evinrude outboard circa 1950

[PRESKEY]

has anyone knowledge or whereabouts of an evinrude outboard of the 1950's.? am assuming 35/40hp twin ?but could obviously be wrong not having knowledge of that era. what engines were available and fitted to an Indexna (built Barcelona)? have a photograph of our boat that the previous owner's family have forwarded for clarity. if anyone would care to contact us. tel. 01246 237379 or e-mail to malcolm.preskey@hotmail.com

[Rapier]

I don't know what vintage she is - despite seeing odd photographs in the mags, at a guess she looks moulded and late 50s very early 60s. Until the late 50s, motors from Evinrude / Johnson were torquey but low on top end and max 35 hp (probably 28hp at the prop!) from 2 cylinders. 1957-59 versions are sometimes on ebay, but are often tired, 60 and 40hp onwards are better, by 62 were 50 to 1 mix, until about '74 were much the same design and ignition systems. By '60 the 35hp had been stretched to 40hp and a gas-pig 50hp V4 was added to their line, eventually becoming a 75hp V4 in the early 60s in response to Mercury's 6 cylinder offerings that were far superior, both mechanically and producing proper hp, but very quirky until the mid-60s when they came into their own . If you want easy to work on and stacks of spares go for any between 62 and 74...I have a 1960 Evinrude BigTwin 40p, 24:1 mix with e-start that might be up for sale... once I've had a look at it's gearbox and impellor.

http://www.old-omc.de/start.html

Mercury had a wonderful line up of 4 cylinder in-lines. It's these that I think you should look for in a boat that's that size. The earliest 4 available (reasonably readily) in the UK is the 300 (1960) which is 39.6cu. in and develops 40+hp. Their 44 cu.in 45-50hp (prop-rated) was in production until the mid-1980s and is a super engine for it's technology. Up to '61 are specialist gearboxes using grease, '62 onwards were more powerful with a different mid-section and gearbox, '63 went to phantom black paint, '66 was a redesign of cowlings and various other bits. Ignition systems changed throughout the 70s until it finally was 'de-rated' and became the 45hp 'Classic'. Pick a modern one with late 60s decals and you'll have a nice combination despite the age of the boat. If you want a 40, I'd go for a Merc 350 pre-70 or early 80s or the 40/402 from the 70s. Avoid the 400 as it has a strange under flywheel ignition system which has a reputation which might or might not be unfounded! I have one and it's super.

[PRESKEY]

Cheers Rapier thanks for the prompt response ..................... have obtained a black and white photograph (after posting the enquiry) of the our boat with the original engine as bought and then launched in the 50's. Would you be so kind as to either ring supplied tel no. 01246 237379 for a chat or provide an e-mail address to enable us to provide the photograph as an attachment for your comment.(don't have the technology to know how to add photo in this reply) The 35 hp we have fitted recently (as we bought the boat fitted with a 100hp Merc and have tried to put the whole craft back to the original) has engine no 25031 51688 if that's of any use to you but we think this unit is not the type as shown in the photograph....................... would appreciate your advice and any help as it's taken us two years to get this far! Regards, Malc. & Liz.