What on earth is this?

[bilboleslie]

Helping my neighbor, who is 90, clear out some things. First step, identify what he’s got. Can you help? Any idea of value? I’m sure it hasn’t been started in 10 years.

[kevinrude]

I’m going to guess a Gale made Buccaneer, say 1956. And, it looks huge, so I’ll go with 35HP.

To know for sure, we would need the model number, which will be on the ID plate that should be riveted somewhere near or on the transom bracket.

I’m interested to find out how good of a guesser I am !!!

[bilboleslie]

I couldn’t find any data plates on it, but it’s buried back in a barn. Maybe I need to drag it out into the sunshine. I’ll try again.

If you are right, is it an anchor?

[fisherman6]

I’m with Kevinrude here. It looks like a Buccaneer to me. It is a big’un too. At least a 22hp and might be a 35. It’s hard to tell from the pic. If it’s complete, it’s not an anchor. I like the Gale motors of that era quite well.
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[bilboleslie]

Thanks to both of you. I’ll try to drag it out. I’ll need to find a guy with a tractor, or a two mule team. This thing is big and heavy. Not something that one person can horse around.

[cajuncook1]

quote bilboleslie:

I couldn’t find any data plates on it, but it’s buried back in a barn. Maybe I need to drag it out into the sunshine. I’ll try again.

If you are right, is it an anchor?

Definitely a Seaking/BuccanerGale 25hp or 35hp motor from about 1956 to 1958. Definitely not an anchor. They are of the same quality of motors of the Evinrude/Johnson motor of the mid to late 1950’s. They are heavy, but they are powerful running motors.

Here are some you tube videos of a 25hp Gale running

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvjEq5hRRlk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWyklBexMXw

[fisherman6]

Gently roll it over to the back of the cowl where it tis supposed to sit. Once it’s sitting with the carry handle up, one guy on the carry handle and another on the leg shoukd be able to move it around. I don’t mean your 90 year old neighbor. 😉
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[1946zephyr]

Yea, don’t drag that classic with a tractor. Abuse to antiques like that is illegal in most states 😮 😮

[bilboleslie]

I meant to lift it, not to drag it.
Agree.

I love history. I’ve got a ’43 Ford army jeep in my garage. Some guy tried to turn it into a dune buggy. Argghhh.

[frankr]

1955 Gale Buccaneer 22hp, patterned after the 1955 Evinrude/Johnson 25hp, or 1956 25hp also patterned after the same E/J motors. 22hp had a smaller bore to keep the E/J dealers from rioting, and the 25hp was made when E/J was increased to 30hp.

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