Facts about Evinrude/Johnson racing outboards made my OMC

[lars strom]

Beautiful Stockholm and the location for the F1-V8 race 1983.
Red is the pit and blue the start..
One of the best races ever.

[lars strom]

...

[DanUmbarger]

Super Strangler V4 down under.

Can't imagine how fast this this was...maybe 13'....��

[2us70]

OPC racing was always about the biggest motor on the smallest boat you could get away with.

[DanUmbarger]

OPC racing was always about the biggest motor on the smallest boat you could get away with.

I remember the family classes had minimums but don't remember if the sport classes and unlimited classes did. We had to extend our new 14' Wildcat to 15' in the late 60s to be legal in FJ and FG had a 13' limit if I remember correctly. I ran our 15' tunnel in UI but don't remember if that class had minimums. But yea your right we always wanted to run the biggest motors on the smallest boats.

[2us70]

When I started in 1964 there was no Sport of Family designations. There were only minimum length for each motor displacement class. By the late 60s minimum weights and the other rules created the Family(later Production) ,Sport , Unlimited and Unrestricted classes [DanUmbarger;3437415]I remember the family classes had minimums but don't remember if the sport classes and unlimited classes did. We had to extend our new 14' Wildcat to 15' in the late 60s to be legal in FJ and FG had a 13' limit if I remember correctly. I ran our 15' tunnel in UI but don't remember if that class had minimums. But yea your right we always wanted to run the biggest motors on the smallest boats.[/QUOTE]

[lars strom]

Jack Aylsworth Group expert - All-star contributor

Revolutionary V4 Design versus Black Paint at Mercury

While both Evinrude & Johnson could claim numerous milestones in outboard engineering and design, none were more revolutionary, or industry influencing, than the introduction of the “V” outboard. Undoubtedly,it’s most notable achievement was it’s low-profile design when compared to Mercury. Evinrude marketing at the time stated, “We bested our competitor's top-heavy design approach with a low-profile design that snuggles down on the transom like it’s part of the boat.”

Design Concerns at Mercury- With the introduction of the "Tower of Power," Mercury outboards suddenly grew much taller. Designers rightfully feared their new engine looked “out of proportion” to the boats it powered, and they sought ways to make it appear smaller.

Mom Steps In - as told by Charlie Strang – One night, the mother of Mercury’s chief engineer at the time, Charlie Strang, wandered into his office. Charlie explained the engine dilemma to his mother, who offered a practical suggestion: "Well, a large woman always wears a black dress - Why don't you paint the engine black?"

The message to budding young engineers – if you don’t have an engineering solution, just ask mom for help.

The Industry Follows OMC’s Lead – Eventually Mercury introduced their own V- block design. Yamaha, on the other hand, simply copied OMC’s design. So closely, in fact, that Charlie Strang now OMC’s Chairman stated, “Imitation may be the sincerest from of flattery, but we didn’t care to be flattered to that extent.”

OMC sued for patent infringement in Federal Court and sought an exclusion order against Yamaha from the International Trade Commission. Yamaha quickly asked for an out-of-court settlement. Contrary to their original marketing plans, Yamaha soon found itself making cash payments to OMC while agreeing to redesign their engines.

[2us70]

Mercury motors of that time were essentially all the same. In many cases several motors shared a lot of parts. The 44in and the 49in motors used the same gearcase with different ratios. The 66in and the 99in motors did the same. the 49in, 66in and the 99in motors all had the same bore and stroke. I believe they used the same piston and rod assemblies. Carburetors were also sometimes interchangeable between models. Pretty much all of Mercury's motors were based on the original post war designs. Every Mercury I ever took apart was pretty much the same.

[WaterZebra]

Mercury motors of that time were essentially all the same. In many cases several motors shared a lot of parts. The 44in and the 49in motors used the same gearcase with different ratios. The 66in and the 99in motors did the same. the 49in, 66in and the 99in motors all had the same bore and stroke. I believe they used the same piston and rod assemblies. Carburetors were also sometimes interchangeable between models. Pretty much all of Mercury's motors were based on the original post war designs. Every Mercury I ever took apart was pretty much the same.

