After posting my own dilema about the tilt on my drive, and reading some old threads I guess I'd like to find out once and for all. I have seen it posted by some here that the drive should always be fully lowered when in operation. Now thats the ideal but when launching your boat and/or navigating through shallow water if you have the drive all the way down you know what bad things can happen from that. After doing some research for 1978 OMC sterndrives I found this info which comes straight from a 1978 OMC sales brochure. It notes the 75 degree Hi-Tilt that came standard on every '78 model year OMC sterndrive. No where does it say that the drive unit should only be operated when in the full down position. I'm not disputing the years of experience, knowledge, and wisdom on this board, but it leaves me confused after seeing an original OMC sales brochure.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2081175230101354590mjxYPL
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2081175230101354590mjxYPL