Looks like the oil line might run through there

Could be a bad leak or just a greasy bilge that needs degreasing. If you keep her in the water she never fully drains. Pulling her out and tilt her up and run a hose into the forward bilge and see what comes out. You can disconnect your bilge float switch and squirt some dawn dish soap in there and fill the bilge with water, maybe 6 inches deep and take her for a spin sloshing it around to get more out.

Had fun with it on the water in Perdido Bay. It was pretty choppy. After reading around I ran it around 4000 rpm going and coming and she took the choppy water much better.

I am pretty ignorant. Any need to empty oil before adding XD50? Thanks

I mixed synthetic with my regular oil when I started using synthetic with my Yamaha and had no issues. Not saying you won't but I didn't. Eventually you'll get all synthetic in there.