This engine came my way in June 2000. I purchased this engine from a car boot sale for £5. It had a few parts missing and even though the ignition coil had melted the seller told me that it definately runs !
I got the motor working and replaced a few parts but it wasn't until January 2003 that the fun really started. Below is a picture of it, in its original condition standing next to the model 102 plus. This picture is also of interest as these are the smallest and biggest seagulls standing next to each other.
I have experimented with quietening seagulls down before but as this was such a small engine and easier for me to move about I ended up doing extensive experiments on her. There is a page all about these silencing experiments in the members section
I diverted water to the exhaust, stuffed the exhaust with things drilled holes, extended air intakes and I even had a K&N air intake filter on it at one point. In the end it turned out to be a job well done. The engine was sold in June 2004 and is having a quiet retirement with a chap in Northampton with the occasional trip to snowdonia.
The picture above is of the guinea pig with all its bells and whistles. Recoil starter, plastic tank, extended tiller arm. The tiller was made from a shower riser rail which while also being the right length for what I needed was also made from stainless steel. The tiller is not on the custom 102 I have built. The plastic tank was removed before it was sold as it had a high capacity and I needed it for other projects.
The above picture was another experiment which I tried shortly before the engine was sold on. I removed the standard featherweight gearbox and replaced it with a forty plus gearbox but with a century 100 5 bladed hydrofan propellor. Under test this experiment failed miserably. The engine just didn't have the required power to turn the century prop. It did of course work with the forty plus prop. I did offer the gearbox and prop to the engines buyer but it was not required. It was handy though, having a forty plus or featherweight at hand, you could change to either one in 3 minutes !
All in all the guinea pig was the most reliable of all of the seagulls I have ever owned. I miss it a great deal but I am afraid it was too under powered for my new dinghy. I have now replaced it with the customised 102 which is featured here.
The above picture is where the guinea pig currently likes to visit. I can't think of a better place for her to spend her retirement, and I am sure the current owner will not experiment with her anymore and give her a long earned rest.
