In the 50s my father built a boat and bought like this engine when new, a 1958 Johnson 50 horse engine. But his was red and white instead of this gold. Love the look of this engine, back in the day when engineers thought the looks were very important. You get the impression they wanted it to look like they thought future outboards motors would look like. Far more interesting then the way they look now. With engines like this, I really hope people take pride in keeping outboards like this existing for as long as possible. It’s really sad that Johnson / Evinrude are history now.
Teniamos un motor identico a este 1958 Johnson 50 hp funcionando perfectamente hasta hace 4 años en la presa de Valsequillo, Puebla (Mexico). Ahora esta adornando el jardin de la casa, desafortunadamente, ya no hay refacciones para estas excelentes y poderosas maquinas. Debo decir que se le daba el mantenimiento correcto y durante casi 50 años funciono muy bien. Saludos desde Mexico.
That is a beauty. It takes me back to my childhood in the late 50s early 60s when my dad ran a boat with the same motor at a youth camp in southern Illinois. that is where I got hooked on boats at that young age.
They smoke so much at idle it is hard to know just how good the idle is in a barrel when they are eating there own exhaust....even with a fan on them. WHAT a beauty she is and sounds GREAT on the water.
Thanks for the video Chris. Great to see your boat on the lake. The Fat Fifty sounds great! Very nice rig. I'm still working on my 14 footer and trailer. It may be late this season before I get the Flying C on the lake. I can only get things done so fast and it is just now starting to warm up enough here in MI to work on the boats.
Old JohnnyRude Thank you! I completely understand not having enough time believe me. I haven't tried the 3 blade prop on it yet, Im going to try it out soon and check my speed and rpm's. we shall see. thanks for watching.
Chris Tate It will be interesting to see your findings on the prop. Props are kind of a guessing game with plenty of trial-and-error. I haven't had a lot of opportunity to play around with them, but I know it took a couple tries to find the right one for the Johnson 55 on my pontoon.
had an evinrude 85 from 1969 and like you said they have more torque than speed so use that torque by getting props with more pitch, the old omc engines will turn em
Be careful with two blade or ‘low pitch’ three blade props on small, light boats ( you could over rev the engine ). Your 50 hp V4 has plenty of power for a good sized pitch 3 blade prop on small boats.
Chris love your videos. I’m restoring a 1955 crest liner voyager and I’m looking for a steering wheel if you know where to find one could you let me know.
I have a few of these engines, doesn't sound like a prop issue. Is all of your linkage synchronized and is the high speed jets adjusted? Butterfly in the carb opening all the way up. I run a 10×13 three blade and a 10×15 two blade. All you will ever get is 30 mph out of that engine with the original gearcase
I just got a 1958 feathercraft 14.5 foot with a 1957 Johnson Javelin 35 horsepower motor on the back. We took it to lake Douglas yesterday and we could never get it going without sputtering and ended up running out of gas just before we got back to the marina. I sure would like your help on getting it back going. Sounds like you know these motors well.
Chad Ault First of all if you just got it without knowing the history of it you should have never taken it out on the water until you checked compression and went over the whole motor making sure it was in working order. It's hard to diagnose a motor without seeing it in person. Sounds like a carburetor issue. Hard to tell. There are alot of things that need to be done to it cause there's no telling how long it's been sitting. Unless it's been redone already
Hello Chris. I wonder if you can help me. I recently purchased a 1958 Voyager 14 foot. I have been trying to register on the retro Crestliner site and having no luck. My boat is in solid shape but it needs wood. I have other questions as well. Your boat looks great. I'd love to ask you about it. Maybe other commenters can help me out? Thanks.
@@christate1974 Thanks Chris. I'm looking for all the details I can get on the seats. My dash and transom are there for patterns. My seats crumbled to dust. So I'm looking for patterns if possible. Pictures would be super helpful also. I think Im missing a support bracket that went under the drivers bench also, but I'm not sure. I want to make sure I replace anything that is missing. Hopefully I hear back from the folks that run retrocrestliner forum. I'd really like to post my project and ask questions there as well. Thanks.
Hey there , I’m restoring a 1958 Crestliner and need a template of wood seats and willing to pay if you can template on construction paper, please let me know Thanks Great video Awesome
these motors last forever because they are lubricated from the oil/gas mix - and they drink gas like crazy, so lots of lubrication. nice running motors though
....and after this 4 minute 27 second video, you had to go back to the dock to refuel, right? These motors were known as gas pigs but I don't know if the "6 gallon tank sucked dry in 20 minutes" stories are true!
