Need advice/opinion

[Steve Petschel]

Just bought a cabin on a large lake in northern MN and will be buying a 16′ aluminum fishing boat that will need a vintage motor. I am thinking of a 58 J0hnson 18hp. My needs are something fast enough to get around but it also needs to be able to troll down for fishing.  looking for all opinions.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[crosbyman]

based on my own live experience   a 16 footer   with an 18  or 25 is ample enough to get around  at whatever speed you get ….. but for trolling a nice inexpensive  non gas  guzzling little  3hp JW  or 4hp  Evinrude /johnson/Merc   side kicker   is great for trolling and helps to  “not” row back to camp  if the bigger engine dies on you 20 miles out !

but….. if you  are running  the 18-25   as a tiller  and need to comeback to camp  on a strong windy day  you may feel  very insecure.  from swamping or flipping.

 

Large lakes can be nasty  and whip up a fast chop .

 

my 17.5 foot Eclipse rode high on the waves but my friend  in a 16 footer  with a 25 hp  lost all the color on his knuckles  ….

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.

[fleetwin]

An older 18hp is a great choice, does everything well.  I would avoid the engines from the 1970s and newer, they don’t idle as well and can foul plugs because the overboard drain system was removed to lessen pollution.

[jimk]

I have a 18 Evinrude that runs my boat at 21-22 mph and will troll down to .8. Great motor and easy to work on if needed. I am sure you would be happy with the Johnson equal.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by jimk.

[mike n]

i have a 1957 18hp johnson on a 14 ft lund. i have only put about 20 hours on it since rejuvinating but it is a really nice running engine at idle and at speed and it starts pretty easily also. i also have a 66 johnson 3hp that i like to take along just in case like crosbyman said. good luck

mn

[Author]

Posts