Best 40 horse for tiller

[auldscott]

I like the Big Twins and their many 1950s-1960s variants, but within the AOMCI’s Classic criteria are the 32 cid OMC 35 hp from the early 1980s. Strong performers, and easy on gas. Also keep an eye open for an OMC 40 from the early 1970s. Evinrude had one called the Norseman.

[bwanadon]

The selectric shifts can’t be converted to a tiller? Which 40 hp can be made into tillers? Any? I could go bigger but didn’t know any 50 hp+ outboards that were tillers. At least older ones.

The Evinrude "Big Four" is a direct drive? Like the old merc dockbusters? That’s scary. I’d be a bit apprehensive about launching my boat in between a couple of $40k bass boats. Lake St. Clair launches can get busy.

[frankr]

quote BwanaDon:

The selectric shifts can’t be converted to a tiller? Which 40 hp can be made into tillers? Any? I could go bigger but didn’t know any 50 hp+ outboards that were tillers. At least older ones.

The Evinrude “Big Four” is a direct drive? Like the old merc dockbusters? That’s scary. I’d be a bit apprehensive about launching my boat in between a couple of $40k bass boats. Lake St. Clair launches can get busy.

That is correct. Well never say never, it is possible if you change enough stuff. But if you do put a tiller on it, what are you going to do about the combined shift switch & throttle normally contained in the remote control? Bottom line, if you want a tiller, you don’t want an electric shift.

re., the Big Four / Dockbuster. With the Dockbuster you at least are at the controls, and facing the right direction. A bit different than facing the motor and starting it with a rope. Start and Go.

[garry-in-michigan]

Steve Woods runs his Big Four on an aluminum 16 foot Orlando Clipper. It gives a GREAT boat ride. The motor is stored hanging from a ceiling beam in his garage when he uses the boat for one of his other hundreds of motors.

The boat is also good for hauling motors – Then he put a 14 foot boat up side down on top. He also has 4 smaller outboards in the trunk of his car. . . 😀

[ian]

The cheapest, easiest, best bang for the buck solution to your question, is a big twin OMC. Non electric shift, and ram it into gear. Gentle shifting rounds off the shift dog, once damaged will pop out of gear. Electric shift solved that problem and introduced another problem… electrics under water….

[bwanadon]

If I see a Big Four I’ll grab it up. Otherwise it’s a 1961 or 1962 40 horse OMC. I know those cranks are weaker, maybe I can replace it with a later 40 powerhead from an electric shift. Maybe just go with a 35 horse.

I’ve got some time. It’ll take all summer to get the boat refurbished. At least now I can keep an eye on CL and at swaps or a motor.

Thanks
don

[RICHARD A. WHITE]

In all honesty the 35 hp would be my choice…
I have run the Big Four as others, they can be a handful at the dock, but out in the open, weeeelllllll that is a way more fun story…LOL

http://www.richardsoutboardtools.com
classicomctools@gmail.com

[jeff-register]

I prefer the Mercury 4 cylinder motors too but may be a bit harder to work on. I have a Mark 30 that flys on my 15′ glass boat. Tiller, E start & alternator to charge the battery. Plus nice looking.

[bwanadon]

Mercury underrated their motors back then didn’t they? The 30 hp probably puts out 35?

[garry-in-michigan]

About that electric shift. It would be simple to wire a three position paddle switch into the tiller. The killer would-be the lack of safety interlocks. It would be disastrous to accidentally shift into neutral at wide open throttle, or be pointed at someone when you inadvertently started in gear. . . 🙄

[Author]

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