Then finally test your outboard, if the mount is perfect. clearInterval(interval); Charles Plueddeman is Boats.com's outboard, trailer, and PWC expert. Gear Oil Quantity 195ml(6.6 Fl.oz.) Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. 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). window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Oftentimes you will want to adjust the outboard shaft length in order to improve the boat performance such as speed. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30 and 35 shaft. Increased RPM and additional horsepower feed the need for speed. The engine may be lifted one inch for every eight to ten inches of distance between the transom and the prop, according to a boat riggers rule of thumb. All rights reserved. Among them will be first-timers or those who have recently purchased their boats. var ptScript = "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/js/pt-mpe.min.js"; In the photo above, we've measured from the motor bracket to the top of Read the measurement on the transoms bottom. Another important measurement is the transom angle. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. Expectedly, when the transom angle is zero, it means it is flat. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. You may wonder how deep your prop should be in the water. Boaters who consider going with a higher mount can see increased speeds. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. This could also affect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor Triton. You Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. Boat Transom Heights The Beginners Guide, Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. In addition, motor totes will not harm the finish of the lower unit. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. It also includes attaching the right engine. straight edge on the top of the transom to "extend" it out He is also a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history. Lubrication System Engine Oil Mixed Gasoline. If you said something smaller than that, thats where it can get tricky. If you have a small boat with a 15 to 17 inch aft transom, youll most likely need a short shaft outboard. If your boat planes, pay extra attention to getting the shaft length as close to perfect as possible. 2 0 obj Here we will guide you in how to get the right boat transom height. 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. You can order an outboard in lengths ranging from 15 inches to 30 inches, depending on its power output and possible uses. There are instances where a lower mount may be okay. Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. The first order of business is to measure your boat for the ideal fit. 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. } As with anything, there are exceptions to the rule. Figuring out how to measure motor height on a maxTerm: 36, As mentioned above, the operation of the propeller relies on the transom height. What matters is the actual measurement in the specifications, not the name. Assistant Measuring tape Grease pencil 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. 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. brackets. The amount of degrees the transom leans back from vertical is known as the transom angle. Extra-long shafts are 25-inches long. var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), Some may call it a standard length while others may call it a short or a long shaft. While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30 and 35 shaft. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! the propshaft below or above the pad. Step 4. Copyright 1999-2023 Boats Group. Some boats are equipped with transom-hung outboards while others have a bracket. 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. Workboats, sailboats, and displacement-hulled boats fall into this category. 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. Check out the full chart of the Mercury outboard model code and its features. Cavitation plates are used on the bottom components of boats to help them operate better. If it measures between 17 and 22, youll want to go with a long shaft motor. Mounting the motor lower on the boat transomcan createexcessive spray, increase case drag, reduce underwater clearance, and negatively impact faster boats. (Any measurement given as "off the transom" (616) 364-0666, On all contiguous US part orders over $100. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Learn More About Your Boats Systems By Joining The Born Again Boating Academy! You reply, "Im not sure, I think its a long". Why wont Touch ID be under the screen in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16? All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. ), Al Shields If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. Owners of bass boats, RIBs, or offshore fishing boats need to get this right. 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. 7. A yardstick will help you determine if your outboard engine is at the right height. It moves an outboard up and down to optimize performance and enable a boat to venture into shallower water than it might otherwise. Whether you already own a boat or looking for your first watercraft we are here to service your needs. The mounting height of the outboard engine is the equivalent of the distance between the base of the motor and the top of the propeller. It is unsafe to have the engine block too close to the water on a low transom. To make the yard stick long enough to measure the length of all the clubs, tape the ruler to the top. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. 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. Beyond motorboats designed for large outboards, you will see outboards hanging on the sterns of everything from small canoes to large cruising sailboats. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. The engine must be linked to the transom at the proper height for a propeller to best meet specific boating demands. On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. This is probably the worst case scenario out of the two. They keep water out of your prop and increase water pressure in the system. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. bracket. A deep Vee hull will result in a different measurement than a flatter . The boater must also consider if the boat transom support is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. %PDF-1.7 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. This could also effect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. Doing so, will put the propeller right below the boat. If so, send me an Measuring the shaft length can be done in various ways, but the most common way is by using a tape measure. } mpeInit(); So how to determine the outboard shaft length? Happy boating! 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. If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. Any questions? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. maxAmount: 6500.0, https://www.bornagainboating.com/Get Your Born Again Boating Clothing! 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. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. disregard the downward pointing "hooks" at the front of the % logoColor: "original", 4 0 obj If you have already measured you transom tip to bottom to be 20", then if you place aux sdieways to central engine your available transom height will be probably 1"-1.5" " higher and work perfecty. How high exactly do you have to raise the transom?-. (function () { Small portable outboards ranging from 2 to 20 horsepower are usually sold only in short or long shaft versions. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. 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.
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