Repower 20'SF

[sailcat]

Evan, I'm thinkin I'd take the Johnson..

[Blue197320]

the 84 merc is almost ready to be bolted on. i just have to sell my evinrude and buy new steering first..
-evan

[oldbluesplayer]

Blue197320 - sounds like you've already gone for the 84, low hours one owner - that would have been my choice -

IMHO, most original owners take pretty good care, but once it goes around the block and the new owner considers it a cheap, used engine, he has limited expectations and takes reduced care - extend that to the 3rd owner, and now it's a cheap, run it till it breaks and replace it, item, and it's probably getting just that kind of service attention.

I feel very fortuneate with my 83 Johnson, but then I knew before buying the boat/motor - the boat was original owner, bought in 73, he repowered in 84 with an 83 leftover, and the original owner sold last year when he was too old and infirm to use it any more, with very reduced useage the last 6-8 years, and always professionally serviced at the same marina - the broker knew the gent thru the years, said he was a meticulous maintainer, and it showed - and so far that engine, knock on wood, has behaved well for me - but being an engineer, I've also spent a fair amount of time going over it and staying on top of it. A lot of folks, who would never think of flooring the gas in their car and driving that way, appear to think nothing of doing just that with their boat, at least it appears with outboards, and then wondering why they break ??? If you're gonna run a motor wide open throttle continuously, like a Nascar driver, expect to be rebuilding continuously, just like the Nascar boys do - fact of life.

anyways - good luck with yours.

Bill