Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opinions.

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jbrinch88

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I asked this question in my thread I have going in the photo section, figured more people would see it here though.

I have an opportunity to get my hands on a motor for cheap at my yard. It is a 1999 225 hp Johnson FICHT fuel injected outboard.

It's currently on an old beat 1979 22' aquasport that we have on craigslist. My boss is selling the boat/motor for 2500.00.

I took a look at the engine after work today. I know it needs a high pressure fuel pump (about 6-700 I think our cost). Did compression and all cylinders were between 110-125 (motor hasn't been ran in over a year). Lower unit oil is nice and creamy so I'd have to pull it and pressure check it and see which seal is bad. Flywheel is missing a tooth, skeg has a chip on the very end of it which I wouldn't mind just grinding down and reshaping, and the motor cover has one of the ribs broke off of it.

I would offer my boss 500.00 for the engine and obviously fix everything myself. Wondering if it is worth it or should I just dish out 3-5k on a well maintained running engine. I'd prefer an older carb'd outboard late 90's ish but I'm no where near ready for a motor yet anyhow. Just wondering if I should jump on this or not.

I do remember this engine running a few years back.

By the way it's for my 85' 24' offshore I'm currently working on.
 
Re: Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opini

I see that you are on Long Island, Contact Ralph at lindenhurst outboard-He knows a lot about that motor
 
Re: Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opini

jbrinch88 said:
I asked this question in my thread I have going in the photo section, figured more people would see it here though.

I have an opportunity to get my hands on a motor for cheap at my yard. It is a 1999 225 hp Johnson FICHT fuel injected outboard.

It's currently on an old beat 1979 22' aquasport that we have on craigslist. My boss is selling the boat/motor for 2500.00.

I took a look at the engine after work today. I know it needs a high pressure fuel pump (about 6-700 I think our cost). Did compression and all cylinders were between 110-125 (motor hasn't been ran in over a year). Lower unit oil is nice and creamy so I'd have to pull it and pressure check it and see which seal is bad. Flywheel is missing a tooth, skeg has a chip on the very end of it which I wouldn't mind just grinding down and reshaping, and the motor cover has one of the ribs broke off of it.

I would offer my boss 500.00 for the engine and obviously fix everything myself. Wondering if it is worth it or should I just dish out 3-5k on a well maintained running engine. I'd prefer an older carb'd outboard late 90's ish but I'm no where near ready for a motor yet anyhow. Just wondering if I should jump on this or not.

I do remember this engine running a few years back.

By the way it's for my 85' 24' offshore I'm currently working on.
Click to expand...

One of the worst motors ever produced. There is a reason it is cheap.
 
Re: Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opini

I thought that motor was bad ju ju. I am with Seasick on this one. When I was on the market for my first Grady, I came across the exact hull I wanted with the Fitch outboard, same year, but 200 hp. I did extensive reading on this and it worried me enough to steer clear. Waited a few months and found the same hull design with a 1994 200 HP evinrude Ocean Pro. Purchased boat and I can tell you this has been the best darn motor. I know you mentioned a carbed motor. Mine has been bulletproof going on 2 1/2 plus years. Smokes like hell at start up, sucks the juice, but completely reliable and easy to work on. Now, perhaps what I was reading was complete BS. I have no way of knowing for sure. But there was enough negativity out there to steer me clear. I vote a V6. Can't go wrong. I would be hesitant spending your money to fix up a Fitch. Let us know what you pull the trigger on and how she runs.
 
Re: Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opini

mboyatt said:
I thought that motor was bad ju ju. I am with Seasick on this one. When I was on the market for my first Grady, I came across the exact hull I wanted with the Fitch outboard, same year, but 200 hp. I did extensive reading on this and it worried me enough to steer clear. Waited a few months and found the same hull design with a 1994 200 HP evinrude Ocean Pro. Purchased boat and I can tell you this has been the best darn motor. I know you mentioned a carbed motor. Mine has been bulletproof going on 2 1/2 plus years. Smokes like hell at start up, sucks the juice, but completely reliable and easy to work on. Now, perhaps what I was reading was complete BS. I have no way of knowing for sure. But there was enough negativity out there to steer me clear. I vote a V6. Can't go wrong. I would be hesitant spending your money to fix up a Fitch. Let us know what you pull the trigger on and how she runs.
Click to expand...

I really like the Ocean Runner's. Very easy to work on. The last few boats I've sold all had that motor on them in various hp's and I never had an issue with any of them. I especially like that they are very easy to bypass the oil injection and have a premix setup instead. I don't like the VRO pump setup, but it's easy enough to bypass and make the engine more reliable. No faulty alarms to worry about and you have more battery space by removing the oil tank. I would love to find a 225-250 hp ocean runner but I have yet to come across one.

I just thought this might be a good deal. I've heard bad things and I've heard good things about the ficht engines. I mentioned to my boss today I'm interested in it but I think he wants to sell the boat/motor package so it might not be mine anyhow.

I already have a lot of man hours into my boat and plan on spending a decent amount of coin on it as well, so spending alittle extra on a motor isn't the worst idea. Naturally I'm just trying to look for a good deal.
 
Re: Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opini

friend of mone has a Ficht and has had a lot of trouble with it. Electronic trouble and he has spent a lot of money keeping that motor running. Another friend worked for a maraina when the Ficht came out in the late 90's it was supposed to be the bees knees in a matter of a month service techs learned what FICHT was an acronym for. First In Channel Hailing Tow.
 
Re: Potential deal on an 1999 225 Johnson Ficht. Need opini

The FICHT wasn't arounf very long either. that tells me something. They only good thing ot ever did was boost E-Tec sales. Yamaha V-Max. Mercury Optimax have been around awhile. E-Tec has been around awhile. Ocean Runners still command a decent selling price.
 
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