Odd OMC Gear case

[wiscoboater]

What was the point of this OMC gear case design? Was it supposed to be weedless? prop guard? Stabilizing fin?

[billw]

Only did that for a couple of years but I have seen them. Also on 40hp of the same vintage. I want to say about ’75 and ’76 but maybe more.

Long live American manufacturing!

[frankr]

Supposed to act like a whale tail. Certainly not a weedless feature, if fact just the opposite. You may as well drag a rake behind you. OMC made them awhile but then dropped the idea when people were sawing them off. But unbelievably they made them again a few years later.

[wiscoboater]

Thanks Guy’s
I was interested to know what the engineering thoughts were behind the design. I know the OMC engineers would not do something like that without a purpose. When I ran this motor last summer it did not behave any differently then my other FD’s but was a bit faster on the same boat. I think it might be more prop and larger carb related then the gear case though.

[JAY T. WALLS]

is that a military motor?

[wiscoboater]

Not Military, but a few have suggested it might be a commercial motor. It was built in Canada. The hood was brush painted with an attempt at the standard 1976 fishing motor logo so I’m not really sure. Sure runs well though, and I added an electric starter to it so it starts real easy as well. Just getting it ready to sell.

[Casey Lynn]

That is or was indeed a commercial style engine. Originally slated for sale outside the US markets and predominantly sold in South America and other areas. "Left over" engines were sold wherever possible.

[rmhxruss]

USA production sold at regular dealers. Replaced by 35HP thru hub exhaust and did continue as a comercial motor for ten or more years.

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