Quick question on older outboards...

[kjackson]

I'm in the process of downsizing/re-thinking my boat/fishing situation.  I'll be selling my current boat and looking for something smaller. Because I'm cheap, er, thrifty, I'm looking at used. Can older outboards be retrofitted with tilt and trim? Can an older outboard be changed over to electric  start?  I don't have a particular boat/motor combo in mind, but I'm thinking Evinrude, Yamaha or Honda for power.  

I've also been looking really hard at the StumpNocker boats as I think one will fit the upper LOZ/Truman thing fairly well for what I want to do. I realize that a smaller boat will bring safety considerations into play, but I'm semi-retired, so I can pick and choose where and when I fish, assuming winter ever leaves. Part of the smaller boat thinking is in regards to the miserable dirt road that gives us access to our LOZ cabin and partly due to the very upper end of Truman. 

 

 

[fishinwrench]

What size outboard are we talking here?

For the most part if you stick to Johnson/Evinrude you'll be able to aquire parts and accessories to do just about anything you want.  Merc, Yamaha, and the others.....not so much.

[kjackson]

For what I'm anticipating buying, a 15 or 25-hp is about it.  I've been seeing a lot of Evinrudes on the used boats in Florida--which is where I'll be next week.  Thanks for the info, Wrench.  

Basically, I'm looking for a 15- to 16-foot glass boat. A big 14 might do...

[MrGiggles]

48 minutes ago, kjackson said:

For what I'm anticipating buying, a 15 or 25-hp is about it.  I've been seeing a lot of Evinrudes on the used boats in Florida--which is where I'll be next week.  Thanks for the info, Wrench.  

Basically, I'm looking for a 15- to 16-foot glass boat. A big 14 might do...

It really depends on the motor.

I convertered a 9.8 Merc to electric start pretty cheaply. Found a donor identical ES motor on CL for 150 bucks. Cheap because it didn't run and had no title. Swapped all the parts over in an afternoon. On that motor it was easy, it retained the recoil, you just bolt up the starter and swap over the electrical parts.

On the 25 Johnson that I just sold, it was more complicated, because it did not retain the recoil, so you had to purchase a starter bracket and cowl along with the other required parts.

As for tilt and trim, I have no idea.

[fishinwrench]

5 hours ago, MrGiggles said:

I convertered a 9.8 Merc to electric start pretty cheaply

Where in the Sam Hell did you find a geared flywheel for a 9.8 Merc ? 

I didn't even know they existed.  Can you post a pic of that conversion?  

[MrGiggles]

7 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Where in the Sam Hell did you find a geared flywheel for a 9.8 Merc ? 

I didn't even know they existed.  Can you post a pic of that conversion?  

They do. The donor motor was a long shaft, with a really flat prop, from a pontoon I imagine. I bought it in KC, a lot of lakes up there have a 10hp restriction.

Unfortunately I sold the motor last spring. I'll have to dig around, but I don't think I have any photos with the cowl off.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I have one, trying to upload a pic, but phone is not cooperating.  There are many available on eBay.