Welcome not so old Ed! Our club has lots of 15hp Evinrude/Johnson lovers. Great motors, parts are getting harder to find but they are out there. Power heads were about the same 53/54/55/56. I have a ’53 that is a favorite of mine. It is almost as fast as an 18, the bores are a little smaller. Any idea how long since it has been run? Coils have a habit of cracking and trowing pieces all over under the flywheel. 53/54 have the reverse locking lower unit. 55/56 have what we call a five bolt lower unit. Great motors and fun to repair and run. Hope you find somebody to help you in CA.
dale
get’em wet.. don’t let’em set