Flywheel aft = water scoop from the bilge

You got it Bill, on my two runs last year in the Skiff, both being basic shakedown cruises, I encountered bilge water. The rudder log was fine but there was a seepage I was unaware of around the actual rudder block, etc. Water in the bilge was sprayed all over the place. Realizing this I put it up on a plow and used the aft bilge pump to get rid of the water, but when I got back to the docks and slowed down, more spray. Aft flywheels are NOT a good idea in smaller boats. In my 35' Sea Skiff, that boat never really had a lot of water sloshing around, it had a bigger hull to accept water if it had a leak, and the motors (327F, flywheel aft) were mounted so high it made no difference. In smaller boats it really makes a difference. You get a product in the hands of the general public spraying water around the engine compartment, you have a big problem with call-backs, dissatisfied customers and a tarnished reputation. I'm sure this entered into CC thinking, and it may well have been "the" prime reason because flywheel forward makes all the sense in the world on small boats.

Regards,

Paul