If you are running a slower boat, the exact location of the ventilation plate is less important. Figuring out how to measure motor height on a If you are looking to repower, they may be able to offer some sage advice. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. Mounting the outboard motor in accordance with the industry standards is important. To measure the transom height, measure from the center on for transom (rear of the boat). % If it measures between 17 and 22, youll want to go with a long shaft motor. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Wordpress! (616) 364-0666, On all contiguous US part orders over $100. The center is the point where your outboard motor is (ideally) located. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boat design. gtag('js', new Date()); Is my outboard long or short shaft? s.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); Smaller inflatables and dinghies needshort shaft motors, whilst bigger boats require long or, in some circumstances, extreme long shaft versions. to where the brackets were actually resting on the transom. It also cuts into speed and fuel efficiency. I mean it is better to be safe than sorry, am I right? Pretty easy to figure out but like I said its crucial to pairing a motor with a boat. 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. Outboard shaft length plays a crucial role in the performance of your boat. Most transom savers can support up to a 150HP motor, which is sufficient for most regular boats. Ten years ago I bought my first boat. On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. The standard shaft length for most outboard engines less than 125 horsepower is 20 inches. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. This alone can outweigh the negatives when deciding to adjust the mount upwards. Learn More About Your Boats Systems By Joining The Born Again Boating Academy! For really big boats, the biggest and baddest six- or eight-cylinder outboards can have extra-extra long shafts up to 30 inches. }) } }); })(document); 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. Most of the standard engined boats it takes shafts that are 15-30inches long. Thats it. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales, 2023 Marine Parts Warehouse Incorporated Now that you have a better understanding of boat transom heights its time to take out the ruler and get the perfect measurements. To do so, you will want to measure at the exact center of the transom from the very top to the very bottom. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. Of course, its always best to go with standard practices when choosing thebest boat engine. When trimming your motor, they provide you a greater bow response. Lubrication System Engine Oil Mixed Gasoline. *The Factors indicates the adjustment affected by on your boat type, the outboard working environment, and the transom distance as discussed above. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. It is very versatile as it generally . How to Measure Transom Height For vessels with transom-mounted outboards, you can easily figure out which type of outboard you need to get. function mpeInit() { The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. Step 2: After you get the transom height, add the radius of the propeller (check the user manual, and then technical drawing for the number) to calculate the minimum shaft length needed to make it work. This, however, is not recommended for the beginning boater. if (PayTomorrow) { All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. 1855 Alpine Avenue NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504This email address is being protected from spambots. the propshaft below or above the pad. boats.com, 1221 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, USA. 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. Whats the best height for my boat motor? Youll need a short shaft outboard if its 15 or less than an inch shorter. s.setAttribute("href", "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/css/pt-mpe.min.css"); trimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. This measurement would be the inches of priceSelector: ".price--withoutTax, span.price.price--withTax", It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. Spark Plug 25.0nm(18.4 Ft-lb) (2.55 Kgf-m) However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. Displacement hulled vessels like sailboats and workboats can benefit from a little more space between the hull and cavitation plate, but not much. This is somewhat similar to #2, in that you are again measuring with a So how to determine the outboard shaft length? The transom is the back of the boat where the motor is hung. In the case of a larger offshore boat, it may be to the top of a cutout on the . Also, how do you determine the length of an outboard transom? minAmount: 300.0, Long shafts are 20-inches long. To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. 2019s List of the Best Recreational Pontoon Boats for Sale. In the case of a dinghy or johnboat, this point may be the top of the transom. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Propshaft in 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. In extremes, the engine can have overheating problems if the boat is raised to a point where the water inlets for the cooling system are out of the water. Be sure to measure carefully and research thoroughly before diving in. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. stream window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Determining Your Boat Transom Angle The transom angle - commonly measured in degrees - is the transom's vertical inclination. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. Pad to bottom of Ill also explain the difference between short and long shafts and how they vary by type of boat. One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. At least if its too long you can raise the motor or "build up" your transom. Should I take the raft onto the water and measure the exact distance from the top of the transom to the water line? 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. Any questions? Owners of bass boats, RIBs, or offshore fishing boats need to get this right. The faster your boat, the more critical it is to get the sizing just right. With such an important, long-term, and expensive upgrade, its never a bad idea to double-check. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. Engine Oil Type Genuine or Recommended 2str Engine Oil. As a result, the issue is whether my boat need a short shaft or long shaft motor. (updated 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. 12 Small Fishing Boat Accessories to Buy Today. How can you figure out what your transom angle is? of the motor off the transom There are 2 steps to help get a relatively accurate figure. 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. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30. 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. addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com'; If it measures between 17 and 22, you'll want to go with a long shaft motor. The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. A: Any boat that has a 21 to 27 inch aft transom will need an extra long shaft outboard. h[0].appendChild(s); I would ask you to go back and measure the transom of your boat. jackplate to a point level with the top of the transom. Safely but briskly accelerate. The cavitation plate is the horizontal surface of the lower unit immediately above the propeller. If it measures anywhere from 17" to around 22", then your going to want to go with a long shaft motor. The shaft length for outboard motors has nothing to do with the water line. