small outboard motor You tube ideas ?

[RED caddy]

I find myself in need of a small (5 to 10 HP) outboard motor.

In my neck of the woods small outboards run from $500 to $1500. My yankee gene will just not allow that commitment of spending money. (Yep, I'm a cheap sob)

After exhausting Cheaters list, Faceless book, Not so amixin' and da bay, I was cruising yousless tube and found a bunch of folks redgineering vertical shaft lawnmower motors onto salvaged outboard lower units. I ain't gonna re invent the wheel, but I'm pretty sure I can cobble up something useful, using this idea.

What I'm trying to do is push my 11 foot aluminum skiff around the flats and inter-coastal waterways here in paradise, without spending a kings ransom. I have several 4,5 6 and 8 hp engines layin' around, one even has electric start.

I had been hard eye'n the Thai style, long tail, mud motor. The stickin' point is "no reverse". (yea, I know I could just get out and walk, but I'm a lazy SOB) Most of the good fishin holes for me have less than 10 inches of water, at low tide, to get there on.

Here's the plan...

A 5 or 6 inch prop, prop shaft mounted just slightly above the low rise V bottom on my skiff, ( she only draws about 5 inches with my lard butt and lunch aboard) should work fine as I don't need cooling water. Prop fully submerged at low speed, partially exposed on plane for better efficiency.

Could be a, pretty nearly, surface piercing style drive. (kinda like a poor boy Arneson drive)

I had a 9.9 HP Merc given to me, seized power head. Eggzackery what I needed, I thought. Spent half a day pulling the top end, only to find the gearcase rusted solid. It's all off to the scrapper I guess.

What I'm lookin' for is parts help and the advise of somebody that has done it before.

Let the squablin' begin...

RED

[Whitetrash]

I wish you were closer to CO I have an old outboard motor I drug home from the transfer station during a weak moment. You can have it for nothing It's just taking up space in my 66 Chevy C10 storage unit right now I don't have a boat nor do I plan on getting one yet in this lifetime. It's too big for your purpose as a whole motor. But, the lower unit is probably just what the doctor ordered.

[RED caddy]

Got pictures ?
Might be worth some shipping + if it turns and shifts.

There just has to be a red million of the little buggers hiding in sheds and leanto's around here, I just can't seem to find any right now.

RED

[Tim KS]

Puuh on that 10 horse. Get one of these and GO fishing on the wet grass.

[Whitetrash]

Originally Posted by RED caddy

Got pictures ?
Might be worth some shipping + if it turns and shifts.

There just has to be a red million of the little buggers hiding in sheds and leanto's around here, I just can't seem to find any right now.

RED

I'll get you pics tomorrow. I know jack shit about outboards. The engine was locked up when I dragged it home (took all of 5 minutes to free up) so I am pretty sure the lower unit is fine. I can separate the lower unit and throw it in a box. I seriously have no use for it. Just went out thinking I'll just drag it out on the tailgate and take a picture. Not, this archeological dig is going to take more than 5minutes. Nothing but a thing in the morning cause I have to put the Christmas Tree stand away. But, after a couple Barley Pops it ain't happening now.

[greywynd]

Red, try tossing a couple want ads up on the sources you were cruising. I know a couple guys that seem to have good luck finding stuff that way.


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[GWIZ]

Paddle wheel comes to mind.

[randydupree]

Hey Red,a friend and fellow junkman built an outboard like your talking about,except he used a 24 volt electric pump motor off a forklift for power.
Adapted to an old outboard and it worked just fine.
He lived on a lake and it was fine for silent running around the lake.
2 8D truck batteries ran the motor.
Just sayin your idea will work,and maybe even as a "green" boat with coal fired battery chargers,if you go electric!

[Whitetrash]

Well I got it unburied here's some pics. The bastards even bigger than I remembered. Had to use a come-a-long to drag it out.

[RED caddy]

Boy Houdy, that's a golden oldie. Is there a label that tells you the year and horsepower?

From here, it looks like a pull start 15 HP Johnson/Evenrude short shaft. I've learned to check parts availability, seals and bearings mostly, before I invest a bunch of work.

I guess it's that "not my first rodeo" thing, I got smart pretty quick in the lawnmower repair business. I'm hoping yours is not an orphan. Do tell, please

RED