to work on it if need be.

If you like the Spectrum, fine, but not for me.

 

[general_1999]

Re: sylvan with johnson 115 or spectrum with force 120

update . used force on spectrum all summer and it ran flawlessly. Hated the drivers seat position. Caught lots of walleye. very thirsty engine. At least double the fuel consumption of the johnson. Sold boat and bought pontoon. Still have sylvan if \i dont like pontoon.