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. This could also affect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. out the confusion. If your outboard motor height. When you measure the width of the stern, mark the center with a grease pencil. parallel with the straight edge. height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: bassboat can be a bit confusing at times; hopefully this will help sort Place the clubs bottom on the ground as though it were going to be used to strike a golf ball. Later in the article is an image that shows you exactly where to measure. If you said something smaller than that, thats where it can get tricky. Having the cavitation plate a bit lower than the transom is preferable to having it too high. Remember, if you use a longer outboard shaft than you need you will be increasing your draft. It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. Depending on the manufacturer, size names might change. If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. Take the center measurement from the top to the bottom of the hull. You must be still in the blue about that matter. When the boat transom is too low, the motor could end up underwater. 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. 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). If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. The outboard shaft length is the vertical distance between the top of the mounting clamp bracket and the bottom of the cavitation plate (aka the ventilation plate). Now that you have a better understanding of boat transom heights its time to take out the ruler and get the perfect measurements. I hope this helps someone out in their search for a new or newer outboard this season. If your boats transom height is 15-16, a short shaft engine is required, and if it is 20-21, a long shaft engine is required. The height of the transom is estimated by using the center line to measure from the bottom of the hull to the top of the transom. 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 boater must also consider if the boat transomsupport is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. A retired ship captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. You'll need a short shaft outboard if it's 15 or less than an inch shorter. This could also effect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Outboards designed for saltwater applications usually have longer shafts. Ask a friend to hold one end of a measuring tape at the extreme outer edge of the top of the transom while you pull the tape across its width to the opposite outer edge to measure the "length of the taffrail," which is the width of the boat across the top edge of the stern. Recommended Engine Oil 2-Stroke Outboard Motor Oil. Among them will be first-timers or those who have recently purchased their boats. You reply, "Im not sure, I think its a long". var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; (function (d) { A1: Broadly speaking, the outboard motor shaft length for pontoon boat, bass boat, or other larger boats should be long shaft. Measuring the shaft length can be done in various ways, but the most common way is by using a tape measure. Then open up the clamp bucket. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Doing this can have adverse effects. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. Copyright 2017 Dealer Spike All Rights Reserved. The transom is the "back wall" of your boat, the most rearward part of your hull. A reverse transom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. enableMoreInfoLink: true, What is the Virtual Sundance Film Festival? If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. To make the yard stick long enough to measure the length of all the clubs, tape the ruler to the top. Since the ventilation plate & foil are burried under water it is obviously too low. Cutting the transom down is the only legal method to utilize a short shaft engine on a tall transom. |. The average transom angle is around 14 degrees. But in many cases, its a little more complicated than that alone. Boaters who consider going with a higher mount can see increased speeds. Other boats that need extra long shafts are: Read my other articles on outboard motors. There Hold the tape on the top, center of the taffrail and measure straight down to the point, usually a sharp angle, where the transom joins the bottom of the boat. Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. 7. And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. bracket. Which Navigation Lights Does Your Boat Need? hulls, such as Allisons, Bullets, Strokers, etc., this measurement could clearInterval(interval); mpeSelector: ".pt-mpe", So its easier and safer to communicate with the dealer with the exact measurement of outboard shaft length in order to get the right model. Other factors to consider when determining the mounting height of an outboard are related to performance. The motor is what powers the boat so the two go hand-in-hand. What Types of Documents Can be Sent to your Kindle Library? ensure that your measurement is accurate. The amount of degrees the transom leans back from vertical is known as the transom angle. will be to the flat part; if you measure to the bottom of the brackets A big NO. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. 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. However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. For boats equipped with a bracket, calculate the same measurement but based on the bracket and not the transom. Beefier jack plates can be fitted should a boater be looking to mount an outboard with a shorter shaft than their transom demands. Say the 20 shaft is a long shaft length for gas engines, but it is a short shaft length for electric outboard motors. The standard installation of an outboard has the top of the transom of the boat at the same level as the bottom of the motor portion of the outboard. Outboard Motor Shaft Length: How do I measure? Then, you can pick the right engine. It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. maxMicroAmount: 0.0, However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. 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. How the outboard will sit on the back of the boat depends on how the transom is designed. You will also risk hitting bottom or submerge objects more frequently such as rocks or logs. https:/. If you went too long it would still work but it may lack in performance. 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. With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn including boat maintenance and boat basics. 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. The collapsing bubbles are loaded with extremely low-pressure water vapor, which causes damage to a variety of surfaces as they collapse. Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Twitter! It is possible that the motor could hang low while transporting on the boat trailer causing future boat repairs. Two years ago, I bought a Boston Whaler to fish off the coast. Before we get started lets see what a boat transom is and what it does. Adjusting the mounting height of an outboard on the boat transom can affect performance and every boat can be different, so actual on-water testing is best. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://bes.gcp.data.bigcommerce.com/nobot'); Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! 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. 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. Beyond motorboats designed for large outboards, you will see outboards hanging on the sterns of everything from small canoes to large cruising sailboats. straight edge on the top of the transom to "extend" it out The vertical distance between the interior of the clamp and the cavitation plate is the shaft length specified by the outboard manufacturer. Top 10 Choices for Boaters, Mercury Introduces 600HP V12 Verado Outboard Engine, The Outboard Expert: Tohatsu Propane Outboard Engine.
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