Before we get started lets see what a boat transom is and what it does. h[0].appendChild(s); function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} up to the bottom of the motor brackets, (as in #1). The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. Engine Oil Mixing Ratio Fuel 50: Engine Oil 1. In addition, motor totes will not harm the finish of the lower unit. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boatdesign. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. 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. To do so, you will want to measure at the exact center of the transom from the very top to the very bottom. The propellers will also have trouble reaching the water. No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. Charles Plueddeman is Boats.com's outboard, trailer, and PWC expert. If your boat is newer and the manufacturer is still in business, you might also want to try to give them a call. Extra-long shafts are 25-inches long. Make sure that you are measuring straight up, at a 90 degree angle to I show you how to consistently measure your prop to pad height. Or measure from the main engine prop up to the water line? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. primeApr: 12.99, It is unsafe to have the engine block too close to the water on a low transom. Anything bigger than that your obviously going to need an extra long shaft. Or it can have an angle degree as high as 30. When the boat transom is too low, the motor could end up underwater. It will ensure that the outboards trim will be effective, and it will save you gas too. If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. Lastly, knowing the year of your motor and what style of controls you have (side mount, concealed side mount, or binnacle) is also a plus because it will tell the dealer if your current controls are compatible with the motor you are purchasing. Since the length of the shaft of your outboard is associated with the size boat, smaller engines will generally have shorter shafts. With some boats I have a pretty good idea as to what length motor should be hung on them. The transom angle is the vertical incline of the transom and is measured in degrees. (function (d) { Transom Outboard Engine Position - YouTube On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. How do you measure a transom on an outboard motor? Allowing the propeller to pull water from underneath and push it out behind the boat. If it measures between 17 and 22, youll want to go with a long shaft motor. Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. Lubrication System Engine Oil Mixed Gasoline. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. Measuring Motor Height - BassBoat Central Two years ago, I bought a Boston Whaler to fish off the coast. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Setting Height of Outboard Motor - YouTube } Sluggish speeds, poor handling, heavy spray, porpoising, or even water pushing up into the cowling are all signs that an outboard is set too low. priceSelector: ".price--withoutTax, span.price.price--withTax", The clamp bracket on the latest Mercury Four-Stoke-model outboards has five mounting bolt holes spaced .75 inches apart. Another important measurement is the transom angle. stream With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn includingboat maintenanceand boat basics. However, youll notice a little increase in drag and a decrease in top-end performance. if (PayTomorrow) { Take a long straight edge, (long carpenter's level or long Other boats that need extra long shafts are: Read my other articles on outboard motors. In lower mounting, the engine is set lower than the recommended standard. ensure that your measurement is accurate. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To achieve this, the motor itself has to be attached at the correct height. Pad to bottom of Thats it. Place the point of a yardstick at the middle of the top of the boat transom. And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. What are Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and Channels? 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. Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. mpeSelector: ".pt-mpe", clearInterval(interval); You'll need a short shaft outboard if it's 15 or less than an inch shorter. Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. Remember, if you use a longer outboard shaft than you need you will be increasing your draft. 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. This, however, is not recommended for the beginning boater. *The Factors indicates the adjustment affected by on your boat type, the outboard working environment, and the transom distance as discussed above. On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. I believe 20 to 21 inches is the optimum length for a lengthy shaft. How the outboard will sit on the back of the boat depends on how the transom is designed. Thats a fairly simple list of symptoms, but if your motor is too low, youll probably notice at least one of them. The point where these measurements intersect is your centerline. Step 2: Three Variables to Consider height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: Read the measurement on the transoms bottom. With a jack plate, you can mount it exactly where you want it. Say the 20 shaft is a long shaft length for gas engines, but it is a short shaft length for electric outboard motors. One of the factors in determining the height of the outboard is the placement of the exhaust port on the lower unit of the outboard engine. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. Outboard Motor Shaft Length & HP to Boat Calculating Kicker Motor Shaft Length - This Old Boat - Lake Ontario United - Lake var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), 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. When measuring the transom height, you should start from the hull's bottom at the boat's center line up to the top of the transom. There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. What Is Boat Transom Height? | Gone Outdoors | Your Adventure Awaits Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. If you have a short shaft motor, the distance between the top of the transom and the bottom of the boat should be between 15 and 16 inches. 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. Higher mounting decisions should be left to the professionals. It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), The distance between the ends of a transom is measured in inches. This allows the engine to idle without the flow of the exhaust being restricted. 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. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! Although the longer outboard shaft length can lead to lower speed and more drag, the boat can push a heavier load. Happy boating! Copyright 2017 Dealer Spike All Rights Reserved. If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. So if you are measuring the outboard shaft length for smaller boats, inflatables, dinghies, sailboat or other low-speed work boats, the cavitation plate is often about 2 below the bottom. Motor height on pontoon? | Boating Forum - iboats Boating Forums Among them will be first-timers or those who have recently purchased their boats. Boost Speed with Outboard Engine Height Adjustments A: The short answer is Yes. would be more accurate.) straight edge on the top of the transom to "extend" it out The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. PDF Outboard shaft lengths and transoms - Boat Builder Central Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. Simply start with the engine in idle, followed by trimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. Safely but briskly accelerate. 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.
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