Re: 4 Stroke OB best for me?
Jimd, I'm sure the current 50's would perform a tad better than my Bearcat, and I can't say from experience yet just how it will run my boat. The propoganda of the day tried to compare it to a Merc 75 (also flywheel rated). The idea was the torque of the Homelite/Bearcat could get on a plane in a hurry and do everything the Merc could (except about 3-4 mph slower in top speed) on less than half the fuel. There were two identical hulls in the comparison. Doesn't guarantee they were tuned 100% identical, or that the same result would be had with a different sort of hull. But it was a great motor, and as carbed 4 strokes go not really all that far behind anyway. Naturally any new whiz-bang injected motor ought to do more with the fuel it drinks. I like this motor because of it being inexpensive to own and operate compared to any new motor, simple, and nostalgic. It fits in with the age of my old Silver Line hull. No, mine does not have tilt and trim, but neither does the Honda at that listed weight. My point is not that the Bearcat is better, it is that the best of todays motors are not AS much better as one might expect given the additional 43 years to develop the technology. That, and that once in the great while great ideas aren't always given all the attention they deserve because we get set in our ways. JB is right Lou Fageol was way ahead of his time. There is a very small group of us who are carrying the torch for these motors. Not sure yet but it seems like they may be getting a little more in demand. There are a few who have a passion for restoring these. At any rate we have lots of relatively inexpensive fun messing with them and running them.
