posted 06-10-2006 09:15 PM ET (US)            

First, determine the facts. Other participants in this forum have explained the proper way to measure the length of an outboard and the transome and it need not be repeated herein.

Second, repost a request for assistance having determined the hardware you must deal with. Explore the options, one of which follows.

I have a long shaft Johnson 40 Big Twin that actually runs. I would consider giving it to you. (I will be one of many with the same offer of old junk for you.) My Johnson 40 is almost identical to your Evenrude 35, both motors being made by the same manufacturer, Outboard Marine Corporation. My Big Twin has many interchangable parts with your 35 Evenrude Big Twin, enough for you to come up with a working motor fitting your boat by combining the parts. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Actually, no.

It is no favor to saddle a fellow boater with two old outboards. Unless you have a lot of spare time, a project like this is a time waster, plus, the old motors are obsolete and good for little but looking at. They polute and they are balky. With an old motor, the chances of being stranded at sea are greater. The forgoing may make you want go give up boating, that is, unless you are a pretty special kind of new boater. Considering the good buys out there for nearly new late model outboards, once you try a fresh new motor with electronic ignition, it will be obvious that you need get rid of that old 35. (If you are a collector, it is another matter.)

posted 06-11-2006 12:47 AM ET (US)            

Wonder where Creid lives?

Creid, Rich can help you out ... maybe. What he suggests might be easy for him, but impractical for others. Rich (aka Binke) is a collector and he is considering driving all the way up to Northern Alabama to collect this motor to help you out. Do you think you can install the parts needed to lengthen your motor?

Rich, if you figure out how far it is to North Alabama for an old outboard motor and decide it ain't worth it, believe me, I would not blame you for changing your mind. Maybe someong else will come git this baby. It looks better in the pic than it is.

posted 06-11-2006 01:25 AM ET (US)            

Thank you all for replying to my question. This place has been a wealth of info. for me in this new adventure.

The reason I asked is because a guy has the motor but does not have the spacer for the longer Evinrude shaft.

But he does have one for an old Johnson 35hp. that he is currently working on to have ready for me by Monday. He also has a complete new block and carb for a 40hp that will fit right in to this set-up if I want to come back when I have more time.

The "time" thing. I live in the Russian River area of northern California. Every year we have a Russian River Blues festival that is coming up next weekend. It's become a native tradition to forgo tickets and bring a boat to watch form the river. This boat has a history of going for years and it's return will be a long time coming.

The previous owner decided that the wood needed refinishing, and so he took all the wood pieces off and stored/cataloged all the hardware. Two years later I pick up the project.

I've been working on the wood to get it's near complete. Now I need a motor and I'm at the home stretch.

An '84 Evinrude 35hp for $500 came up but needed repair. I gave he guy $250 to start the work and would give him the rest if I got a completely functioning motor. He fell through on his end and now I have another guy getting my motor(s) ready.

Another friend needed a motor desperately too. So, with combined dollars and some calling we found a boat mechanic that has a salvage yard for a barn, tons of extra parts, and a need's work.

I heard the roar of the Evinrude I asked about today and she's healthy. This motor is in great shape. Never seen salt.

posted 06-11-2006 08:10 AM ET (US)            

Make a list of things to have in the boat with you for the event; anchor, life jacket for each person, throwable, adequate line, paddle, gas tank with proper oil gas mixture, working navigation lights, boat registration, hull numbers ... hmmm, what else, Binke? As a certified Alabama Red Neck, I keep a few empty beer cans in my boat, even though I don’t drink beer. Be careful about weather.

This is a good project. Is the boat a wheel boat or a tiller boat? How far do you have to go on the river to arrive at the festival? A launch ramp is mentioned in one of Google’s URL summaries.

I looked up the Russian River Jazz Festival. Apparently, it happens in September, so you have time to prepare. As a new boater, you should make a couple of dry runs to the same place on the river where you will watch the event. Properly done, boating requires a bit of style. You have to look good doing it.

One of the Northern California boys should check out your boat, Creid. I am thinking of trailering my boat to California to help out. Russian River is WINE country.

The name Creid suggests an interest in music.

John

posted 06-11-2006 09:58 AM ET (US)            

The Blues Fest. is June 17 & 18. The Summer seasoned comes officially over for us when the Jazz Fest. has happened.

posted 06-11-2006 04:24 PM ET (US)            

Sounds like you have done this before. Good. I found a picture on the internet of the probable concert area. Is it near a bridge? It looks like the river is stage left and back stage with several good spots to view from the river.

This 40 Johnson I have would be a better starting point than anything you have mentioned. However, Alabama is much too far from Northern CA to make it practical to come after this motor.

posted 06-12-2006 01:21 AM ET (US)            

My friend, who I got the other motor for rides motorcycles with me. Around this river there's a bit of a hot rod culture and when the tourist are away the locals will play. There are certain times when a few boats make quick runs along the river where there's no docks. So having a big motor is key for this kind of fun. I do see your logic for something like the Blues Fest.

posted 06-13-2006 01:23 AM ET (US)            

Your boat project sounds excellent. I ran a motor similar to the 35 you are having built up when I was a boy and enjoyed it. Those old motors run pretty well. They have high and low speed ajustments which enables them to be tuned to run smoothly. The 24 to 1 fuel oil mixture oils them up, which is good as far as I am concerned. The smell of oil on a Big Twin and a wooden boat is one of the most nostalgic memories I have. I like that motor so well, I considered trying to modernize one for my current boat.

Rapair, Inc. is a company manufacturing aftermarket black boxes for outboard motors. I visited their factory with the goal of purchasing an upgraded electronic ignition for am old 2 cylinder OMC. Ray Anders, the owner, said it could be done, but he made me see the cost advantage ratio was backwards. It was just easier and cheaper to purchase a new motor when the objective is a motor that runs like a modern 2 cycle outboard. That thinking does not allow for nostalgia. If I could find a nice early 25 hp Sea Horse, like the one I used as a boy, I would probably go to the trouble of making it run. I just love the smell of those old motors.

The sense of smell must be one of the most mental of man's five senses. The sense of smell is as close to a time machine as anything I have experienced. When serving in the Navy, one day I smelled something that took me back many years to when I was about 10 years old. It did not take me long to understand the smell came from a US Navy P250 Mod 1 damage control and fire fighting pump we were using. It has the same 2 cylinder powerhead as an old Johnson or Evenrude outboard. Man! That took me home. From that moment, I loved damage control and fire fighting. If I ever find one of those old Navy P250 Mod 1 pumps for sale, I hope it is cheap because I sure would like to own one.