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Hello Joe,

I saw your post over on BBC and noticed that you have a setup similar to mine although, I have a 19' Key West center with a 1985 XP150 Evinrude. I am always interested in problems / performance of other older Evinrude's similar to mine. If you don't mind would please provide the following information on your boat?
WOT RPM's / Top speed
Prop size
Last but not the least, where did you purchase your Mill canvas set? I am talking about that little canvas cover that covers the bow and attached to Bimini top via a plastic windshield.

:)

Regards,

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I had no idea Joe was now appearing on the British Broadcasting Corporation!

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Hello Melvin,

Welcome aboard WhalerCentral.

My engine is not setup for speed. It has the thicker head gaskets installed so I can run 86 AKI fuel.
This was a service bulletin modification for people that didn't want to run the higher octane fuel.

I can reach about 5300 RPM WOT and around 41 to 42 mph via GPS.
My prop is also not for top end speed as I am running a stock OMC aluminum 15x17.
This gives me a little better hole shot but less top end than the OMC 14 1/2x19 stainless...
I also have a 15 /12x15 prop that really jumps out of the hole but the top end really suffers.

All the Mills canvas was on the boat when I purchased it.
Mills is still in business and is one of our sponsors in the upper right Sponsor panel.
http://www.millscanvas.com/

Tom,
Even the British have been warned about me.... :D

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[IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f126/melvinhatcher/Boat/P4290025.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f126/melvinhatcher/Boat/PA050051.jpg[/IMG]
Hello Joe,

Here are a couple of pictures of my boat and the old XP, took in 2003 when I first bought the boat. I re-painted the motor and my Peetie-pie and I done the strips and decals and installed the engine at home.
The engine had sat idle on the old 1985 Manatee from 1987 until 2003. All of the electronics except the coils and spark plug wires had to be replaced before I could get it running right. I still have the same head gaskets that came on the engine. However, I did retard the timing from 30* BTDC to 26*BTDC.
My Boat;
Dry weight 1600 lbs.
Prop 14 1/2X19 SST
Mounted Third hole from the top.
WOT 51-5200 RPM'
WOT 44-46 MPH GPS
Cruse rpm/speed 3200 rpm / 27-28 mph gps depending on water conditions.
We are not much on the top speed anymore since both of us are senior citizen and I am a bonefied card carrying Medicare baby boomer. We just cruse around river to our favorite fishing and crabbing spots in the neighborhood of 25-30 mph plus, the old XP is a big time gas "HOG" the further you push it pass 3000 rpms.

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melvin,

That motor looks brand new....
I know what you mean about the gas hog part.
That's why I have an 8hp kicker motor. Once I get to my fishing spot, I use the kicker for trolling.
I use about 2 to 2/12 gallons of fuel trolling for 6 to 8 hours.... Now that's cheap fishing from a boat...

Thanks for sharing the photos...

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[IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f126/melvinhatcher/Boat/Picture418.jpg[/IMG]
Joe,

Thanks for the compliment. The old XP has served me well from 1985-87, when in 1987 I stopped boating due to other reasons. I suppose a second childhood, (hot rodding and drag racing a 1987 Grand National Buick although, I still have the Buick. It is now on the back burner and the XP has earned it's original place in my heart plus it's hanging on a newer boat, as the old boat just deteriorated setting outside without cover. We will probably pull the old XP off this winter and replace the power head to exhaust adapter housing gasket due to the mess it makes during a day of slow trolling.
Buying a new boat without a engine and trailer allowed me to buy a lot of electronics and a nice Riptide bow MinnKota bow mount trolling motor, keeping the overall cost to a minimum.
It is to hoped that I will learn a lot hear on this forum. I really like the blue all weather Mill Canvas cover I saw on your boat. I contacted them and hope they will reply and have something available that I can adapt to my boat.
Take care and please tolerate an old rare boat owner on Whaler Central.
:)
Regards,

Melvin

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Melvin,

My 150 is doing the exact same thing.

When I first saw all the oil, I said, my engine is leaking oil... Wait a minute, can't be because it is a two stroke...

Then I figured out the same thing you did, exhaust housing gasket.....
I need to to the same thing one of these days....

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Joe,

When we do my boat. I will take pictures of the whole operation and give you all of the details.
Right now I am refurbishing my 1952 John Deere M.
When I finish the M I will start on the boat this winter.

Regards,

Melvin

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Geez Melvin,

I just sold my 1956 International Harvester Super "M" last week after owning it for 27 years...

Here's a photo of my tractor on my personal site...
http://www.joekriz.com/photogallery.p...photo_id=3

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When I was in Ireland a few weeks ago, I saw a magazine on the shelf in a convenience store called Classic Tractor and it brought a smile to my face.