That story is only correct if during that 20 minutes you are at wide open throttle. You can troll around and run them motor at normal speeds and it will not consume fuel like that
a lot of people used to change the whole gearcase and put a 75 horsepower gearcase on it and it would get a whole lot better fuel mileage, but I like to keep things original and don't care about the fuel mileage
One of the ugliest and beautiful motors I have ever seen. Today's motors are sad and boring, not like the ol girls. Well done sir. Best wishes to you all from Brisbane Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 ❤
Love the old engines ❤
I remember these engines and they really punched beyond what 50hp would suggest.
Those old Johnsons always reminds me of my grandmothers eggbeater the way they look!
Now that is outstanding. That big beast (for it's day) sounds smooth and strong. Very, very nice!
In the 50s my father built a boat and bought like this engine when new, a 1958 Johnson 50 horse engine. But his was red and white instead of this gold. Love the look of this engine, back in the day when engineers thought the looks were very important. You get the impression they wanted it to look like they thought future outboards motors would look like. Far more interesting then the way they look now. With engines like this, I really hope people take pride in keeping outboards like this existing for as long as possible. It’s really sad that Johnson / Evinrude are history now.
Teniamos un motor identico a este 1958 Johnson 50 hp funcionando perfectamente hasta hace 4 años en la presa de Valsequillo, Puebla (Mexico).
Ahora esta adornando el jardin de la casa, desafortunadamente, ya no hay refacciones para estas excelentes y poderosas maquinas.
Debo decir que se le daba el mantenimiento correcto y durante casi 50 años funciono muy bien.
Saludos desde Mexico.
Love vintage Johnson’s!!!
Still quieter than the four stroke crap being rammed down our throats. Great vid
That is a beauty. It takes me back to my childhood in the late 50s early 60s when my dad ran a boat with the same motor at a youth camp in southern Illinois. that is where I got hooked on boats at that young age.
Greg Offenback Thanks Greg, and it makes me happy knowing I helped bring back some good memories!
WOW now that set-up is very cool good job Chris. I love the sound of that motor
Beautiful lake, motor and boat. 1958, same year I was born. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Incredible! That motor looks and sounds awesome!! Never seen one like that. Thanks for posting
That was the original engine my boat had when my grandparents bought it. They had to replace it with a 62 75 horse. Love the looks of that vintage.
Very nice Chris.. I am hopefully I can get the boat out this week.
What a great looking motor !!! Genuine 50's styling
Ron Baker Thanks Ron! hope you have been doing well!
They smoke so much at idle it is hard to know just how good the idle is in a barrel when they are eating there own exhaust....even with a fan on them. WHAT a beauty she is and sounds GREAT on the water.
That is one sweet looking and nice sounding motor. Well done.
J Potts Thank you so much! I'm pretty proud of it!
nice job!!! what a cool sounding old brute!! nice lookin too
Dang, that sound's nicer than anything modern....a gem!
i agree...!!!
Beautiful ride Chris, you have done a fantastic job on that rig.
Outboard- Rob Thank you very much!
Our friends had one of these pushing a 18' steel boat (heavy as hell) and it performed beautifully for years.
Gotta love the fat fifty
Seems like it runs so smoothly 😊
Thanks for the video Chris. Great to see your boat on the lake. The Fat Fifty sounds great! Very nice rig. I'm still working on my 14 footer and trailer. It may be late this season before I get the Flying C on the lake. I can only get things done so fast and it is just now starting to warm up enough here in MI to work on the boats.
Old JohnnyRude Thank you! I completely understand not having enough time believe me. I haven't tried the 3 blade prop on it yet, Im going to try it out soon and check my speed and rpm's. we shall see. thanks for watching.
Chris Tate It will be interesting to see your findings on the prop. Props are kind of a guessing game with plenty of trial-and-error. I haven't had a lot of opportunity to play around with them, but I know it took a couple tries to find the right one for the Johnson 55 on my pontoon.
i had 2 1964 evinrudes nice Quiet motors after you dial it in it will idle all day for trolling 60hp and 75hp
Beautiful, love that holeshot
Very smooth running motor
Music to my ears!
Beautiful motor
Very nice... I'm buying one of those found in the back of the property
just super. thanks.
Случайно нажал. Отличный видос!
Awesome video. Looking at a 17 foot 58 Penn Yan boat and want to match it up with a 58 outboard motor. Looks like I found the fit!
Yes: My Uncle Phil bought one of these brand new and it had power that wouldn't give up with heavy loads, water skiers, etc.
Love the fat 50s. Just traded one to my former boss for a ‘55 5 hp rude, ‘59 10 hp rude and $200
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada I have an older 1945 Johnson outboard 22.5 hp
Definitely full blown V4 acceleration there...
nice set up , and running perfect but you should throw the 3 blade on there for a test it will give you a little more top end at the same rpm
I have tried the 3 blade prop since I did the video, your correct on your comment. Thanks for watching the video!
had an evinrude 85 from 1969 and like you said they have more torque than speed so use that torque by getting props with more pitch, the old omc engines will turn em
Be careful with two blade or ‘low pitch’ three blade props on small, light boats ( you could over rev the engine ). Your 50 hp V4 has plenty of power for a good sized pitch 3 blade prop on small boats.
