Death of a johnson

[riverrat12]

Well guy's and gal's it all started on my fishing day Fri. I headed down to my little shad hole on the Ohio. It was a beutiful day sunny,light wind, the smell of summers end in the air.As I headed down the river I thought to myself boy my little Johnson is purring like a kitten. I got to my creek and there were no shad to be found, so I thought no problem I'll just head up to the lower dam and try there. Well I get 200yds from the Shermon mitten and I feel alittle vibration and then BANG the sound that makes a fishermans stomach turn. A sound that say's this is going to be no easy fix and possibly the end of a long friendship between motor, boat and fisherman. Now guy's I've had a few motors in my life Merc's, Rude's,Chrysler, even a good set of oars, but my Johnson....well it hurts. I can't help to think last week when I took my big boat out for our Fri. nighter that my Johnson felt left behind and possibly like I didn't care anymore. Mark and I were talking about how good an engine it's been for so long. As I turned my trolling motor on and paddled back to the ampitheater ramp praying for no barge traffic, it was hard to hold back tears. Then to find one of my trailor tires half flat and almost loosing my cowling on 71 because I didn't put it in the slot on the front, I called it a day...A long sad day...I had to share this story because that engine has been a part of me for so long and been there with me for so many fish...R.I.P JOHNSON....I'll miss you.. Chuck

[psprowler]

So what year and model was it? I had a 1955 25hP and when that thing was on, it was on. Thing weighed a ton.

[pontooner]

Well guy's and gal's it all started on my fishing day Fri. I headed down to my little shad hole on the Ohio. It was a beutiful day sunny,light wind, the smell of summers end in the air.As I headed down the river I thought to myself boy my little Johnson is purring like a kitten. I got to my creek and there were no shad to be found, so I thought no problem I'll just head up to the lower dam and try there. Well I get 200yds from the Shermon mitten and I feel alittle vibration and then BANG the sound that makes a fishermans stomach turn. A sound that say's this is going to be no easy fix and possibly the end of a long friendship between motor, boat and fisherman. Now guy's I've had a few motors in my life Merc's, Rude's,Chrysler, even a good set of oars, but my Johnson....well it hurts. I can't help to think last week when I took my big boat out for our Fri. nighter that my Johnson felt left behind and possibly like I didn't care anymore. Mark and I were talking about how good an engine it's been for so long. As I turned my trolling motor on and paddled back to the ampitheater ramp praying for no barge traffic, it was hard to hold back tears. Then to find one of my trailor tires half flat and almost loosing my cowling on 71 because I didn't put it in the slot on the front, I called it a day...A long sad day...I had to share this story because that engine has been a part of me for so long and been there with me for so many fish...R.I.P JOHNSON....I'll miss you.. Chuck

Hope you have a nice place picked out somewhere in the backyard and give her a proper send off. I'll be sure and pour out a bottle of oil in her memory.

Johnson motors are very good motors and don't get the respect the deserve for the most part.

[Chubminnow]

C'mon man...an obituary isn't complete without a nice picture...I love the classics, what year was it, how many horse power, how long did you own it, do you remember the person you bought it from, etc? When I was a kid my dad had a 16' jonboat with a tiller steer 33 Johnson Sea horse...man that motor would pus the day lights out of that boat. Right now I have a 1970 model 25 horse Johnson on a 14' v-bottom, original Holscaw break-away trailer, etc...it's not much but I think it's cool as can be.

[riverrat12]

She was 15hp tiller electric start (gosh I loved that electric start on a fast drift when I got snagged) 72 sea horse. I've had her 10years or so, bought her from a duck hunter for 500$ outside of Sheperdsville. And I'm sorry tooner I wouldn't stick her in the ground....maybe dip her in bronze and hang her on the wall...wife permitting. My girls learned to drive a boat with her. We've been out almost every week for all those years....man I'm bummed. Chub I thought I had pic's of her on my profile page but she was allway's camera shy and didn't take any credit.....

[fisheater]

I beleive i might be able to dig up a pic,gimme a sec.

[fisheater]

http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php?t=69085
http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php?t=68802

Got one of her in action.
RIP

[riverrat12]

http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php?t=69085
http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php?t=68802

Got one of her in action.
RIP

Thanks John.....OOOOHHHH the memory's

[Tyme2fish]

Have boat. Will launch.

However, the lower is starting to get a little bit too skinny water for me and my Stratos.

Sorry about your loss.

[riverrat12]

Have boat. Will launch.

However, the lower is starting to get a little bit too skinny water for me and my Stratos.

Sorry about your loss.

Thanks Tyme, I have a bigger boat....it's just not my little puddle jumper......We need to get together sometime though. It's a wonder we haven't run into each other. Chuck

[mhall]

Oh my Gosh I'm just seeing this, I can't believe it, that little motor finally bought it. This is sad as I thought that little Sea Horse would live forever.

I'm sorry Chuck we should have a ceremony and drink beer in it's honor, it would have liked that.

[DJD]

Yep I remember the old girl....Shine her up put her on a motor toter and place her in the man cave.