My family and I used it to fish, ski (yes, you can ski behind a pontoon boat), and cruise the lakes near our home. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Copyright 2017 Dealer Spike All Rights Reserved. If possible for your peace of mind and not let down that magnificent purchase opportunity, place that 08 kicker at back transom and test for yourself. The motor is what powers the boat so the two go hand-in-hand. It varies between different motors and boats. from the transom. A reversetransom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. The flat part of the bracket that rests on the transom when mounted will give you the same point of reference as the transom does on the boat. I run a 9.9 Mercury Bigfoot 20" shaft off the swim platform of my 89 Trophy 2160. What are Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and Channels? Amazon has plate extensions to allow adjustments without buying a new motor: T-H Marine Jack Plate Extension. They keep water out of your prop and increase water pressure in the system. Small portable outboards ranging from 2 to 20 horsepower are usually sold only in short or long shaft versions. endobj Most transom savers can support up to a 150HP motor, which is sufficient for most regular boats. Read the measurement on the transoms bottom. Remember, if you use a longer outboard shaft than you need you will be increasing your draft. Step 4. Here is a picture that shows you exactly where the outboard motor shaft length stands: Usually the shaft length for outboard motors falls into the following 4 sizes: In practice, you may find the outboard motor shaft length varies among different brands and manufacturers like the Honda,Suzuki, Yamaha, Torqeedo, etc. Cavitation plates are used on the bottom components of boats to help them operate better. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. bracket forward with a straight edge to where you can then measure up So you should just measure the height of the boats transom from the center down to the lowest point of the hull, and compare transom height with the outboard shaft length numbers. The transom angle is the vertical incline of the transom and is measured in degrees. This number will likely be shorter than that for a single-engine installation since you do not necessarily measure to the point of the keel. The transom is the boats flat vertical part at the back. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. on How to Measure Outboard Shaft Length: The Only Guide You Need, ePropulsion vs Torqeedo: An All-Round Comparison, 55 lb Thrust Trolling Motors: All You Need to Know Before Purchase, Spot Lock Trolling Motor: Is It Worth It & Best Options in 2022, Wiring 24V Trolling Motors: 24 Volt Wiring Diagram (with Video), LiFePO4 Battery: Why Lithium iron Phosphate Batteries Are Your Best Options in 2022, Minn Kota vs MotorGuide: Best Option in 2022. The correct shaft length for your boat depends on a few factors. Copyright 1999-2023 Boats Group. The Effects of Standard, Lower and Higher Mounting. Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. Remanufactured 4 Cylinder 4-Stroke Cylinder Heads, Remanufactured 6 Cylinder 4-Stroke Cylinder Heads, Trim Relays, Trim Solenoids & Sending Units, Remanufactured V6 & V8 4-Stroke Cylinder Heads, Volvo Cobra SX Bearings and Bearing Carriers, Volvo Cobra SX Driveshaft, U-Joints & Parts, Volvo Cobra SX Transom Assembly & Bellows. The mounting height of an outboard motor can impact the speed and handling characteristics of the boat. Theyre also useful if the back of your boat has a non-standard measurement. I show you how to consistently measure your prop to pad height. However, with the outboard shaft length too short, meaning the prop is too close to the surface, the engine is likely to ventilate and therefore slip on acceleration or lose power. Although the longer outboard shaft length can lead to lower speed and more drag, the boat can push a heavier load. out the confusion. With more than a decade of experience cruising the lakes in my Crestliner Grand Cayman pontoon boat and my Boston Whaler, I now want to share everything I've learned with my community here at Boating Hub. % former editor at Boating Magazine and contributor to many national publications The form of a boats transom varies depending on the manufacturer and model. <> Bass boats, ski boats, or center cockpit vessels will want to double-check their measurements to get it just right. The transom is the "back wall" of your boat, the most rearward part of your hull. document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML = ''; A: Any boat that has a 21 to 27 inch aft transom will need an extra long shaft outboard. What is Transom Height? This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. The boat transom can be flat with zero degree angles. Rest the yard stick or another suitable straight edge along the keel on the bottom of the boat so that it makes a straight line aft to the outboard. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Many boat transoms are modified to use a different length of outboard by using a bracket. displayPrimeOffers: true, When the jet drive is on the motor, set the height so that the leading edge of the intake is flush with the boat bottom. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30 and 35 shaft. With some boats I have a pretty good idea as to what length motor should be hung on them. var interval = setInterval(function () { actually have the propshaft above the pad.). Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. debugMode: false, Ideally, you want the outboards cavitation plate, also called the anti-ventilation plate, to be at the same level as the bottom of your hull. Why Rebounding Is A Key Skill for Fouth Players To Learn, Tips For Attacking a Zone Defense as a Youth Basketball Team, Why This is a Big Deal for the Sports Betting Industry. of the motor off the transom Setting Height of Outboard Motor - YouTube 0:00 / 0:46 Setting Height of Outboard Motor nates90 71 subscribers Subscribe 83 Share 63K views 7 years ago #boatservice #outboardmotor. If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. "brackets". Next, measure from your centerline to where the outboard will be mounted on each side. xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://bes.gcp.data.bigcommerce.com/nobot'); However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. Beginning boaters should be aware of the boats measurements. Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. The boater must also consider if the boat transomsupport is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. Brackets are also handy for boats that do not have flat transoms, like canoe-stern sailboats or fan-tailed motor vessels. The boater must also consider if the boat transom support is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. Step 3: Add another 10 cm (4'') to the previous calculation for the final ideal shaft length. Mounting the motor lower on the boat transom can create excessive spray, increase case drag, reduce underwater clearance, and negatively impact faster boats. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales, 2023 Marine Parts Warehouse Incorporated Higher mounting decisions should be left to the professionals. In the case of a dinghy or johnboat, this point may be the top of the transom. This will be the The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. This is probably the worst case scenario out of the two. How Transom Height Is Measured If you said you have a pontoon or a larger style boat such as a bass boat or speed boat, I would be pretty confident in saying it needs a long shaft. the propshaft below or above the pad. I also love helping others, which is why I created this website. If you have a fast boat, getting the outboards cavitation plate at the same level of the hull will ensure quick hole shot and fast top-end speeds. A hydrofoil will typically level off the ride by driving the stern up and the bow down, and will stop or considerably minimize porposing on a 16 footer with a mid-sized outboard and no tabs, for example. Not to measure boat speed, but to gauge the mounting height of the outboard motor on the boat transom. | Sitemap, The Marine Parts Warehouse Outboard Museum, OBR Powerhead / Shortblock Warranty Claim Form, Remanufactured vs. This is a measurement that has been used for BassCats, I'm your motor will be higher.) Chances are the boat was designed with a specific size of outboard in mind. With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn includingboat maintenanceand boat basics. It will ensure that the outboards trim will be effective, and it will save you gas too. This will ensure the best performance. <> Then open up the clamp bucket. For boats equipped with a bracket, calculate the same measurement but based on the bracket and not the transom. Smaller boats may use adjustable jack plates that can be changed to fit any outboard. It is possible that the motor could hang low while transporting on the boat trailer causing future boat repairs. priceSelector: ".price--withoutTax, span.price.price--withTax", What the relationship to the pontoons is, I couldn't say. In the case of a larger offshore boat, it may be to the top of a cutout on the . To achieve 35 mph with a 6 hp engine, the total weight is 135 lbs (boat motor fuel passengers). If your outboard motor height. Using your existing control box and gauges will save you quite a bit of money in the end. Among them will be first-timers or those who have recently purchased their boats. Here we look at the effects of standard, lower and higher mounting. An outboard motor can drive just about any sort of boat with proper mounting. The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. This restriction includes most fishing boats and longer sailboats. var BCData = {"csrf_token":"d7ecb6b56891bb66aee12dbc01a80162b3ed582c1acbe30f16fc9f1b2abc362f"}; The dealer just hit you with the long or short shaft question and you have no clue as to what you need or even what he's talking about. gtag('config', 'G-QX0Y76NH40'); Whether your on a pontoon boat, fishing boat, or speedboat boating is always one of the best times you can have. On this type of boat, if you are in doubt, default to the longer-shafted outboard. It does not store any personal data. var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The transom is the back of the boat where the motor is hung. The height of the transom is calculated by measuring from the bottom of the hull to the top of the transom, using the center line. Take your time and understand your boat and your entire transom. As you can see, the measurement is about 2 1/2". Industry standards dictate that for short shaft engines the transom height should be 15. Its still smart to measure it yourself though, just in case, the design changed over the years. If mounting directly to a boat transom: Measure from the top of the transom down to the bottom of the hull or keel (lowest point). This measurement would be the inches of In the past, though, it housed the officers and captain of 17th, 18th and 19th century sailing ships. You dont have to be a mathematician to determine the correct boat transomangle. One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. Measure straight down to the lowest point on the hull. Here we will guide you in how to get the right boat transom height. It was a 23-foot Crestliner Grand Cayman pontoon boat. Well, raising the outboard motor can be an easy task for you. Repowering your boat is one of the most expensive upgrades you can make. The center is the point where your outboard motor is (ideally) located. center of the propshaft. The first step is to determine the height of your boat's transom. What's the best height for my boat motor? This allows the engine to idle without the flow of the exhaust being restricted. will be to the flat part; if you measure to the bottom of the brackets This measurement is primarily designed for single motor propulsion. Take your time and understand your boat and your entire transom. not sure that it's still used. To measure your outboard motor shaft length, measure from the bottom of the mounting bracket where it rests on the transom to the top of the cavitation plate, this is the horizontal surface of the lower unit immediately above the propeller. xmlHttp.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json'); These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Then finally test your outboard, if the mount is perfect. I live for the weekends when I can go out on the water and escape the stress of life on land. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. (Putting a There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. To sum up, there is a simple calculator of the shaft length for outboard motors: Outboard Shaft Length = Transom Height +/- Factors. You can use a longer shaft than recommended and your boat will work fine. *The Factors indicates the adjustment affected by on your boat type, the outboard working environment, and the transom distance as discussed above. s.setAttribute("src", script);