Its not something I’ve seen on any motor and cant imagine what its function would be!!! I got a rough 37-LS in 2007. It had a lot of issues and I struggled with all of them. I’d get frustrated and set the motor aside for years before getting interested in it again. Do you remember sending me the wrist pin for it Dave? I believe that was around 2020. Well it has finely made it to the lake.
A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
A strange thing for sure. I only idea I can come up with is to seal off a hole in the top of a tank where the motor was used to stir or agitate the liquid contents.???