Also, anyone know the difference between the Yamaha Pro 50 and the regular 50?

-Svence

the last couple of times i bought smaller (20-40hp) motors, i got a better deal buying a whole rig with the motor i wanted and then selling the hull and trailer later. that also lets you concentrate on fresh water boats or areas..

I had a sharp learning curve on my Mckee when I originally redid it. I kept weight toward the rear think it would help the performance. It hopped so bad it shook up all my beer. I went and looked at several factory set up McKees and found the later they were, the more weight forward they had. I moved everything forward about 12 "(moved the battery 24") and it balanced nicely. The transom wedge plates were probably the best money spent on the boat. Compare the transom angle on a McKee to a whaler, the McKee is almost vertical, the Whaler leans way back. When I swapped out the lower unit to the big foot, any weight increase was offset by the better grip and lift of the bigger wheel. My buddy that has the 70 has his boat setup as a center console. The console is about center set in the boat, he has the gas tank and battery in the console. The weight of the 70 doesn't seem to be an issue. Look at the pics I posted in the for sale section, you'll see how my boat sets in the water. As far as the Yamahas go, they are good motors, but I could sell a good 40-75 Yamaha around here for enough money to buy a pair of 70 Johnrudes or 60 Mercs

I believe the pro series yamahas are like the C series, stripper models w/o the oil injection kinda like an OMC spl series motor less thrills for a better price point. I loved the prime start system on my 2004 Yamaha no need to raise the warmup lever and no choke, just prime and go. Took me awhile to figure out that raising the warmup lever was a no no until the engine was started. Worked great but my 2004 took a few revolutions longer to fire off than my new to me 90's 50 does with the fuel primer squirter thingie enrichener ( no choke butterflies).

B

I forgot about this one. I put 300 hours on this rig 3-4 seasons ago. It is 16'2 Wahoo! initially rigged with a 70 OMC 1986 and later a cherry 40 hp late 90's something I picked up off a pontoon boat with low low hours. The little OMC served as a great crabbing rig pushing the Wahoo! to low 30's and was excellent on fuel compared to the older OMC triple. But we could pull skiers with the 70hp and hit a blistering 45 mph on the gps. For my uses on that boat the 40 was perfect it used the later system check.

I guess the point is hunt for the cherry motor and you cannot go wrong with your parameters. About 8 years ago my 70 y/o plus neighbor was buying my 91 Whaler 15' supersport and was insisting that I rig it with a new in the crate four stroke. He wanted trouble free and was not really concerned at all about the $$$. He was dead set on a brand new four stroke but I begged and pleaded with him to let me mount a cherry 96 Merc classic 50/40hp I had just got in that was still on break in oil. He listened, let me do my thing with the rigging and he still raves about how great the Merc is and that if the mood strikes him he can hit 37mph on the gps. The lighter two stroke really makes his boat more balanced and enjoyable. Be patient and a clean beauty will come along.

B

Just so I can keep my reality in check, what are you guys thinking I should be spending (ballpark obviously) on something like this? I was trying to keep it under a grand but am I being too conservative or if I am patient that shouldn't be a problem?

-Svence

my 60 has over $2000 in parts, not counting what i paid for the engine and labor, on the other hand, my Buddy paid $750 for the 70 Johnrude he has

I would think you could find a good 50-70 for around a grand if you are patient and dilligent.

On my local CL there is a Merc 50 for $350, and several others for $750 or less right now, freshwater motors...but who knows how good they are, you are just gonna have to spend the time to look at a lot of motors.

Well the deal is done. Just happened to find a freshwater 95 50 Johnson with low hours. Picked it up on a 16' Grumman and trailer for only $800. I wasn't really keen on buying another boat and trailer but he said it was a package deal and I am sure I can recoup some of the money on the hull/trailer, just a pain the the @ss. Anyone looking for a nice freshwater bass boat, trailer and trolling motor....???

-Svence

Cant go wrong there...put it back on CL for $900 with no motor.