Gale Outboard 25DE18 Motor Specs & Overview

Gale Outboard Motors: An OMC Heritage

Gale Products was an important division of the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), operating alongside famous sister brands like Johnson and Evinrude. Known for producing rugged, dependable, and economical outboards, Gale manufactured motors under its own nameplate as well as for major department stores and catalog brands like Montgomery Ward (Sea King). The Gale 25 HP (Model 25DE18 / 25DEL18) is a prime example of OMC’s proven mid-century twin-cylinder design, offering strong torque, reliable electric starting, and robust engineering for classic aluminum runabouts and utility fishing boats.

Key Technical Specifications

The following factory specifications detail the engineering and mechanical layout of the Gale 25 HP Model 25DE18:

• Model: Gale 25DE18 (Standard 15″ shaft) / 25DEL18 (Long 20″ shaft)
• Horsepower: 25.0 HP @ 4,500 RPM (O.B.C. Certified)
• Full Throttle Operating Range: 4,000 – 5,000 RPM
• Cylinders: 2-cylinder, alternate firing
• Powerhead Type: 2-cycle, 2-port design
• Displacement: 35.7 cubic inches
• Bore and Stroke: 2-7/8″ bore x 2-3/4″ stroke
• Weight: 126 lbs. (excluding fuel tank)
• Ignition: Built-in high-tension flywheel magneto
• Carburetor: Float-feed style with manual high-speed and low-speed needle adjustments
• Speed Control: Twist-grip control with synchronized throttle and spark advance
• Starter: 12V Electric starting with manual automatic rewind backup
• Gearshift Control: Full Forward – Neutral – Reverse (F-N-R)
• Gear Ratio: 12:21
• Cooling System: Combination displacement and centrifugal water pump with rubber blade impeller
• Standard Propeller: 3-blade aluminum, 10-3/8″ diameter x 12-1/2″ pitch
• Fuel Capacity: 6-gallon separate remote fuel tank
• Transom Height: 15″ standard or 20″ long shaft option

Restoration and Maintenance Guidelines

Restoring a vintage 25 HP Gale powerhead is straightforward due to its shared mechanical lineage with OMC 22 and 25 HP motors of the same era. To ensure reliable performance, focus on these critical areas during recommissioning:

• Impeller & Water Pump: Never run a motor that has been sitting without replacing the water pump impeller. The rubber blades degrade, harden, and shed fragments into the cooling passages. Inspect the pump housing for scoring while replacing the impeller.
• Ignition System: OMC flywheel magnetos of this era are infamous for cracked ignition coils. Remove the flywheel and inspect both coils. Replace deteriorated coils, condensers, and breaker points. Set point gaps accurately to .020 inches at peak cam lift.
• Carburetor Overhaul: Disassemble the float-feed carburetor and clean all passages thoroughly with spray carb cleaner and compressed air. Original shellac-coated cork floats should be replaced with modern alcohol-resistant float materials to handle modern fuels. Set the initial low-speed needle valve at 1-1/2 turns open and the high-speed needle at 3/4 to 1 turn open before fine-tuning on the water.
• Gearcase Service: Drain the lower unit oil and check for milkiness (water intrusion) or metal shavings. Replace the drain/fill screw washers, and reseal the gearcase (prop shaft seal, drive shaft seal, and shift rod O-ring) if water is present. Refill with high-quality marine Hypoid gear lubricant.

Two-Stroke Fuel Mix Recommendations

Modern unleaded fuel behaves differently in vintage outboards than fuel did when these motors were manufactured. Follow these guidelines to protect your engine:

Recommended Fuel Ratio: 24:1 Mix
Mix 1 quart (32 oz) of NMMA-certified TC-W3 2-stroke outboard oil to 6 gallons of gasoline (or roughly 5.3 oz of oil per gallon of gas). While modern outboards run leaner oil ratios like 50:1, vintage OMC/Gale 25 HP engines rely on bushings and needle bearings that require the additional lubrication offered by a 24:1 fuel mix.

Fuel Type: Always use ethanol-free gasoline (87 or 91 octane) if available. Ethanol absorbs moisture, destabilizes quickly in marine environments, and ruins vintage rubber fuel lines and carburetor components.