When did Mercury stop making any model of the inlines?

[lars strom]

...

[skialot2]

When did Mercury stop making any model of the inlines?

In 1989 I bought a brand new 115 Mercury. I had a choice between a 1988 inline 6 TOP and the new 1989 inline 4. I was upgrading from a 1987 3 cylinder 90. I know the 100 was already a 4 cylinder in 1988. And the 135 was already a V6 in 1987. So, by process of elimination, I would say 1988 was the last year for any inline 6 TOP of any horsepower.

[lars strom]

PLEASE..this is a thread about OMC..!!!
Thank you.

==========================================

Jack Aylsworth

Group expert - All-star contributor

Evinrude AQUANAUT, Johnson AIR-BUOY & OMC SCUBUOY Diving Compressors


These self-contained floating air stations delivered fresh, filtered air for two divers. The units weighed 40 pounds, complete with a 2-cycle engine driving two separate compressors with 2 hoses, masks & back packs, a 33-inch float ring and a 36” high exhaust mast with attachable “Divers Down” flag. The compressors delivered 2 ½ cfm to each diver at maximum depth of 25 feet. Depth was limited to guard against potential bends. Designed and produced by OMC’s Gale Division for all three brands, they were first released in 1966 and cost around $300. Properly functioning used units list online today for as much as $1200 to $1300.

Available Parts - The model AH100 was produced from 1966-1967. It was basically a Lawn Boy 2hp D-model engine. (The cylinder head and crankshaft, however, are unique to the diving units.) The crankcase, rings, seals, gaskets, bearings, rod, piston, points, coil, condenser, carb components are all Lawn Boy D-engine. These parts are cheap and available on eBay - search “Lawn Boy parts”. The engine shroud and steel gas tank also are from C & D Lawn Boy engines.

Safe When Used Correctly - The only danger in using one of these diving units is using it in a confined space. This is common sense. The story goes that back in the late 60's, a diver was using the unit inside a deep & narrow sinkhole in North Florida. The unit was floating on a water surface that was 30 feet below the surrounding terrain. The fumes displaced the oxygen and the diver died. This could happen with any diving compressor, but this event reportedly ended production at OMC.

[Instigator]

Couple more cool old ads from e-bay.

Read the fine print to see the point where 25 hp was king!

And first ad I’ve seen for 3 bangers actually explaining what a looper is.

[Instigator]

This one got my attention buy the number of races in Fla!

And all between Fall and Spring!

Strange?

A series maybe?

Sorry Lars but they are JohnRudes 😉

[lars strom]

Jack Aylsworth

Group expert - All-star contributor.

COMMEMORATIVE SEA-HORSE BELT BUCKLE


First produced in 1976, the Sea-Horse Belt Buckle commemorated the introduction of the 1930 logo featuring three mythical winged sea horses. (lower right). If you have a real one, it reads: “Early Symbol of the Johnson Outboard Motor Company” on the back side and is brass plated. A few silver-plated buckles were also produced and cost $3 more at the time. Interestingly there are actually “knockoffs” that are ‘brass plated’ and say Wyoming Studio Art Works on the back side. Occasionally, the real ones, and the knockoffs, are advertised for up to $45 online. (The Sea-Horse name and logo first appeared in 1929 as shown on the catalog cover that year – upper right.)

THE LAUNCH OF JOHNSON ‘SEA HORSE’ MOTORS - On January 12, 1929, Johnson introduced the new Sea Horse branded line to rave reviews at the National Motor Boat Show in New York City. The Sea Horse name, which would become synonymous with outboarding innovation and dependability in the decades to come, graced two large engines for its introduction: the Sea-Horse 16, and a big, four- cylinder Sea-Horse 32.