hulls, such as Allisons, Bullets, Strokers, etc., this measurement could If you have a small boat with a 15 to 17 inch aft transom, youll most likely need a short shaft outboard. How to Measure Transom Height For vessels with transom-mounted outboards, you can easily figure out which type of outboard you need to get. Oftentimes you will want to adjust the outboard shaft length in order to improve the boat performance such as speed. If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. 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. The transom angle is the vertical incline of the transom and is measured in degrees. 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. You run the risk of possibly unsafe handling if you attempt to put a long shaft engine on a transom designed for a short shaft engine. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. When the boattransom is too low, the motor could end up underwater. Plus, a low transom cut is an invitation for the water to flood the boat. A: The short answer is Yes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Take the center measurement from the top to the bottom of the hull. Place the rulers end on the ground behind the club and let the club to rest on top of it. 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. function mpeInit() { 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. (function () { former editor at Boating Magazine and contributor to many national publications Beyond motorboats designed for large outboards, you will see outboards hanging on the sterns of everything from small canoes to large cruising sailboats. publicId: "32bf3437d1346295e03ebcf545f9c839", Long shafts are 20-inches long. In lower mounting, the engine is set lower than the recommended standard. This provides seaworthiness and offers maximum protection from large seas. Increased RPM and additional horsepower feed the need for speed. Many single-engine boats mount a smaller auxiliary motor for emergency use. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.8] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> The lowest point will likely be directly under your drain plug if youve got one. Safely but briskly accelerate. It is possible that the motor could hang low while transporting on the boat trailer causing future boat repairs. <>/Metadata 127 0 R/ViewerPreferences 128 0 R>> (updated By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. C Cheaptoon Cadet Joined Aug 4, 2010 Messages 28 Aug 24, 2010 #4 Re: Motor height on pontoon? Required fields are marked *. No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. The propellers will also have trouble reaching the water. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. priceSelector: ".price--withoutTax, span.price.price--withTax", A1: Broadly speaking, the outboard motor shaft length for pontoon boat, bass boat, or other larger boats should be long shaft. This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. With such an important, long-term, and expensive upgrade, its never a bad idea to double-check. With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn including boat maintenance and boat basics. Pad to bottom of bracket forward with a straight edge to where you can then measure up These two measurements will give you the length of the shaft you need. You must be still in the blue about that matter. d.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (e) { His works have appeared in regional newspapers in North Dakota and in "North Dakota Horizons" and "Cowboys and Indians" magazines. If measuring an existing outboard: Measure from the inside top of mounting bracket down to anti-cavitation plate above propeller (this is the largest plate/fin directly above the propeller). The how to measure the shaft length of an outboard motor is a question that many people have asked. Using your existing control box and gauges will save you quite a bit of money in the end. Then, you can pick the right engine. var interval = setInterval(function () { primeApr: 12.99, Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. var ptScript = "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/js/pt-mpe.min.js"; What Types of Documents Can be Sent to your Kindle Library? addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com'; the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor (3) Move horizontally across the chart until you hit the graph curve. measuring; you may have to "extend" the flat part of the This measurement is primarily designed for single motor propulsion. Tilt your motor until the bullet of the gearcase is One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. displayPrimeOffers: true, If youre going the other way around and trying to figure out how long the shaft on your outboard is, measuring it is equally easy. PayTomorrow.mpeInit({ You dont have to be a mathematician to determine the correct boat transomangle. Higher mounting decisions should be left to the professionals. If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. These are vertically aligned so the boater can make adjustments. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. 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). The average transom angle is around 14 degrees. The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. 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. endobj Gear case sits just below or at the hull depth due to the deep v. Gear Oil Quantity 195ml(6.6 Fl.oz.) Happy boating! 4 0 obj endobj You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The current measurement is the ventilation plate is about 1 1/2" above the true keel line which is about 24" in front of the motor edge. If it measures anywhere from 17" to around 22", then your going to want to go with a long shaft motor. Place the bracket on the transom to the left of the main outboard or rudder. Disclaimer: As an affiliate I may earn a commission on any qualifying purchases, including those from Amazon.com, at no extra cost to you read more. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. This will be the (1) Multiply the overall length of your boat (in feet) by it's widest beam at the stern (excluding any Fins and or Shear) (2) Locate that value on the left hand vertical column of the chart below. ensure that your measurement is accurate. Step 4. However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. 1855 Alpine Avenue NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504This email address is being protected from spambots. }, 100); straight edge from the center of the pad, but this time you're measuring If we run into that scenario, I would still show you the different options of motors and go over pricing, but I would also ask you to hold off and do one thing before you pull the trigger. When fighting waves from the stern, a 20-inch transom is considerably safer. Take your time and understand your boat and your entire transom. It moves an outboard up and down to optimize performance and enable a boat to venture into shallower water than it might otherwise. 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. motor brackets An outboard motor can drive just about any sort of boat with proper mounting. For really big boats, the biggest and baddest six- or eight-cylinder outboards can have extra-extra long shafts up to 30 inches. boats.com, 1221 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, USA. For vessels with transom-mounted outboards, you can easily figure out which type of outboard you need to get. Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. Another important measurement is the transom angle. The transom in a boat today is a place to hang your outboard motor. Generally, short shaft outboards are 15 inches, long shaft outboards are 20 inches, and extra-long outboards are 25 inches. Again, make sure that you are measuring to the flat part of the brackets; There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. Theyre also useful if the back of your boat has a non-standard measurement. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. This measurement was approximately 4". not sure that it's still used. You may wonder how deep your prop should be in the water. So you should just measure the height of the boat's transom from the center down to the lowest point of the hull, and compare transom height with the outboard shaft length numbers. The Effects of Standard, Lower and Higher Mounting. As summer approaches there will be more boaters taking to the water. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. Eq*^?6R83e+j}UY.(M7k]~4g)g ~wmS{ O7t/o(W|X? A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. Outboard shaft length plays a crucial role in the performance of your boat. Owners of bass boats, RIBs, or offshore fishing boats need to get this right. As a result, the issue is whether my boat need a short shaft or long shaft motor. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30. relation to pad Whats the best height for my boat motor? Now that you have a better understanding of boat transom heights its time to take out the ruler and get the perfect measurements. It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. 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. If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. 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. They operate as a planing surface, allowing your boat to climb to the top more quickly. 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. Actually there is no designated letter for short shaft. Use the mounting bracket on the motor to know where it will sit on the boat. Problems with getting the ventilation plate too low include slower hole-shot and lower top-end speeds. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. All rights reserved. You also might not be able to lift the outboard out of the water entirely for storage. However, youll notice a little increase in drag and a decrease in top-end performance. As mentioned above, the operation of the propeller relies on the transom height. Measure the area of the transom directly where the engine will be mounted. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. This illustration depicts four different outboard mounting height options (courtesy Mercury Marine). Doing so, will put the propeller right below the boat. If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. Boats with more engine power and weight require longer shaft outboards for better balance. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boat design. :$I>M W$h"%U_yzIb?]NHg_G|r@nX eTf."SQ How Transom Height Is Measured Beginning boaters should be aware of the boats measurements. However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. As mentioned above, the operation of the propeller relies on the transom height. Some boats are equipped with transom-hung outboards while others have a bracket. The average transom angle is around 14 degrees. Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. Among them will be first-timers or those who have recently purchased their boats. In the second photo, we've measure down from the top of the Detwiler If your boat is newer and the manufacturer is still in business, you might also want to try to give them a call. 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