Folding Evinrude 3 hp yachtwin on marketplace

[InSaneFisherMan]

First one of these I have seen, looks like a unique motor.

Not my add, but looks cool!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7138509152874419/?mibextid=Dv3YPZ

 

[Bailey Boat]

My Uncle Virgil (Grandfathers brother) had one of those!! He used to invite me to go fish Lake Conway in Arkansas with him and we rented a boat at the marina and he put that on it. Always ran well and never had any trouble.

 

[Pappy]

They are great running engines. They were designed to be able to be stowed in cars, planes, float planes, etc. they are the tried and true twin cylinder 3hp engines produced primarily by Johnson/Evinrude. They are super smooth running, can idle down to the point you can place a finger on the flywheel and let it go around with the flywheel and are quiet with almost no felt vibration in the boat. The water pump takes a bit longer to change in them but other than that they are serviced exactly like any other 3 hp.

 

[airshot]

Those older 3hp motors are highly coveted in my area...draw big money. Bought a few non running and made them runners, profitable !

 

[Weldorthemagnificent]

I had one of those. It was a great running engine.

 

[Crazyboat]

It's an amazing little package. I can see how it would be utilized .

 

[Pappy]

And.....it is not a "new" design. Folding engines were produced off and on by Evinrude, Elto, and others from around 1929! Back then the engineering that went in to do that was all done by hand including drawings and calculations and the creation of each wood plug, then molds, etc.
Here are two examples.
1929




And a different design one year later....1930



Front of engine!


Pretty cool stuff for it's day and time!

 

[LDUBS]

That pic of the Elto copied below. Is that handle used to start the motor? That could be kind of dicey if you aren't paying attention.

 

[Pappy]

Yes sir.....they were affectionately called "Knuckebusters"
That particular design incorporated a spring at the bottom of the knob that retracted the knob as soon as you let go of it plus they designed the scalloped out recess to further lessen the chance of being caught by it. The originals had a simple wooden knob bolted on to the flat flywheel !