Gale Model 22DE11 Outboard Motor Specs & Overview

Vintage Outboard Spotlight: Gale 22DE11 25 HP

Gale Products, a division of the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), holds a legendary place in mid-century American boating history. Operating as OMC’s value-focused line, Gale manufactured robust, dependable outboards under its own brand name—such as the Gale Buccaneer and Sovereign—while also producing house-brand motors for major retailers like Montgomery Ward (Sea King) and Goodyear. Known for utilizing proven OMC powerhead designs with simplified trim and features, Gale motors like the 22DE11 offered boaters exceptional reliability and workhorse performance at an accessible price point.

The 22DE11 (and its closely related variants, the 22DE13 and 22DE14) is a 25-horsepower workhorse powered by OMC’s classic 35.7 cubic inch twin-cylinder block. Featuring full Forward-Neutral-Reverse gearshifting and convenient 12-volt electric starting alongside manual pull-start capability, this mid-1950s outboard remains a favorite among vintage boating restoration enthusiasts today.

Key Technical Specifications

• Model: Gale 22DE11 (also applies to 22DE13, 22DE14)
• Horsepower Rating: 25.0 HP @ 4,000 RPM (O.B.C. Certified)
• Displacement: 35.7 cubic inches
• Cylinders: 2 cylinders (2-7/8″ Bore x 2-3/4″ Stroke)
• Powerhead Type: 2-cycle, 2-port, alternate firing twin
• Gearshift Control: Full Gearshift (Forward – Neutral – Reverse)
• Gear Ratio: 12:21
• Starter: 12-Volt Electric Start with automatic rewind manual backup
• Ignition System: Built-in high-tension flywheel magneto
• Carburetor: Float-feed equipped with adjustable high and low-speed needle valves
• Speed Control: Twist-grip throttle synchronized with spark advance
• Cooling System: Combination displacement and centrifugal water pump with rubber blade impeller
• Factory Propeller: 3-blade, 10-3/8″ diameter x 12-1/2″ pitch
• Fuel System: 6.0-gallon remote pressure tank
• Engine Weight: 129 lbs. (dry, without tank)
• Transom Recommendation: Designed for standard 15″ transom height

Fuel Mix & Operational Guidance

Proper fuel mixing is critical to keeping these classic 2-stroke powerheads running smoothly without internal damage:

Fuel-to-Oil Ratio: For motors of this era (mid-1950s), run a standard 24:1 fuel-to-oil mix (1/2 pint of oil per gallon of gas, or 1 quart per 6 gallons of fuel). Do not run a modern 50:1 mix on this motor, as its bronze wrist-pin bushings rely on the heavier oil proportion to prevent premature wear. Always use a quality TC-W3 marine two-stroke oil paired with 87-octane ethanol-free gasoline whenever possible to prevent standard rubber seal deterioration and moisture phase separation.

Maintenance & Restoration Advice

• Ignition Service: The flywheel magneto uses standard OMC ignition components. If experiencing weak or missing spark, inspect the ignition coils beneath the flywheel. Vintage OMC coils commonly crack due to age; replacing them alongside new points (gapped at .020″) and fresh condensers will instantly restore sharp ignition performance. Set spark plugs to .030″.
• Cooling System Care: Never run this outboard out of water. Before puting a newly acquired motor into service, drop the lower unit and inspect the rubber water pump impeller. If brittle or set in shape, replace it immediately to prevent overheating and powerhead scoring.
• Lower Unit Gear Lube: Drain the lower unit lube and check for water intrusion (milky appearance). Refill with quality high-viscosity 80W-90 marine lower unit grease or OMC Type C lube, and always replace the drain and fill plug washers with fresh seals.
• Carburetor Tuning: The dual-adjustment carburetor allows precise tuning. Start initial adjustments at 1-1/2 turns out from lightly seated on the high-speed needle valve and 1-1/4 turns out on the low-speed needle. Fine-tune the low-speed needle while warm in Neutral for a crisp idle, and tune the high-speed needle under load on the open water.
• Electric Starter Circuit: Inspect all heavy-gauge starter battery cables and push-button wiring for corrosion. Ensure proper grounding to the motor block to avoid resistance drops when cranking the high-compression 25 HP powerhead.