OMC - 35 Tiller - 70's year model - Issues/Good Bad?

[Stoker1]

Keep in mind I'm a novice and have done water pump and carb rebuilds at the most on my 1990's Mercury 20 - stroke.

I've got a line on a 1970's - Johnson 35 tiller (orange/gray stripe). I don't know much about it yet and not sure if its electric start - which is the only way I'd consider buying one that large hp. Waiting on pictures under the cowl, but from what I can tell its clean and not showing corrosion/oxidation.

Questions: Parts availability, ease of maintenance (again for a novice)?

MERCURY question --- I'm running a 1999 Merch 20hp tiller and getting 29mph single and 23mph loaded with an extra person.
Is it worth $600 to go to a 25hp in the same engine year/model? I've got one close by thats clean as a whistle, but don't want to bother if it won't get me to about 35 light/28 loaded.

[Mark Poole ModVP]

Five horsepower will not get you six mph. Can't go wrong with a thru hub exhaust 30/35 OMC as long as it not ragged out or been overheated bad. The mid 80's and later 30 OMC's were really good engines.

[MattGreen]

Mark is giving you good advice. Those 35's (which later evolved into the 30) are very tough engines, into the later 80's would be better as Mark said but yes you can still get the basic repair parts you need. They have a bunch of compression so depending upon how big/strong you are (no offence intended, I'm not a big guy myself) yes you definitely may want electric start. Electric start retrofit kits were offered for may years, you may find a used one on Ebay.

Matt

[Stoker1]

Appreciate the responses. Unfortunately I ended up bringing it home yesterday. It is a 15" and does not have electric start, which is a concern. Did get it relatively cheap and its very clean. We're going to see what happens once its running (do I keep or flip). I can start the old 20 Merc thats on my skiff now with no issues, so I'm curious how this damaged shoulder will hold up with this one.