Help! 1998 Triton TR18 with a 2000 Johnson 150 FICHT Buy??

[PappyD]

1st Post here so.....

Just retired and looking to fish ALOT again. Have a neighbor who has a 98 Triton TR18 with a 2000 Johnson 150 FICHT Fast Strike.

Boat looks great for 26yrs but I'm concerned about the motor being a "150 FICHT" from Johnson.

Background: I had a 1990 Stratos 289 F/S Johnson GT200 back in the day. Ran that boat, with a bunch of kids too, and had a blast. No problems. Sold in 2002. Life stepped in...

Fast forward to now- knew that Johnson/OMC is out of business and heard about the problems with the FICHT system.

I'm concerned about getting a bad motor and not finding parts, etc, or even a place that will work on them. If it were a 98 Johnson GT150 I'd be ok as I can fix those...

Any advice? Run away? Run away as fast as I can? Thanks! Dan. aka PappyD

[mactlman]

if boat is clean and trailer is good, you can repower if it goes south? needs to be bought at a price that is right for that senerio--if still running good it must be a good one and well maintained but parts and service will be badly lacking also

[bassfisher444]

I would buy it for a good deal with some money leftover to repower when you need to.

[PappyD]

Thanks folks..... My neighbor is looking for 8-9k for this boat. The "FICHT" motor is scaring me away. Boat needs new batteries and some elbow grease TLC. Trailer looks ok- will probably need new tires and grease the hubs, etc. Just trying not to get a boat, then have to spend $$$ to get a new motor, etc. Quick search had me at 10k for a new Mercury 150 for example.

[bassfisher444]

Thanks folks..... My neighbor is looking for 8-9k for this boat. The "FICHT" motor is scaring me away. Boat needs new batteries and some elbow grease TLC. Trailer looks ok- will probably need new tires and grease the hubs, etc. Just trying not to get a boat, then have to spend $$$ to get a new motor, etc. Quick search had me at 10k for a new Mercury 150 for example.

Keep in mind you don't have to buy a new motor, there is plenty of excellent 2 stroke motors out there that you can get used for much cheaper.

[ChampioNman]

Sure it's a 2000 model year? Johnson's were all carbed in the 2000 MY.

[PappyD]

Sure it's a 2000 model year? Johnson's were all carbed in the 2000 MY.

I read the same- 2000's were carbed. ?? Neighbor sez "the 98 Johnson FICHT went bad so the dealer put on a new motor.. Maybe it's another 98 or 99. Definitely sez Faststrike and FICHT on the cowl/cover. Boat is back in a barn now so I can't get the serial number or anything.

[ChampioNman]

I read the same- 2000's were carbed. ?? Neighbor sez "the 98 Johnson FICHT went bad so the dealer put on a new motor.. Maybe it's another 98 or 99. Definitely sez Faststrike and FICHT on the cowl/cover. Boat is back in a barn now so I can't get the serial number or anything.

Take the engine cover off and see if it has carbs or injectors that will tell you for sure. The shop could have put a carbed block on the midsection and left the engine covers the same.

[RSL6]

Can only share my experience. Bought a 1999 Tr-21 with a 99 225 FICHT in 2000. Powerhead blew shortly after break-in (2-3 months). Had to replace an electronic control monitor a few years later. Lower unit was replaced a couple of times. As of August 2023 it was running great. Problem is no one wants to work on it where I live now. Although it was running great, I didn't trust it to make long runs. I decided to repower last summer.

My advice would be to have money set aside to repower any motor that old. Parts and serviceability would be more challenging with OMC outboards.

[OH_Ranger]

That's a $5000 boat

[PappyD]

That's a $5000 boat

Thanks. I'm thinking 5k is too. Even at that the motor has me steering. Buy the boat and then spend time and money getting it right. I've kinda been out of the game for a while but I didn't have to look hard to get info on the Ficht product. Sad to see all the OMC stuff gone though.

[duracraftman]

I agree with most of the above. The FICHT would scare me away at that price point but at $5K you can have some cushion in case you need an expensive repair/repower (which is damn near inevitable).

[PappyD]

OP here....thanks to all who have offered advice. I'll keep looking. I would think late summer/fall might see more boats available for sale.

Thanks, Pappy