That's what I was concerned about initially, but then I figured I see all these 17' Whalers with 90s on them. I don't know if it's a Xflow or Looper. Is there an easy visual way to tell? I'm going there on Monday.

The looper will have a narrow cowling like a MERC, whereas the cross-flow will be wide like MJ's 225(just not quite as wide). Another easy way to tel is if the exhaust cover has a big bubble in it and is removeable. The cross flow is a solid engine that won't let you down, but D*MN will it burn some gas. My 83 115(same as a 85+ 90) will burn an easy 10-12 gallons per hour at cruise, where as my 85 140 makes over 50% more HP and burns 8-9 gallons per hour at cruise.

OK I woke up what I miss?? O yea you lazy and want to fix up that 5o!!

I got a Idea, why not just stay with the 50 the way it is, Then the Pro Line be as lazy as the owner! :nut:

Now now ladies, play nice:beer:.

Yeah. This coming from the biggest slug I know. exercise for MJ is a good bowel movement in the morning. thanks for your constructive criticism Mr. Motivation.
Ferm; the only V4 covers I've seen all pretty much look the same to me. They all appear wide. The only difference I saw on this particular one I'm looking at is that it had vents on either side of the cover.

The quick way to tell is if you can see the actual engine. If the cylinder heads have covers bolted on to them then it is a cross flow. The loopers use 1 piece cylinder heads. Also a cross-flow will have 1 piece all metal carbs, whereas a looper will have metal throttle bodies with plastic carb bodys bolted to them. There both good engines, but loopers are definately better on fuel.

So, this is a cross-flow motor?

Mj sucks

Yep, that be a cross-flow. It won't let you down in reliability, but they sure do like gas. There built off of the time honored 2 stroke design that has been around since the late teens(some even earlier, I have a 1903 cross-flow engine). If your looking for reliable power for short runs it'll get you there, but not the cheapest on gas. Your current 3 cylinder engine is the origanal looper design(the first one ever mass produced for marine actually), and very good all around. The only real draw back to cross-flows is fuel consumption, but at $3 somethin a gallon it makes a difference now.

Thank you for all your help Ferm. While I have a captive audience, I'd just like to state for the record; MJ sucks and is a slug.