Yes it was the one with the yellow swim platform, and yellow and teal interior. The guy I bought it from was a straight shooter. He followed through with what he said he would do and when. The boat showed and ran well. I had been casually looking and I passed this one over a couple of times just because of the age. When I read it closer I realized what it was and drove the 5 hours the next morning to put the deposit on it. I thought I saw a couple of posts from what could be the owner previously to who I bought it from. I'd be interested in any more info he can provide.

From NY ?

The boat was originally from the finger lakes here in NY. Whitey where do you boat?

I bought it from Mallinson OH and brought it to Tawas MI. I boat all over the state, but mostly in BayCity Mi. He said he bought it from Syracuse NY area. Not sure if that's is near finger lakes.

I am sure I will see you out on the bay Whitey51. I have a 97 253 named "Gimme Fuel" with a 548efi. I run out of Standish to Bay City or out of the Saginaw River to Bay City.

I don`t see that making any difference 99 % of the time.. SB being the 1%

Gimme fuel Lookin forward to seeing you out there. Still waiting on the vinyl decals for mine. "God's Gift"

Sooo, I got her out and stretched her legs a bit. I put roughly 80 miles on it. It seemed to rum great at all speeds. No hesitation or stumbling. There Is a fare amount of no wake zones, so it idled for around Two Miles right off the bat.
After the first leg of the Trip (40 or so miles), I noticed the transom was loaded up with exhaust soot.
When I ran it before bought it, it didn't do that. But, I'm not sure if it didn't do it because the exhaust was so much further from the transom, because of the resonators, or if taking them off caused the carb to richen up.

What are your thoughts?

If I understand SB's previous post I would have thought opening the exhaust would lean it out. Is that correct?
So I don't really know if it's an idle mixture issue or jet issue. Please let me Know your thoughts.
Sorry for the long post.

Unrestricting exhaust will lean it out.

Willing to bet $$$ the soot is from the shorter tailpipes.....exhaust probably 'curling' back into transom more from aerodynamics.

Soot wiil usually not happen at idle....hard for engine to idle with an A/F mixture that rich.

Should I try to rejet it? If so, how many jet sizes? Or leave it and throw the tips back on. Without the bungs? I want it to be correct; And that much residue is excessive.