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It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. s.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); Finding the right size is a matter of looking at what youve got and taking out the measuring tape. xmlHttp.send('{"store_id":"369079","timezone_offset":"-5","timestamp":"2023-03-04T05:39:31.71020200Z","visit_id":"e2642be3-34e5-4a48-b89d-639d139834e0","channel_id":1}'); All rights reserved. s.setAttribute("href", "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/css/pt-mpe.min.css"); This alone can outweigh the negatives when deciding to adjust the mount upwards. This would not be a good thing. xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://bes.gcp.data.bigcommerce.com/nobot'); The transom is the back of the boat where the motor is hung. 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. Use the mounting bracket on the motor to know where it will sit on the boat. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. storeDisplayName: "Marine Parts Warehouse", This distance is very important to the performance of you boat. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. hulls, such as Allisons, Bullets, Strokers, etc., this measurement could
Whats the best height for my boat motor? Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. Cutting the transom down is the only legal method to utilize a short shaft engine on a tall transom. Which Navigation Lights Does Your Boat Need? However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. Measuring the shaft length can be done in various ways, but the most common way is by using a tape measure. Increased RPM and additional horsepower feed the need for speed. As you can see, the measurement is about 2 1/2". To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. How the outboard will sit on the back of the boat depends on how the transom is designed. Beginning boaters should be aware of the boats measurements. Engine Oil Type Genuine or Recommended 2str Engine Oil. straight edge from the center of the pad, but this time you're measuring
The outboard comes with mounting holes and brackets. PDF Outboard shaft lengths and transoms - Boat Builder Central Although the longer outboard shaft length can lead to lower speed and more drag, the boat can push a heavier load. Pretty easy to figure out but like I said its crucial to pairing a motor with a boat. For example, you can have the Mercury outboard shaft length by model code. Chances are the boat was designed with a specific size of outboard in mind. In the case of a dinghy or johnboat, this point may be the top of the transom. Remember, if you use a longer outboard shaft than you need you will be increasing your draft. These allow the mounting of a standard length outboard behind the transom. 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. straight edge on the top of the transom to "extend" it out
A big NO. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. With a jack plate, you can mount it exactly where you want it. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. This is simply a measurement taken from the top of the transom (top of
The motor is what powers the boat so the two go hand-in-hand. :$I>M W$h"%U_yzIb?]NHg_G|r@nX eTf."SQ } The boat transom can be flat with zero degree angles. Then finally test your outboard, if the mount is perfect. s = d.createElement("script"); 4 0 obj
If so, send me an
If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. Measure from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. Kicker Motor Shaft Length - This Old Boat - Lake Ontario United - Lake These are vertically aligned so the boater can make adjustments. It varies between different motors and boats. How To Measure Outboard Motor Shaft Length [Long v Short] - Boating Hub Lubrication System Engine Oil Mixed Gasoline. However, the shaft length for smaller boats could be long or short depending on its style, speed requirement, etc. trimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. Any questions? Look at the part of your motor that would be
The boater must also consider if the boat transomsupport is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. Safely but briskly accelerate. var addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = 'info' + '@'; Extra-long shafts are 25-inches long. Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. Or measure from the main engine prop up to the water line? The transom is the "back wall" of your boat, the most rearward part of your hull. So from there, I will try to help out by asking questions about your boat such as what type it is and the length. Simply start with the engine in idle, followed bytrimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. not sure that it's still used. priceSelector: ".price--withoutTax, span.price.price--withTax", One of the great things about an outboard motor is how versatile it is. var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), The transom angle is the vertical incline of the transom and is measured in degrees. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. will be to the flat part; if you measure to the bottom of the brackets
This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. Since the length of the shaft of your outboard is associated with the size boat, smaller engines will generally have shorter shafts. If your boat planes, pay extra attention to getting the shaft length as close to perfect as possible. What is the Virtual Sundance Film Festival? Again, make sure that you are measuring to the flat part of the brackets;
Before we get started lets see what a boat transom is and what it does. Raising an outboard higher on the transom can reduce drag and raise top speed. How Low Should a Motor Set on a Pontoon Boat? (Explained) Workboats, sailboats, and displacement-hulled boats fall into this category. 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. Mounting the outboard motor in accordance with the industry standards is important. Some outboards have a serial number that tells you which shaft length to go for. Actual shaft length is 21.5" on those. Gear case sits just below or at the hull depth due to the deep v. endobj
Place the bracket on the transom to the left of the main outboard or rudder. Basically, there are three main ways to measure motor height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: # 1: Height of the motor off the transom This is simply a measurement taken from the top of the transom (top of the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor "brackets". 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. Here we will guide you in how to get the right boat transom height. manufacturer will recommend the outboard height according to the bracket shape and length. If you went too long it would still work but it may lack in performance. Beginning boaters should be aware of the boats measurements. <>/Metadata 127 0 R/ViewerPreferences 128 0 R>>
What are Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and Channels? It moves an outboard up and down to optimize performance and enable a boat to venture into shallower water than it might otherwise. The clamp bracket is designed so that the engine's mounting height on the transom can be adjusted higher than standard. 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. Outboard shaft length plays a crucial role in the performance of your boat. Take the center measurement from the top to the bottom of the hull. What Kind of Fuel Does Your Marine Engine Need? function mpeInit() { Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. But in many cases, its a little more complicated than that alone. Copyright 1999-2023 Boats Group. Its still smart to measure it yourself though, just in case, the design changed over the years. This alone can outweigh the negatives when deciding to adjust the mount upwards. Doing so, will put the propeller right below the boat. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. Add yours in the comment and Ill get back to you asap. Now that you have a better understanding of boat transom heights its time to take out the ruler and get the perfect measurements. Place the rulers end on the ground behind the club and let the club to rest on top of it. In step 3, add another 10 cm (4") to the previous calculation in order to develop the ideal shaft length. This is handy if youre shopping for second-hand outboards or looking to sell the one that came with your boat. Keith Allen, a 1979 graduate of Valley City State College, has worked at a variety of jobs including computer operator, medical clinic manager, radio talk show host and potato sorter. Boat Transom Heights The Beginners Guide, Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. What types of boat need an extra long shaft? The lowest point will likely be directly under your drain plug if youve got one. Commonly, the transom angle ranges from 0-30 degrees, with the average transom angle set at 14 degrees. As a yacht designer and boater, I prefer longer shafts. It is very versatile as it generally . Outboard Motor Shaft Length: How do I measure? Step 2 requires the propeller's radius (check the user manual and then the technical drawing). For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boat design. s = d.createElement("link"); This measurement would be the inches of