I joined the ranks

[Dippy Dawg]

Finally I have joined the ranks of boat ownership!!! Over the weekend I purchased a used 18 foot Riviera dual console powered by a 1995 Johnson 88 spl. For what I paid (less than 2K) I am considering it a steal. We took it out for a wet test before purchase and the motor ran fine once it got warm. I have heard that Johnsons are cold starting motors, they run a little rough until they warm up. Is this true? The motor has been sitting up for a few months, I am thinking that it will probaly be a good idea to run some Sea Foam thru it. How is this done? Also I would appreciate any comments or experience you may have about the motor? Thanks alot, now I have to pick a name.

[Menzies]

Congrats on the new set up. Here's to many days on fun on her.

[bmkshort]

A good friend of mine had a 1996 18' Seapro with an Evinrude 88 hp ( Same motor, different color )

He fished the h%ll out of that boat and like yours, it was cold natured. It never stranded him but you did have to let her warm up and sometimes it took 3-4 trys to get her started but it always ran. I suspect that because of being a premix engine that his plugs were usually fouling.

But hey, for the price, just run it like you stole it and enjoy.

[bustedflat]

Yes they are cold natured, especially if it has been sitting awhile. There is different kinds of seafoam, the liquid in a can you mix with gas in a remote gas tank. Don't forget oil if you are premixing. That motor is oil injected isn't it? The other option is aerosol that you spray directly into carbs. Both products have instructions on the label, you can do a search here too. Someone is always talkin bout Seafoam. My Evinrude smokes bad and runs rough for several minutes when cold, once warm it purrs like a kitten on a hot tin roof.

[bmkshort]

bustedflat - 2/18/2008 5:06 PM

Yes they are cold natured, especially if it has been sitting awhile. There is different kinds of seafoam, the liquid in a can you mix with gas in a remote gas tank. Don't forget oil if you are premixing. That motor is oil injected isn't it? The other option is aerosol that you spray directly into carbs. Both products have instructions on the label, you can do a search here too. Someone is always talkin bout Seafoam. My Evinrude smokes bad and runs rough for several minutes when cold, once warm it purrs like a kitten on a hot tin roof.

The 88 was the economical version of the 90 hp. " SPL" they called it. No VRO system. Just bare bones outboard. I had a 48 SPL that was a cheaper version of the 50.

[Dippy Dawg]

bustedflat - 2/18/2008 1:06 PM

That motor is oil injected isn't it?

Actually it is not oil injected. From the limited research I did before purchase I learned that it is essentially a 90 VRO without the VRO. I have to mix the gas/oil. I am using a 50:1 ratio right now and the plugs look a little oily, should I adjust the ratio up a little to sa 60:1, or could this be because it has sat up a while? Like I said once it warmed up it ran well. Don't know the RPM as the tach is not working. Fixing that soon.

[bmkshort]

I would stick to 50:1 ratio. At higher rpms, the motor needs more oil, actually about 25:1. At idle or when trolling, it only needs about 75:1. Thats why the 50:1 is a good balance.

[HillbillyFarmBoy]

Congratualation Dippy. I bought my first powered boat back in Nov. . . also used.
Yea, I've been 15 miles out many times with a buddy of mine when he had a Johnson. It was a little disconcerting watching him play with the throttle while grinding away and then having it die on the first three tries. . . but it never left us stranded and once it took hold it delivered.
Enjoy your boat.

[tarpon1215]

Be sure to keep the spark plugs in good shape. The non VRO version of this motor is probably why it is still alive. A lot of those old VRO soldiers did not make it thru the battles.

[Dippy Dawg]

How can I find out the capacities of this boat. It is a Riviera and I cannot fin d out anything about this brand online? I do not want to be pulled over by the authorities and have too many people on board and such.