Johnson 300HP motors ?????

**GregP** · 01-28-2004, 08:52 AM

Looking at a possible boat that has a pair of 300HP Johnson's on it. Supposedly fresh rebuilds. I don't know ANYTHING about Johnson outboards, so would welcome any and all info about them good, bad, indifferent, "just a pair of boat anchors" etc.

Thanks - Greg

**Dave S** · 01-28-2004, 09:32 AM

I know Mercs, but what I have seen, is that 300 hp is 300hp and the new mercs set you back a lot. The V8s had a reputation of eating gas, but that is to be expected. They are a cheep 300hp nowadays.

**Sleekster** · 01-28-2004, 09:33 AM

We are not all that far from one another. Do you know who did the rebuilds?

What are on?

Send me an e if you get a chance.

**GregP** · 01-28-2004, 09:52 AM

The boat is a 33' Apache center console located in Florida. I'm trying to investigate if it would be worth restoring. If I go with the project I'd like to be able to use the existing motors for a year before replacing them with a pair of EFI Mercs or Yamaha's. I also have to find a place to keep it until I can sell my 40' Formula as I'm out of dock space.

-Greg

**JIM5656** · 01-28-2004, 11:43 AM

I had a pair of them on a 27 Eliminator.They were used when I got them.They ran for five years with no problems.I thought they were awesome.I sold the boat and after a year I checked back with the guy that bought the boat and they were still running great.I have heard all kinds of things bad about them But that was not the case for me.

**Dd24skater** · 01-28-2004, 01:42 PM

I have a buddy still running his that he bought new

The 3.6's always ran better than the 4.0's

All the gear cases just suck!! There are alot of updates that you can do to help, but they are the weak point

**Markus** · 01-28-2004, 01:58 PM

A friend of mine nearly got broke trying to keep a pair of them alive on an offshore race boat. They were eating parts at an incredible pace. Everything from gearcases to electrical components to transom brackets.

However, they are very powerful engines, and as you can see from the other posts, some were better than others.

All in all, it is a gamble, but if you know a good OMC mechanic and have a good source of used parts, those engines will give you cheap performance compared to the current 300 hp engines from Mercury and Yamaha.

**Gerben** · 01-28-2004, 05:10 PM

Hi,

As far as i know, these things don't make 300hp?
(just like the Promax 300)

Gerben

**Charlie M** · 01-28-2004, 05:25 PM

Your gonna stir some **** up with a comment like that!!!!

Do you think a 225 Johnson Looper does not make 225hp? Thats only 37.5 hp per cylinder and that would be 300 hp for 8 cylinders. No they do not make 300 hp but unlike the Promax 300 they make more than 300hp

**C. Phillips** · 01-28-2004, 07:45 PM

Got any pics of the Hydrostream running? Looks goooood

**insptech** · 01-28-2004, 08:21 PM

Hey Greg, if you get the boat I'd be interested in the motors when you decide to hang something new back there-can always use the spares

**GregP** · 01-29-2004, 07:31 AM

Ted,

My rough plan would be to run them for a year while I sell the Formula, then probably re-rig with some EFI's. What do you have Johnson's on?

-Greg

**Ospreyproduction** · 01-29-2004, 07:49 AM

I think the lower units are the only real issue with the OMC. And everything gets beaten up in offshore racing, so that's not an apples to apples comparison. I know that there are solutions for the lower units but I don't know exactly what they are.