said by FaxCap:said by Hydraglass:I collect old outboard motors... I have 2 from the 1940s, 3 from the 1950s, 3 from the 60's, and 4 from the 70s... Johnson, Mercury, Scott-Atwater/Champion, Chrysler, Evinrude and Gale so far... who knows maybe this winter I'll add another unit to the collection. It started out with donations from cottagers around the lake where my cottage is... since then I've added here and there - kijiji ads, barn and yard sale finds, etc...
That is a kool collection! All you need is some space. Takes up a bit
more room that baseball cards.
FaxCap
Yeah - right now the collection is split across my basement at the cottage and my shed at home. I leave the newer less "rare" motors at the cottage. If someone swipes them I won't be heatbroken - the 70s motors are a dime a dozen (that's Chrysler, Johnson, and Evinrude stuff). The 61 Scott-Atwater, 48 Gale, 50 Champion, 54 Johnson, and 63 Mercury are among the ones at home that I keep closer, and tend to work on restoring over the winter. I spend lots of time on old used outboard motor forums watching for parts and pieces. Some of the motors are missing cowlings, ignition, flywheels, one is sans a lower unit, etc... but with time I should be able to restore almost all of them to "workable" if not working condition. I doubt any will ever see the back of a boat, but they may run in a test drum some day. So far I got the 54 Johnson 5.5 running like a top, and the '63 mercury starts and idles but dies above around 1000 rpms... still some work to do there! My '72 Johnson 50Hp has been completely restored, and runs great but it weighs about 300 pounds so it's not one I do much with - I may sell it some day as it's just too big and heavy for "collecting" purposes.