I have a couple of them. A 1953 RD-15 and a 1955 RDE-17 (electric starting). The RDE is MUCH quieter than the earlier model. I don’t mind though I like the noise, it turns heads as you go tearing by the yacht club :). Both are very strong runners and you will be happy with your purchase I think. Like others have said patients is the key to unsticking motors. Good luck and have fun!

The difference between an old RD 25 and the newer 25s is throw 6 people in each boat and open the motors up the old RD will plane up and leave the new born 25 in its wake.But it will use a third more gas.At our resort we had a 53 Johnson 25 on a 17 foot Beckcraft plywood boat with a hydro plane floor we would loaded her up with 6 or 8 guys and all there gear food and duffle for the next 3 days to be spent in the outpost cabins and I will always remember the sound of her putting that boat on plane ,Good memories I started guiding at twelve years old and at 100 lbs I put many a man to shame carrying pack sacks and motors over the 1 mile long portage to the outposts.