Cruising Helmsman - July 2018

HANKERING FOR THE OLD DAYS

Hi Phil

When I purchased my Fairlite Gull

in 2008 it came with an 86.4 cubic

centimetre (cc) 1993 Johnson 4, the

world’s smallest twin cylinder outboard.

The power head started life in 1952 as

a 3 then was upgraded to a 4 in the late

sixties before being discontinued in 2000.

Back in 1993 I borrowed a 4 and

clocked up 200 hours on it in one year

as a test for Outboard Marine Australia.

During this time it was completely

reliable and the original water pump

impeller did not need replacing.

Although the 4 uses twice the amount

of fuel for the same average speed as the

Tohatsu M2.5A on the Gull, its perfectly

balanced power head with two small

cross f low cylinders creates absolutely

no vibration through the hull.

Similarly my cross f low 1969

43.2cc single cylinder Johnson 1.5 is

beautifully balanced and idles down to

650 revolutions per minute; though it

uses more fuel than the M2.5A despite

developing only one brake horsepower

at the propellor.

I will never again see engines like

these, so I keep them running as a

reminder of true marine engineering!

The carbie two stroke ban has

recreational and commercial boaters

scrambling to buy these engines up

before the ban is in place.

Regards

ANDREW NORTON

You can read Norton's review of an old

classic beginning on page 44.

8

Cruising Helmsman July 2018

LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTH

WIN!

JERVIS BAY MOORINGS

OFFICIAL UPDATE

Booderee manages a series of moorings

to prevent damage to important sea-

grass and reef habitats. A newly engaged

contractor is currently upgrading the

moorings in the marine area of Booderee.

The public moorings include:

• one at Murray’s Beach, upgraded for
  smaller recreational vessels


• five at Hole-in-the-Wall: two mooring
  upgrades completed; two currently
  removed for servicing requirements.
  Mooring buoys at Hole-in-the-Wall can
  be used by the public for a period of 48
  hours. A limit of 40 tonnes in weight and
  20 metres in length per vessel. Please do
  not moor in winds greater than 30 knots.
  Three Bowen Island moorings are set
  for permitted commercial dive operators
  only. Recreational vessels are prohibited
  from using these moorings. A temporary
  mooring will be installed while the Bowen
  Island upgrade is undertaken.
  Booderee National Park will continue
  to provide update(s) on the progress of
  the moorings upgrade work. Meanwhile,
  work to ensure remaining moorings
  are refurbished as quickly as possible
  continues.
  For more information email the
  Booderee National Park Operations
  Manager: Booderee.admin@environment.
  gov.au.

MARK SAWA

MEDIA MANAGER

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE

ABOVE: A rack of antiques seen at the recent MyState Tasmanian Wooden Boat Festival.

WITH GROTTY YACHTY CLOTHING

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