Bringing back the 70's....

For a while now, since getting the boat, I've been investigating what engine upgrades I might consider in the future. It started off life in the early 70's with a 50hp Johnson (pull start), and then in 1986 it got a new Johnson 70hp fitted (electric). This remained the setup until last week - don't get me wrong - it was a great setup for years!

The research came down to 2 main points:
- it had to be over 100hp
- it had to be of an age that would be in keeping with the boat (early-mid 70's)

The only engine that I knew of in the country that fitted the bill was a 1979 140hp Mercury inline 6 that was sitting on a Phantom 16 in a warehouse at O'Sullivans Marine of Tralee.
So a few weeks ago I found the boat and engine advertised on their website (advertised with the wrong details I might add, so it took a few more clicks to find it ).
After a few emails to and from Brian, I decided to bite the bullet and get serious about a trade. However, on the same day, with the help of Clinton Marine Services, I managed to sell the Johnson to an interested party (delivered the next day). So 2 days later I arrived in Tralee to lift the Merc into the back of the car (it took 3 of us!) and a box of parts and was back on the road within the hour.



That was last Saturday, and this afternoon Clinton Marine Services got the Merc onto that back of West Wind.



There's a few more hours of 'plumbing' to do, but already looking forward to the end result and getting a spin out in the coming weeks.

So a huge thanks must go out to Brian and Morris in O'Sullivans for their help in removing and lifting the engine, and of course the sale!

The help from Clinton Marine Services has been fantastic thoughout. From providing direct knowledge of the engine's history, to removing and selling the old engine, to making the time this week to fit it all up and getting it all running again.
They might be shy, but I managed to get a photo of them when they weren't looking...... Cheers lads!



And of course, the happy customer......here seen sizing up a new anchor.



See you on the water soon.....in my new 70's porno style boat :-D

Collected the new (well, it's a 1979) engine today from Tralee (235km from home). 7 hours of driving. Hopefully she's worth it!

A 1979 Mercury 140hp 'Tower of Power' - inline 6 cylinder.

It was stripped from an old Phantom 16 for me yesterday.

She'll need a few hours to fit to West Wind due to the extra wiring for the power trim and the extra dials for temperature, rev counter and battery charge, but I'm in no rush this month - and I'm not doing it. :-)





Given that the previous engine was a 3 cylinder 70hp, suffice to say I'm a bit nervous about how to handle the new setup once it's all complete.
One thing I'll be fitting is a foot throttle so I can keep 2 hands on the wheel!

Engine-less!

It's been a while, but tomorrow West Wind will be having the 70hp Johnson outboard removed as it was sold last night.

This engine has been on West Wind since 1986 when it was bought new with the proceeds of a lucky £10,000 lottery scratch card by my grandfather.

Alas, I've set my sights on something bigger and older - in keeping with the boat's age (and which will also hopefully have power trim and tilt to save my back!).

So I might have some news on the new engine in the coming days.