An "L" drive was a basket case idea introduced by Force as an answer to an inboard/outboard. It basically was an outboard two-cycle mounted inside the boat, with the lower unit outside like an I/O.
They are horrible.
Your Force outboard is quite possibly one of the worst outboards ever produced -kinda like the "edsel" or "pacer"of the outboard world. (No offense to pacer owners.).
With an 85hp, you are really about 70-75hp at the prop. With 5 people on board, dont expect much. Again, i dont mean to bash it too bad, i think its a great started boat, because any boat you own after this one you will REALLY appreciate.
Salt water? Be sure to do a fresh water flush after each outing. You will also want to crawl into the cuddy and use liquid electrical tape on every connectiuon you can find - the salt water will corrode everything under there, and Bayliner really didn't do any kind of marine sealing or weatherproof connectors like the other brands do.
If your floor is solid, consider yourself lucky and keepit as dry as possible. ALWAYS cover it when its not in use.
You have an outboard, and a Force unit at that. I wouldn't travel any farther then 20 feet off shore without a backup kicker motor (10 hp gas?) just to get you home or maintain control if need be.
Enjoy it, they are lots of fun. I love my boat, so does the family, and we use it whenever possible during the summer. Learn everything you can and be a safe captain on the water.
I had a 1985 Bayliner 1900 cuddy. It was a 19 foot cuddy Bayliner with a 125 Force outboard.
Some pics - after Iput the new dash in and rewired it all.
http://www.geocities.com/tjthorsonhome@sbcglobal.net/85bayliner.htm
The new boat. 4.3 Merc I/O - what a difference. Does 40mph all day with 10 people on board and room to spread out on.
http://www.geocities.com/tjthorsonhome@sbcglobal.net/00sylvan.htm
Look up Lenco trim tabs on the web - it will explain a lot. Only make that investment if you have trouble planing like I did.