4hp kicker

[the daydreamer]

My neighbor has a Johnson 4hp kicker motor that looks to be in good shape. Not sure what year it is but would guess mid 80,s. It was her husbands who passed away 10 years ago. I am going to look at it today and find out more info on it. Question is how big or little jon boat or skiff could you put it on ? I was just thinking something to putt around in. also what would something like that be worth & what should I look at on the motor? Thanks for your input. more info to follow.

[smokeonthewater]

I have a 1.5 hp motor... I've used it on an 8' plastic pond boat...
At full throttle I'd say it moves at 3-4 mph....

I'd guess the 4 hp on a 10-12' boat would make 5-6 mph...

You'd have a calm weather, no current rig but would be just fine in those conditions.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Value is VERY dependant on which model as there were SEVERAL 4HP OMC's built. Is it a base model kicker, or a deluxe model is the big question though. Some 4HP kickers were locked into forward all the time, and turned all the way around to give you reverse. The deluxe model has forward, nuetral, and reverse, and is like a regular tiller outboard. As to how fast, I had a 4.5HP(in the late 70's to early 80's, OMC called the deluxe model the 4.5HP instead of 4HP) that took a 12 foot semi v bottom aluminum jon boat, and picked it up and ran on plane with it(probably close to 18 MPH if I had to guess). It even had enough gusto to it to get the boat up on plane with 2 people in it. That same outboard we used for MANY years on a 16 foot wide jon boat. Sucker SIPPED fuel, was slow as all get out, but always got us there and back on a few gallons of gas. It pushed the 16 footer up close to hull speed which was about 8MPH or so. Every boat has a hull speed which is the speed it can go before it gets on plane. Hull speed takes very little HP to reach, but once you approach it, it is where you need so much more HP to overcome that speed. If it is a base model locked in gear model, they only bring a few hundred bucks, but the deluxe models can bring $700-1000 depending on how nice they are.

[smokeonthewater]

Wow I'm impressed!
My old omc 7.5 would barely plane my 12' aluminum semi V with two skinny teenagers in it..... A looooooong time ago.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I've got a little narrow 10 foot jon boat, and I put 2 different 9.5HP EVINRUDES on it, and neither one would plane it out. Put a 6HP JOHNSON on it a few years ago, and it got it up on plane. I guess you can't doubt the power of al ittle JOHNSON.

[smokeonthewater]

Lol!
Yeah mine was a '56 rude

[bigshrimpin]

I had a 4hp yama/mariner as a kicker for a real short time on my v20. It'd keep you off the rocks or move your boat away from an on coming barge, but that was about all it was good for

[the daydreamer]

I went and looked at the motor again and it looks like brand new. the bad it has not been run in 10 years! Don't know year it is but I got these numbers off of it. model J4RDHENM SERL B08946955. I AM SURE THE CARB NEEDS TO BE CLEANED AND OWNER SAID HE WOULD DO THAT AND MAKE SURE IT RAN. I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE IMPELLER ALSO. WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED JUST DUE TO AGE. WHAT DO YALL THINK? I WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING A LITTLE JON BOAT JUST TO PUTT AROUND IN. HE WANTS 450.00 I WAS HOPING I COULD GET IT FOR LESS.

[phatdaddy]

92? Something about INTRODUCES but, never made senses to me. I'd do a quick compression check, check spark, and offer him $300 and you'll deal with the carb.

[smokeonthewater]

I'd pull the cord and feel that the compression was decent and then offer $150 as is... This IS a tiny little motor...

At $350 plus you can pick up a 7.5 or better

Putting is fine most of the time but being able to zip back to the dock when a storm surprises you is worth considering.... Unless you REALLY WANT a tiny motor...