Gentle Readers: Last week I had a skilled mechanic pull the 15 horse OMC saildrive engine from my O'day 28. As he has gotten into the beast he has (for now) determined two significant things. 1. The engine exhaust system is so totally carbonned up that it is a wonder it ever could run, what with the back pressure and all. I guess it's a testimonial to the simplicity of the thing that it did run. The symptoms were: dismal fuel economy, even for a two stroke it was very bad. Blowing crank case gasses into the engine compartment. Oil on the water at start up from incomplete (more incomplete than usual) combustion. 2. It probably has never in 22 years been rebuilt. I realize that the OMC engine is a critter unto itself and that there are many, many more desireable auxiliary powerplants but it should run as well as any other 2 stroke if it is tuned well and properly maintained. If you have an OMC two stroke take a hard look at the amount of carbon in the entire exhaust system. If it seems the least bit loaded up I recommend some preventative maintenance. By the way this mechanic was able to separate the engine at the transmission so he didn't have to pull more than the powerhead to get to the part of the engine to be rebuilt. Of course if you need to change the water pump then the entire engine assembly will have to be pulled. Good luck to all other OMC adventurers. Mike