What gas/oil ratio do you use on the ‘58 Johnson 50 hp super seahorse? Just bought one. What octane works best? Ethanol free gas? Thanks
Excellent sounding motor.. Looks good..can you recall how fast you were moving ???
Chris love your videos. I’m restoring a 1955 crest liner voyager and I’m looking for a steering wheel if you know where to find one could you let me know.
Impressive
Excellent excellent excellent - reminds me of my childhood. First V4 from OMC, right?
Alan Rothfuss yes it was the first v-4
Where did you get your prop and what pitch. I have the same engine runs great but can only get about 17mph out of mine
I have a few of these engines, doesn't sound like a prop issue. Is all of your linkage synchronized and is the high speed jets adjusted? Butterfly in the carb opening all the way up. I run a 10×13 three blade and a 10×15 two blade. All you will ever get is 30 mph out of that engine with the original gearcase
Chris Tate I put it on a fiberglass boat (I know horrible lol) would that have anything to do with it? It’s only a 15 bass boat
What gas/oil ratio do you use with your ‘58 Johnson 50 hp super seahorse motor? What octane do you run and do you recommend ethanol free gas?
I run it at 24:1 unleaded 87 no ethanol. Or 90 no ethanol. Be prepared this engine will consume 6 gallons of gas per hour at wide open throttle
Thanks. I just bought a 17’ Thompson that has a fat 50. I may need to pick your brain every now and then. Thanks
Dominant tone at full throttle is Db concert, so the rpm is just slightly less than the 1968 40 you ran. What is top speed here?
The quietness and smoothness is super.
EricJamesHanson best I got was 29 mph topped out. yes they are loud for sure!
How many piston’s
sweet
Thank you
Just curious do you still own this boat all these years
Yes I still own it.
I just got a 1958 feathercraft 14.5 foot with a 1957 Johnson Javelin 35 horsepower motor on the back. We took it to lake Douglas yesterday and we could never get it going without sputtering and ended up running out of gas just before we got back to the marina.
I sure would like your help on getting it back going.
Sounds like you know these motors well.
Chad Ault First of all if you just got it without knowing the history of it you should have never taken it out on the water until you checked compression and went over the whole motor making sure it was in working order. It's hard to diagnose a motor without seeing it in person. Sounds like a carburetor issue. Hard to tell. There are alot of things that need to be done to it cause there's no telling how long it's been sitting. Unless it's been redone already
Hello Chris. I wonder if you can help me. I recently purchased a 1958 Voyager 14 foot. I have been trying to register on the retro Crestliner site and having no luck. My boat is in solid shape but it needs wood. I have other questions as well. Your boat looks great. I'd love to ask you about it. Maybe other commenters can help me out? Thanks.
Sorry I can't help you with that. I don't have mine registered either. I may be able to help with your other questions
@@christate1974 Thanks Chris. I'm looking for all the details I can get on the seats. My dash and transom are there for patterns. My seats crumbled to dust. So I'm looking for patterns if possible. Pictures would be super helpful also. I think Im missing a support bracket that went under the drivers bench also, but I'm not sure. I want to make sure I replace anything that is missing. Hopefully I hear back from the folks that run retrocrestliner forum. I'd really like to post my project and ask questions there as well. Thanks.
Hey there , I’m restoring a 1958 Crestliner and need a template of wood seats and willing to pay if you can template on construction paper, please let me know Thanks Great video Awesome
I'm looking for this motor to buy, do you know any for sale?
Nancy Leonetti it took me three years to find this one, I'll keep an eye out. they are rare.
There's on eBay right now for a buck! Auction number 152729895744
these motors last forever because they are lubricated from the oil/gas mix - and they drink gas like crazy, so lots of lubrication. nice running motors though
You can pour enough gas in that thing. It will drink it down faster than you can pour it in.
....and after this 4 minute 27 second video, you had to go back to the dock to refuel, right? These motors were known as gas pigs but I don't know if the "6 gallon tank sucked dry in 20 minutes" stories are true!
That story is only correct if during that 20 minutes you are at wide open throttle. You can troll around and run them motor at normal speeds and it will not consume fuel like that
a lot of people used to change the whole gearcase and put a 75 horsepower gearcase on it and it would get a whole lot better fuel mileage, but I like to keep things original and don't care about the fuel mileage
One of the ugliest and beautiful motors I have ever seen. Today's motors are sad and boring, not like the ol girls. Well done sir. Best wishes to you all from Brisbane Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 ❤
It does sound good, but it sure is ugly!