I was doing some garage sailing today and I do a lot of buying to resell. This guy had 2 outboards for sales both believed to be 1953. One works perfect. Started right up. Which is this one. (similar condition too his was a little better looking than this one on eBay honestly)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Outboard-Motor-10-H-P-Johnson-1953-Very-Good-mechanical-condition-/321230433687?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4acad36d97

 

 

 

This one needed piston work but this was in Museum condition on the outside. (His put this one on eBay to shame on the outside. Super clean inside as well also had another factory decal on it so may not be the EXACT motor)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Johnson-Sea-Horse-5-5HP-Outboard-Motor-/321352106566?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item4ad2140246&vxp=mtr 

 

He wanted 175.00 for the pair. I offered 120.00 and we couldn't quite meet where we needed to be and me not knowing enough about them I didn't want to move up anymore. I know what people are asking on eBay but that doesn't mean a thing. What I wanted to do is buy the working one for a small aluminum boat and the non working one was hoping I could sell to cover my investment cost. 

 

What do you guys think? Smart buy or pass? From what I see I think it's a no brainer if I can get him down to 150.00 especially where I know I can get him but I was being stubborn. Told him I'd call him tomorrow so hoping I can get some good insight. 

Do those need and come with the pressurized tanks?  The tanks are getting pretty scarce and expensive!  Looks like nice well cared for motors but I don't know anything about parts availability for the old Johnsons.  I have 3 1940's small Mercs and when I acquired them 30 years ago parts were non-existent.  Now with the advent of the web almost everything is available for them again.

Personally, I wouldn't have either one at those prices, or at most any price for that matter.

As for the pressurized tank, with a little know how they can be converted to a fuel pump and and use standard tank. Of course, that's something you would have to do yourself because at today's shop rates, it would be too expensive to pay to have it done.

Those arent the price or the exact motors. Those are just examples of what I'm looking at. They want 175.00 for both. Those were just two on ebay I found of what he's selling.

I have a 1956 Johnson seahorse 5.5hp. Nearly every part is still available either through napa or vintageoutboards.com and are super easy and cheap to fix/maintain as long as you can do the work yourself. I run a pressurized tank but soon plan to upgrade to a single line with a mikuni fuel pump. The thing with the pressure tank, THEY MUST BE IN 100% WORKING ORDER or you run the risk of a fire. But rebuild kits are available and cheap for the tanks as well.