yours probably smokes less cause your not using that old 70's outboard oil.
That motor uses the same lower unit housing as the 3hp, the "weed free : one, it uses that lower skeg to almost bounce the motor off the ocean/lake floor to protect the prop.
Great little outboards
I have 3 of the 3's the are older 50's ones and dont have gears. To go in reverse you turn em around backwards lol. Works great.