Reply To: What was your first outboard?

[JOSEPH BRINCAT]

The family cottage near Lexington MI on Lake Huron. Perch fishing had always been on a heavy wood livery boat with dad rowing. Never had to go out very far in those days for big perch. About 1960, dad thought that the family should join the booming boating craze. so along came a used 14 ft Wolverine Wagemaker molded ply with nice planked deck and a 1956 16 hp Scott Atwater complete with bail-o-matic.  We rigged it with a helm and remote controls, ( still manual start) which If memory serves, we purchased used from Triangle Marine on Detroit east side. The boat and motor were a good combination for the big lake. The motor ran well, never let us down, which is a good thing out on the big lake. But, for a young teen… faster is better. Still question how dad let me do it, but over a winter I dis-assembled that power head, polished all the ports, Bent back the reed stops ( bad !!) , lapped the head and block face and installed a homemade thin sheet copper head gasket. With the motor all back together ( no left over needles !) the old Scott ran great, a little faster? hard to tell.

So, if you ever run across a 56′ Scott with a peculiar copper head gasket , let me know, I just might want it back.

Joe B