This measurement was approximately 4". Raising an outboard higher on the transom can reduce drag and raise top speed. 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. As summer approaches there will be more boaters taking to the water. Mounting the outboard motor in accordance with the industry standards is important. Workboats, sailboats, and displacement-hulled boats fall into this category. The average transom angle is around 14 degrees. A reversetransom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. How Low Should a Motor Set on a Pontoon Boat? (Explained) 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 vertical distance between the interior of the clamp and the cavitation plate is the shaft length specified by the outboard manufacturer. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30. steel ruler, etc. All rights reserved. Wherever the outboard clamping bracket is, use this as the basis for measurement. And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. I would also recommend finding your maximum horsepower rating which is located on the yellow coast guard tag towards the back of your boat. Your at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. Cavitation plates are used on the bottom components of boats to help them operate better. It is very versatile as it generally . (616) 364-0666, On all contiguous US part orders over $100. In the past, though, it housed the officers and captain of 17th, 18th and 19th century sailing ships. The clamp bracket on the latest Mercury Four-Stoke-model outboards has five mounting bolt holes spaced .75 inches apart. endobj Mounting the outboard motor in accordance with the industry standards is important. Measure from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. Be sure to measure carefully and research thoroughly before diving in. Another important measurement is the transom angle. What Types of Documents Can be Sent to your Kindle Library? since 1986. Or it can have an angle degree as high as 30. Happy boating! ), Al Shields Expectedly, when the transom angle is zero, it means it is flat. This is handy if youre shopping for second-hand outboards or looking to sell the one that came with your boat. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What's the best height for my boat motor? hulls, such as Allisons, Bullets, Strokers, etc., this measurement could The collapsing bubbles are loaded with extremely low-pressure water vapor, which causes damage to a variety of surfaces as they collapse. }, 100); This will ensure the best performance. The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. This was the height of my 225 Yamaha on my TR21 Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. How to Choose Between a Motor Tote and Transom Saver to Support an C Cheaptoon Cadet Joined Aug 4, 2010 Messages 28 Aug 24, 2010 #4 Re: Motor height on pontoon? 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. s.setAttribute("src", script); Extra-long shafts are 25-inches long. 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. Step 2 requires the propeller's radius (check the user manual and then the technical drawing). You can order an outboard in lengths ranging from 15 inches to 30 inches, depending on its power output and possible uses. Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. This number will likely be shorter than that for a single-engine installation since you do not necessarily measure to the point of the keel. A: The answer varies by boat, but here are some rules of thumb for matching a short shaft outboard to your boat. Recommended Engine Oil 2-Stroke Outboard Motor Oil. (3) Move horizontally across the chart until you hit the graph curve. The transom is the back of the boat where the motor is hung. 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. In step 3, add another 10 cm (4") to the previous calculation in order to develop the ideal shaft length. priceSelector: ".price--withoutTax, span.price.price--withTax", However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. Transom Outboard Engine Position - YouTube 0:00 / 0:56 Transom Outboard Engine Position BOATING SCENE 763 subscribers 609 211K views 5 years ago www.boatingscene.com.au Sometimes when your. You reply, "Im not sure, I think its a long". Guide to Boat Transom Heights - Marine Parts Warehouse }) } }); })(document); Measure from the top of the straight edge to the center of the front This distance is very important to the performance of you boat. In lower mounting, the engine is set lower than the recommended standard. However, you will need an understanding of how the degrees will alter the boats usability. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This measurement would be the inches of Next, measure from your centerline to where the outboard will be mounted on each side. #3. Again, make sure that you are measuring to the flat part of the brackets; I live for the weekends when I can go out on the water and escape the stress of life on land. Tilt your motor until the bullet of the gearcase is The transom in a boat today is a place to hang your outboard motor. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. bracket forward with a straight edge to where you can then measure up When you measure the width of the stern, mark the center with a grease pencil. Lubrication System Engine Oil Mixed Gasoline. I also love helping others, which is why I created this website. 