From the Article"
A comparision test from a 1961 Homelite Marine Marketing Bulletin compares the Homelite 55hp 4 cycle outboard to a new 75hp 2 cycle unit. The results are startling. The Homelite 55hp will out accelerate the 75hp unit by 2 or 3 boat lengths and will run within 2 or 3 mph at wide open throttle. At wide open throttle (5500rpm) the Homelite burns one quart of fuel in 6 minutes and 20 seconds. The 75hp 2 cycle engine ran 3 minutes and 12 seconds on its quart of fuel and oil mixture. At idle the results are even greater. The Homelite will idle (troll) 44 minutes on a quart of fuel. The 75hp 2 cycle unit only idled (trolled) 6 minutes on its quart of fuel and oil mixture. It's no wonder the advertising literature stated you could run the Homelite engine for less than half as much as the 75hp 2 cycle unit. Famed automotive writer, test driver, powerboat authority, and Daytona speed trial director Tom McCahill tested the Homelite 55 on a 202 mile run from Daytona Beach, FL to West Palm Beach, FL. This is what he reported.
In a 202 mile run, at a planned average of 25 mph, I was able to hold speed for better than three-quarters of the way, and was only forced to drop to a slower speed when we ran into weather conditions in which a small vessel, such as we had, should have been home in the backyard. The engine, however, never missed a beat, and would have gladly driven the hull to its complete destruction , if I'd ask it to. The oil consumption for the whole trip was 1/4 of a pint. In total gasoline and oil costs, from a dollar-and-cents standpoint, we made this run for about half of what most two-cycle jobs would have cost to operate at the same speed for the same distance with the same load. Several things about the engine impressed me. Its continuous smooth-idle ability, a complete lack of smoke and exhaust fumes and its general lack of commotion. The automobile-type dependability is what sold me to the hilt on its worthiness because the engine, as well as the boat, was taking a horrible beating when the going got rough. I was also impressed by the fact that this beautifully-styled 55 horsepower package, pushing a big 18 foot Lapstrake hull with a gross weight of 2230 pounds was able to average 25-mph-plus for more than 175 miles without the slightest sign of fading or dropping off."