Saving Old Seagulls

Hello All
I am renovating a 40 Plus MK 2. It's my first outboard so try not to laugh. The whole unit appears to have been badly daubed with a translucent yellow/gold sort of a varnish! Is this factory applied? Do I want it? How on earth does it come off? Do Haynes do a manual????

I think it was a way for owners to keep the motor from rusting, I have had motors like this.
It may have been in the user manual, but I have never looked it up.
No Haynes don't do a manual thank Christ, I think they went down hill after Wallace and Gromit, I never did make that rocket.
Top of the page, fact and help section to start with.
Varnish Remover http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-paint ... 263_BQ.prd

It will all buff out.

Using varnish was in the seagul manual as a protection against corrosion I think. As you say it is fairly common.

Thank you Chaps. I have contacted the original owner and it is indeed varnish.Seems the engine has done less than a dozen hours from new so with luck this should be an easy recommission.