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. The cavitation plate is the horizontal surface of the lower unit immediately above the propeller. August 9/08). There are 2 steps to help get a relatively accurate figure. However, the shaft length for smaller boats could be long or short depending on its style, speed requirement, etc. You var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Extra-extra long shafts are 30-inches long. https://www.bornagainboating.com/Get Your Born Again Boating Clothing! Step 2: Three Variables to Consider 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. In the photo above, we've measured from the motor bracket to the top of 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. Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. Engine Oil Mixing Ratio Fuel 50: Engine Oil 1. 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. These allow the mounting of a standard length outboard behind the transom. 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. boats.com, 1221 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, USA. resting on the transom if you had the motor all the way down on the boat parallel with the straight edge. height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. To achieve 35 mph with a 6 hp engine, the total weight is 135 lbs (boat motor fuel passengers). Youll need a short shaft outboard if its 15 or less than an inch shorter. With a motor tote, the outboard and boat move as one, independently of the trailer, so there are no concerns about the boat shifting on the trailer, he says. This exhaust port should be about 1 inch above the water line when the boat is idling. Simply start with the engine in idle, followed by, If you decide to make some custom adjustments we have the. Most of the standard engined boats it takes shafts that are 15-30inches long. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. 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. Whether your on a pontoon boat, fishing boat, or speedboat boating is always one of the best times you can have. When the right length motor is hung on the transom of a boat, the cavitation plate (the large plate that extends out over the propeller) should be even with the very bottom of the boat. Installing a Kicker Motor Bracket - Gone Outdoors your motor will be higher.) Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. Long Shaft vs. Short Shaft Outboard (What Are the Differences?) So if you are measuring the outboard shaft length for the powerboat, planing boat, or any boat for which the speed is the priority, take the outboard shaft length 1 to 1.5 (depending on your boat types) shorter than standard would be better. The propellers will also have trouble reaching the water. On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure Youtube page! So in hopes that this will help out some new boaters this spring, here's a little rundown on outboard shaft sizes and how to figure out which one you actually need. The pros and cons of properly . Well, raising the outboard motor can be an easy task for you. Most transom savers can support up to a 150HP motor, which is sufficient for most regular boats. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. stream If you have a question or need additional information. Yamaha Outboard Motors: How To Measure Leg Length Also, the boat will be more likely to hit bottom or submerge objects such as rocks or logs. If you said something smaller than that, thats where it can get tricky. Read the measurement on the transoms bottom. It also decreases the boats lift and increases the time it takes for the boat to reach plane. When it gets to the short side (14), When the inner corner of the square comes into touch with the transom, measure the distance between the inside corner of the square and the boat bottom (see drawing below). I show you how to consistently measure your prop to pad height. Having the cavitation plate a bit lower than the transom is preferable to having it too high. Many boat transoms are modified to use a different length of outboard by using a bracket. LOYALHEARTDY Outboard Motor 6 HP 2-Stroke Inflatable Fishing Boat <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.8] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> A deep Vee hull will result in a different measurement than a flatter . The center is the point where your outboard motor is (ideally) located. Why Rebounding Is A Key Skill for Fouth Players To Learn, Tips For Attacking a Zone Defense as a Youth Basketball Team, Why This is a Big Deal for the Sports Betting Industry. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. Many single-engine boats mount a smaller auxiliary motor for emergency use. It is unsafe to have the engine block too close to the water on a low transom. } Copyright 2017 Dealer Spike All Rights Reserved. Setting Height of Outboard Motor - YouTube What Is a Transom? Where Onboard a Boat is It Located? A big NO. This would not be a good thing. Outboard Motor Shaft Length & HP to Boat Calculating The boat transom height is measured from the lowest point on the keel along the center line to the spot where the outboard motor's mounting holes bracket rests. For boats equipped with a bracket, calculate the same measurement but based on the bracket and not the transom. straight edge on the top of the transom to "extend" it out relation to pad document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML = ''; 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 boat transom can be flat with zero degree angles. Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. What Is the Transom of a Boat? EXPLAINED - My Cruiser Life endobj Boat Transom Heights - The Beginner's Guide | My Westshore One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. 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, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. The clamp bracket is designed so that the engine's mounting height on the transom can be adjusted higher than standard. The general guideline for longer shaft outboards is that the transom height should be at least 20 inches (50,8cm) above the waterline.