Appraisal: 1985 Johnson 70-HP

[davidB01]

Appraisal: what is the value or selling price for the combination of a 1985 Johnson 70-HP two-stroke-power-cycle outboard engine with the VRO oil-gasoline mixing system and the accessories listed below, located at Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, and available for local pick up?

Accessories included:

• OEM remote shift and throttle controls, cables, and linkages;
• OEM engine gauges including speedometer, voltmeter, and engine trim
• printed copy of engine owner's manual;
• two 6-gallon Johnson brand on-deck fuel tanks; and
• a fuel tank pad.

The engine paint condition is nine out of ten. On the cowling there is only a little ageing in a few places; paint on the leading edge of the skeg needs a touch up. The engine runs well. In 2024 the carburetors and floats were cleaned and rebuilt, and small fuel lines and clamps were replaced. A hairline crack in the VRO fuel pump was sealed it with JB WELD fuel-resistant epoxy and has worked well since. The engine was flushed with ethanol-free Aviation gas to stabilize for storage.

All of the above was removed and stored during a re-power in Fall 2024. The engine was running well. The engine and accessories were delivered with the boat in the Summer of 1985. Total usage on the engine is literally, 30 weeks of Michigan fresh water lake use when original owner was on family vacations with storage in his garage 51 of 52 weeks per year, one year use in New Hampshire, and then use of the boat stopped in 2015. ) plus one summer in NH. Estimated total engine hours somewhere around 150 to 200. .

Unfortunately, I forgot to get cylinder peak pressures when we pulled it, though I can get them if this would add significant value

If I should separate the controls and cable (which are for a Boston Whaler 15-footer), please suggest separate prices for each, and maybe a full “take it all” package price, too.

[jimh]

Generally one would assess the value of a used item on the cost of a similar new item. In the cases of a 70-HP outboard engine with all remote controls, cables, harnesses, gauges, and other items, the new cost would very likely exceed $10,000. On that basis you would think that some reasonable fraction of that amount would be the value of what is being offered here.

That said, due to the age of your engine—40-years old—and a significant change in the technology—low-emission, easy-starting four-stroke-power-cycle fuel-injection designs replacing high-emission, cranky-starting, two-stroke-power-cycle carburetor designs—there probably won’t be a huge demand for this older 70-HP engine. Your target buyers are going to be antique enthusiasts who like old outboard engines and will appreciate the good condition (both in appearance and operation), or younger boaters who are very limited in funds and will be attracted by a low price.

As for offering everything in one big bundle or selling parts and pieces, that will again depend on the buyers. The number of people who will want to buy everything will be less that the number of people that want some of the items but not all of them.

I am reminded of a situation where a fellow had restored a popular Boston Whaler boat and added a lot of accessories to the standard configuration, including new twin engines, but needed to sell it. The boat as it then stood did not attract any reasonable offers that would really be appropriate for the whole package, and in the end the boat was more or less disassembled and sold as individual parts, with the actual hull sold without engines and stripped of all the added accessories. To see that happen was a bit sad as the combination of all those parts made a wonderful boat set-up, but “parting out” the package was the most expedient way to get the value out of the boat and its accessories.

Now I should offer some estimate of a reasonable selling price. I am truly stunned by how expensive new outboard engines have become. Maybe there are more buyers out there than I would expect at first glance. Assuming you bought a new engine, I am guessing the dealer selling that new engine probably was not interested in taking the old engine as a trade-in, and if he even offered you a price as a trade-in it was likely very low. Complicating this situation is the unfortunate end of the old OMC brands from the current market, along with the dealers (and parts) to support these old engines. For these reasons I have to hesitate to state a price.

About the only advice I can offer is to not let the engine sit around unused for too long. The engine would be easier to sell if it were on the transom of a boat and you could demonstrate its good tune and strong performance.

I asked ChatGPT for advice about just the engine:

https://chatgpt.com/

The answer was $750 to $2,000 depending condition.

There could be another $300 to $500 in the accessories.

[davidB01]

jimh—Thank you for your (as usual) thorough answer.

Absolutely agree that it would have been better to sell on the transom. The good news is I do have video of both the engine running both in and out of the water at idle, as well as some passes in front of my dock before I repowered. Hopefully that will do (if I can figure out how to reduce the file size enough to post here on marketplace)

I am leaning towards breaking it up, as the accessories are more specific to a classic 15-footer, and some people may just want the period correct engine, or one that they can tinker with. Both the guy who sold me the boat in Maine and the local mechanic who did the repower are interested, but neither have an appropriate project at the moment.

Thank you for the input. Will try to work the attachments, and post

[jimh]

Yes, the several accessories are not specific to a particular 70-HP engine, and could by useful with many OMC engines of that era.

The 6-gallon on-deck fuel tanks are also quite fungible, as those tanks are still in demand.

[fno]

David, JimH, I am reluctant to comment on pricing but Chat GPT is not really a source of reliable information on antique engine prices. Yes, this engine is 40 years old and no matter how it was used or cared for is still a 40 year old engine and I don't think you will see too many buyers at the $2,000 mark. $700, yes that will attract some buyers. All depends on how long your patience is....