3.5hp to 5.5hp

[Doc606]

Good morning. New member here. I have a question regarding powering 10' Dakota flat bottom Jon boat. I currently have a tohatsu 3.5hp that runs great other than the vibration of a single cylinder. I had this motor on an older Sears 10' Jon and it did great. I mostly trotline a smaller lake close to the house for bluecat. Crappie fish some. I recently traded for the polarkraft Dakota, which seems like a better built heavier boat. I have access to a 1963 Johnson 5.5hp that is in great shape and should only need a carb kit and impeller. My cost for it $100. So would I benifit from the 5.5 or stick with the 3.5? Would the additional 2hp really make a difference in power? I'll be up front I have not ran either motor on this Dakota. To thank you for your time and assistance
Doc

 

[1960 yellowboat]

JUMP ON THAT JOHNSON

Those older Johnsons are built like tanks!
Plus, they are twin cylinder motors and will run smooooooooooooooooth
Clean the carb, put a new impeller in it.
A set of new Champion plugs
Run it 24 to one to start and enjoy!
those old 5.5's will push that boat like a bandit

 

[GYPSY400]

How old is your tohatsu compared to the 50 year old Johnson? Personally, I wouldn't bother messing with something that old.
Also if your Tohatsu is 4 stroke, you may not like the old smoky.

 

[Doc606]

Thanks for the replies guys. The tohatsu is a 2003 2 stroke model. I've had it a couple years. Been completely tuned up, new carb kit. Impeller. On the old Sears riveted boat never had an issue. Other than shear pin issues. The small lake is full of stumps. I carry extra pins and tools in my boat tool kit. I got to where I could pull the motor,lay it on middle bench and have new shear pin and motoring back along within 10 minutes. I finally got a GPS and marked a route through the stumps that I followed avoiding the stumps. Due to health reasons over the last 18 months I sold the Sears boat and kept the tohatsu. Pulled it out of storage and it cranked up on 3rd pull. Runs like a top. I plan on taking it out with the Dakota next few days to see how this set-up does. Guess I'll stick with it for now. Appreciate the feedback

 

[1960 yellowboat]

How old is your tohatsu compared to the 50 year old Johnson? Personally, I wouldn't bother messing with something that old.
Also if your Tohatsu is 4 stroke, you may not like the old smoky.

how old are you?

 

[GYPSY400]

How old is your tohatsu compared to the 50 year old Johnson? Personally, I wouldn't bother messing with something that old.
Also if your Tohatsu is 4 stroke, you may not like the old smoky.

how old are you?

LOL.. newer than 1960.. but I have grey hair.

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[Riverdog]

I actually have a Nissan 3.5 and a 1964 Evinrude 5.5 fisherman.
On a 12ft lowe jon the 3.5 will do around 8-9 mph. The 5.5 will do around 13 mph.
Those old evinrude/Johnson motors are great. Still plenty of parts for them. My 3.5 is a two stroke and very easy to carry around.

On the Evinrude/johnsons, models before 1965, you have to lift the power head to change the impeller.