Mark, confusing indeed! I think you have it 100% backwards!
Your comment:
"
Looking at the flywheel from the flywheel end of the motor if it turns CW it is std rotation
if it turns CCW it is reverse rotation. But get this a std rotation marine motor uses a reverse rotation seal and vice versa good god and they wonder why people get confused."
Not necessarily so. If the front of the motor is pointed frontward, and the flywheel is aft, a motor spinning CW (clockwise) is a RH motor (which is opposite rotation). That motor in a traditional twin engine configuration is always on the right hand (starboard) side of the boat. If it's a single, it still uses the RH (opposite rotation) motor.
With my 283 (now 327) powered flywheel forward H small block, looking at the front of the motor shows it's spinning LH (standard automotive rotation) but since it's mounted backwards, it takes a RH prop just like all other single engine Chris Crafts. If I called that motor an opposite rotation motor, the shop would want to install an opposite rotation cam. It's a standard rotation motor installed backwards, for a RH prop.
How they're mounted in the boat is one thing, but what you tell the machine shop is something different. Either your motor has the standard automotive cam, or it has a reverse rotation cam; either it needs a reverse rotation main seal, or an automotive standard rotation seal. I normally like to let the motor stand on it's own for this, rather than call it based upon how it's positioned in the boat. Either it's got the standard rotation cam and timing, or its got the special reverse rotation setup.
Confusing, yes sir! I actually think both systems apply, but the one that goes to the machine shop counts for that use, and the one that mounts in the boat counts for which transmission and prop are installed, and which side of the boat it's mounted too. Now tell me why all the single engine Chris Crafts used an opposite rotation cam, when they could have just as easily used the standard automotove rotation and saved everyone all that grief.
Regards,
Paul
More on rotation:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1157641525/Whch+engine+is+auto+rotation+and+which+is+reverse--