Outboard Motors

I got my first outboard when I was about 9 years old, ( 30+ years ago), a 1958 Elgin 2hp. A couple of years later I acquired two other small outboards that I still have; a 1932 Johnson J-65 single (seen below) and a little 1947 Elgin 1.25 hp number. As a kid, I was known around the harbor for going out with a hook and some line, and pulling engines up from the depths people had lost overboard. (No Evinrude Zephyrs though!) I can still remember how much fun it was bringing an outboard back to life, and quite honestly, I feel the same excitement today!

One of the best parts about my hobby is sharing it with my 6 year old son. We spend a lot of time fixing engines up, putting around the harbor in a small boat, attending outboard meets and arguing about our favorites motors. He's going to give me a run for my money and he already has some strong opinions about what engines he likes and why. Often, we don't like the same engines so that makes for an interesting time. He wanted his own "site" so please visit Harry's Corner. I do not approve of all his motors, but hey, they make him happy. He has become well known in the outboard club and has earned the nickname "Hurricane."

I need to put in a couple of plugs here: #1 for the AOMCI, Antique Outboard Motor Club. It's a great organization for people to share in the hobby of collecting, restoring, and preserving antique outboard engines. I highly recommend visiting the site if you have any interest at all in old outboards or if you're just curious. #2 be sure to check out the Yankee Chapter of the AOMCI. Plug# 3 goes to Peter Hunn, a talented and dedicated AOMCI member who is also the author of some fine books about antique outboards. If you have an old outboard laying around you want to learn about you'll need a copy of Peter's book.

My earliest recorded outboard experience. (With dad - 1965)

In a effort to act as a resource, I have a great deal of data in the attached pages on many motors. Most is from the actual engine, manual or associated period literature. Some motors have interesting stories behind their manufacture or purchase, so you'll see some of that on the site. Given my interest in engineering and enjoying a good mechanical challenge, my collection has a number of oddball motors. Ever see a Wankel powered outboard? How about an outboard made in two halves or one from the Soviet Union? See them at these links: Mac-10, Flambeau, Whirlwind.

I have been making some decent headway on my wish list of outboards but still have a few to go; 1926 Caille Pennant, Clarke Troller, battery ignition Bendix, American Marc Diesel... The hunt is a good part of the fun of this hobby. Also included are some articles I've had published, the Tech Tips section and some of the old 16mm outboard promotional films I have found. There is some fun and unusual stuff here I hope you will enjoy. And yes, ALL the motors seen here run, I believe that the engineers designed them to run and so they should - but you need to use common sense about it.

And all my outboards are stored on nice wooden racks in a dry area of my shop. Each is properly put to bed after every use with the fuel drained and cylinder fogged to wait for their next time out on the water.

1.4 hp Johnson J-65 given to me in 1975
See highlights of the Johnson outboards in my collection (Caution this is a large file with many images) by clicking on this link: Johnson Collection Highlights

Ode To The Past

The Messenger shown here in 1978 with my favorite 1953 Johnson QD-14 10hp. When I was a kid thousands of hours were spent generally messing around (and salvaging or testing old outboards) with this boat. She's gone now but I still have great memories of her!