boats.com is part of the Boats Group Network. Doing this can have adverse effects. If it measures between 17 and 22, you'll want to go with a long shaft motor. *The Factors indicates the adjustment affected by on your boat type, the outboard working environment, and the transom distance as discussed above. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. (function () { If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. LOYALHEARTDY Outboard Motor 6 HP 2-Stroke Inflatable Fishing Boat If it measures anywhere from 17" to around 22", then your going to want to go with a long shaft motor. Usually speaking, the farther the outboard is set off the transom, the higher the propeller should be in the water (or the higher the outboard can be mounted). With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn including boat maintenance and boat basics. This is the dimension you'll need when selecting a width for your outboard motor's mounting bracket. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If so, send me an Since the ventilation plate & foil are burried under water it is obviously too low. See diagram below. your motor will be higher.) Outboard Motor Shaft Length: How do I measure? Safely but briskly accelerate. Measure from the top of the straight edge to the center of the front The engine must be linked to the transom at the proper height for a propeller to best meet specific boating demands. Tightening Torque for Engine. Two years ago, I bought a Boston Whaler to fish off the coast. The how to measure the shaft length of an outboard motor is a question that many people have asked. Step 2 requires the propeller's radius (check the user manual and then the technical drawing). What is the Virtual Sundance Film Festival? of the motor off the transom Gear Oil Quantity 195ml(6.6 Fl.oz.) Beyond motorboats designed for large outboards, you will see outboards hanging on the sterns of everything from small canoes to large cruising sailboats. It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. As with anything, there are exceptions to the rule. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30 and 35 shaft. Many single-engine boats mount a smaller auxiliary motor for emergency use. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. Step 3: Add another 10 cm (4'') to the previous calculation for the final ideal shaft length. Not to measure boat speed, but to gauge the mounting height of the outboard motor on the boat transom. Offshore vessels are often equipped with a large mounting bracket so that the transom can be left at full height. (updated An outboard motor can drive just about any sort of boat with proper mounting. You can use a longer shaft than recommended and your boat will work fine. Smaller boats may use adjustable jack plates that can be changed to fit any outboard. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. | Sitemap, The Marine Parts Warehouse Outboard Museum, OBR Powerhead / Shortblock Warranty Claim Form, Remanufactured vs. 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. Some outboards have a serial number that tells you which shaft length to go for. ), and place it on the bottom of the pad in the center. PDF Outboard shaft lengths and transoms - Boat Builder Central Happy boating! What's the best height for my boat motor? These allow the mounting of a standard length outboard behind the transom. (Any measurement given as "off the transom" Remember, if you use a longer outboard shaft than you need you will be increasing your draft. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. A1: Broadly speaking, the outboard motor shaft length for pontoon boat, bass boat, or other larger boats should be long shaft. publicId: "32bf3437d1346295e03ebcf545f9c839", And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. Once you know what will fit on your hull, you can fine-tune your choice based on the performance youre looking for and how you use the boat. However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. What Types of Documents Can be Sent to your Kindle Library? Cavitation is when the propeller is out of the water due to the boat forming a wake of "air bubbles" or "vapor cavities" around the prop. Guide to Boat Transom Heights - Marine Parts Warehouse With the outboard shaft length too long, meaning the prop is too deep in the water, the engine wont be as efficient, and the fuel burn is high. gtag('js', new Date()); Set the end of the tape on the outside edge of the taffrail at the center and measure inward to the inside edge of the taffrail. An inch or two probably wont make a big difference, but any more than that will lead to trouble. I hope this helps someone out in their search for a new or newer outboard this season. 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. With the long side (22 1/2), place a carpenters square ) in opposition to the keel. You must be still in the blue about that matter. Picking the right shaft length for your outboard is an essential step in getting the best performance from your boat. Boat transom angles play a pivotal role in the flexibility of the boats trimming abilities. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. However, youll notice a little increase in drag and a decrease in top-end performance. help with shaft length for a kicker - iboats Boating Forums However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. Your at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". logoColor: "original", Lubrication System Engine Oil Mixed Gasoline. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. (Putting a Charles Plueddeman is Boats.com's outboard, trailer, and PWC expert. endobj This is handy if youre shopping for second-hand outboards or looking to sell the one that came with your boat. The vertical distance between the interior of the clamp and the cavitation plate is the shaft length specified by the outboard manufacturer. https://www.bornagainboating.com/Get Your Born Again Boating Clothing! Another important measurement is the transom angle. h[0].appendChild(s); 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. To do so, you will want to measure at the exact center of the transom from the very top to the very bottom. (We wont go into name-calling here, but the actual term for the cavitation plate is an anti-ventilation plate.) window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Theyre also useful if the back of your boat has a non-standard measurement. High powered boats usually only come in long and extra-long variants. If you have an outboard motor, the distance from one end to another will be found on the side or on a label near its bottom. Variables to consider when determining the mounting height include the size and style of the boat and the length of the outboard motor's shaft. If you have a question or need additional information. Mounting the motor lower on the boat transomcan createexcessive spray, increase case drag, reduce underwater clearance, and negatively impact faster boats. Recommended Engine Oil 2-Stroke Outboard Motor Oil. If you have a question or need additional information,contact ustoday. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. It was a 23-foot Crestliner Grand Cayman pontoon boat. Small portable outboards ranging from 2 to 20 horsepower are usually sold only in short or long shaft versions. To make the yard stick long enough to measure the length of all the clubs, tape the ruler to the top. Problems with getting the ventilation plate too low include slower hole-shot and lower top-end speeds. What Is a Transom? Where Onboard a Boat is It Located? The average transom angle is around 14 degrees. if (PayTomorrow) { I would also recommend finding your maximum horsepower rating which is located on the yellow coast guard tag towards the back of your boat. Other boats that need short shafts are: A: If you have a small boat with a 18 to 21 inch aft transom, youll most likely need a long shaft outboard. The pros and cons of properly . Say the 20 shaft is a long shaft length for gas engines, but it is a short shaft length for electric outboard motors. Or it can have an angle degree as high as 30. The transom is the "back wall" of your boat, the most rearward part of your hull. There are instances where a lower mount may be okay. var addy_textd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = 'info' + '@' + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML += ''+addy_textd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5+'<\/a>'; How to Choose Between a Motor Tote and Transom Saver to Support an Engine Oil Type Genuine or Recommended 2str Engine Oil. How to Measure Transom Height For vessels with transom-mounted outboards, you can easily figure out which type of outboard you need to get. endobj This is a measurement that has been used for BassCats, I'm The same is true for the newest, high-powered offshore fishing boats, where triple or quadruple motor setups are becoming more and more common. According to MarinePartsMan.com, the outboard can be raised 1 inch above the standard height for every 10 miles per hour of speed the boat can attain. On most newer center consoles and offshoreboat transoms might include a rear door leading to a swim platform as well as a molded setback bracket. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its important to note that manufacturers call their models different things. bassboat can be a bit confusing at times; hopefully this will help sort trimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. xmlHttp.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json'); Then, you can pick the right engine. function loadScript(script) { With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn includingboat maintenanceand boat basics. Re: Dinghy with a long shaft motor? There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Step 4. If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. Beefier jack plates can be fitted should a boater be looking to mount an outboard with a shorter shaft than their transom demands. Upstream Securitys Disruptive Telematics Technology, The challenges of scaling a cloud-based security system, OneStreams unified platform streamlines financial data management, OneStreams impact on the financial software market. Boat Transom Heights The Beginners Guide, Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. Rebuilt - What You Need to Know, Lower Unit and Sterndrive Break-In Instructions. Picking the right shaft length is mostly a factor of the transom height or the back of the boat. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boatdesign. The Effects of Standard, Lower and Higher Mounting. Setting Height of Outboard Motor - YouTube While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30. The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. Ten years ago I bought my first boat. With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn including, Why your boat transom needs to be the right height, The pros and cons of properly mounting the outboard motor to the transom, Standard mounting is always best for the beginner, Of course, its always best to go with standard practices when choosing the, Lower mounting is not for the beginning boater, Mounting the motor lower on the boat transom, There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. Among them will be first-timers or those who have recently purchased their boats. The general guideline for longer shaft outboards is that the transom height should be at least 20 inches (50,8cm) above the waterline. You var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), This transom saver will support the weight of your outboard throughout your road travel, steadily bracing it against the trailer frame to relieve your transom of the weight and impact from consistent bouncing. Here we will guide you in how to get the right boat transom height. Check the literature about your model boat online, and you may be surprised to find that the number is published for you. The propellers will also have trouble reaching the water. boats.com, 1221 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, USA. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Boats that use longer outboard shafts include: However, the shaft length for smaller boats could be long or short depending on its style, speed requirement, etc. With a jack plate, you can mount it exactly where you want it. See When St. Peters Basketball Games Are Today! 5/rC,aQhsK@Q. This alone can outweigh the negatives when deciding to adjust the mount upwards. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30 and 35 shaft. Should I take the raft onto the water and measure the exact distance from the top of the transom to the water line? If you decide to make some custom adjustments we have theexperience and know-howto make it happen. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. I mean it is better to be safe than sorry, am I right? 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. When you measure the width of the stern, mark the center with a grease pencil. Smaller 12-14 foot boats can require either a short or long shaft outboard depending on the style of the boat and the brand. It is very versatile as it generally . A transom saver, which can change the spacing between the lower unit and the trailer, negates some of the support. Outboard Motor Shaft Length & HP to Boat Calculating All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. How the outboard will sit on the back of the boat depends on how the transom is designed. For example, you can have the Mercury outboard shaft length by model code. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. The height is approximately six inches higher than with a propeller. Finding the right size is a matter of looking at what youve got and taking out the measuring tape. Depending on the manufacturer, size names might change. Of course, its always best to go with standard practices when choosing thebest boat engine. https:/. Plus, a low transom cut is an invitation for the water to flood the boat. minAmount: 300.0, The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. With some boats I have a pretty good idea as to what length motor should be hung on them. No matter what size of boat you are running, one of the most critical choices you can make when buying an outboard motor is the shaft length. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. Also, how do you determine the length of an outboard transom? (function (d) { Eq*^?6R83e+j}UY.(M7k]~4g)g ~wmS{ O7t/o(W|X? I would ask you to go back and measure the transom of your boat. To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. Other boats that need extra long shafts are: Read my other articles on outboard motors. As a yacht designer and boater, I prefer longer shafts. This will be the clearInterval(interval); Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Wordpress! The clamp bracket is designed so that the engine's mounting height on the transom can be adjusted higher than standard. It is possible that the motor could hang low while transporting on the boat trailer causing future boat repairs. To do so, measure from the stern (back) of the boat to the midpoint of the hull on both sides.