how to measure transom height for outboard motor

Depending on the manufacturer, size names might change. However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. This, however, is not recommended for the beginning boater. The outboard comes with mounting holes and brackets. 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. Its still smart to measure it yourself though, just in case, the design changed over the years. Whether you already own a boat or looking for your first watercraft we are here to service your needs. When you measure the width of the stern, mark the center with a grease pencil. endobj 2019s List of the Best Recreational Pontoon Boats for Sale. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Any questions? })(); There are a series of four to six holes at the top of the bracket, and the lower bolts actually fit into slots. Add the two measurements and you get 6 1/2". endobj When the boat transom is too low, the motor could end up underwater. The standard shaft length for most outboard engines less than 125 horsepower is 20 inches. An outboard motor can drive just about any sort of boat with proper mounting. One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. s.setAttribute("href", "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/css/pt-mpe.min.css"); (We wont go into name-calling here, but the actual term for the cavitation plate is an anti-ventilation plate.) 2 0 obj Triton. Most of the standard engined boats it takes shafts that are 15-30inches long. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transoms height. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. For slower boats, its less critical to. This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. 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. 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. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure Youtube page! loadScript(ptScript); Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. Basically, there are three main ways to measure motor height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: # 1: Height of the motor off the transom This is simply a measurement taken from the top of the transom (top of the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor "brackets". So how to determine the outboard shaft length? Youll need a short shaft outboard if its 15 or less than an inch shorter. As a dealer I run into this situation from time to time, which is fine but getting the right length outboard for your boat is crucial. var addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = 'info' + '@'; Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. a Detwiler manual jackplate. This measurement was approximately 4". 12 Small Fishing Boat Accessories to Buy Today. Look at the part of your motor that would be You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. The collapsing bubbles are loaded with extremely low-pressure water vapor, which causes damage to a variety of surfaces as they collapse. 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. The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. 1855 Alpine Avenue NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504This email address is being protected from spambots. Mounting the motor lower on the boat transom can create excessive spray, increase case drag, reduce underwater clearance, and negatively impact faster boats. h[0].appendChild(s); disregard the "hooks" at the front of the Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Where Onboard a Boat is the Transom Located and More About Transom Heights A propeller operates based on the height of 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. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. This was the height of my 225 Yamaha on my TR21 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. 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. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! maxTerm: 36, Measuring the shaft length can be done in various ways, but the most common way is by using a tape measure. How high exactly do you have to raise the transom?-. This also means it can affect the safety of the boat. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. C Cheaptoon Cadet Joined Aug 4, 2010 Messages 28 Aug 24, 2010 #4 Re: Motor height on pontoon? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Safely but briskly accelerate. It is very versatile as it generally . The Effects of Standard, Lower and Higher Mounting. Cavitation plates are used on the bottom components of boats to help them operate better. All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. s.setAttribute("rel", "stylesheet"); This restriction includes most fishing boats and longer sailboats. Outboard Motor Shaft Length - LeeRoy's Ramblings Increased RPM and additional horsepower feed the need for speed. What types of boat need an extra long shaft? If your boat planes, pay extra attention to getting the shaft length as close to perfect as possible. In addition, motor totes will not harm the finish of the lower unit. var addy_textd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = 'info' + '@' + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML += ''+addy_textd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5+'<\/a>'; Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Whether your on a pontoon boat, fishing boat, or speedboat boating is always one of the best times you can have. Re: Dinghy with a long shaft motor? Any owner seeking the last bit of speed from an outboard-powered boat should grab a yard stick. Boats that use longer outboard shafts include: You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Once you know what will fit on your hull, you can fine-tune your choice based on the performance youre looking for and how you use the boat. relation to pad endobj Whats the best height for my boat motor? WHAT LENGTH OUTBOARD DO YOU REALLY NEED? - Van's Sport Center With such an important, long-term, and expensive upgrade, its never a bad idea to double-check. <> Then test the boat and adjust the height, if necessary . When the boattransom is too low, the motor could end up underwater. 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). So from there, I will try to help out by asking questions about your boat such as what type it is and the length. Amazon has plate extensions to allow adjustments without buying a new motor: T-H Marine Jack Plate Extension. All rights reserved. gtag('js', new Date()); I show you how to consistently measure your prop to pad height. How to Buy a Boat: Tips for a First Time Buyer, Top 10 New Fishing Boats for Under $20,000, What Type is Right for You? since 1986. There are 2 steps to help get a relatively accurate figure. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. (function (d) { function mpeInit() { xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://bes.gcp.data.bigcommerce.com/nobot'); Your at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". 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. 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. You also might not be able to lift the outboard out of the water entirely for storage. Your email address will not be published. As you can see, the measurement is about 2 1/2". Tilt your motor until the bullet of the gearcase is The point where these measurements intersect is your centerline. Of course, its always best to go with standard practices when choosing thebest boat engine. Allowing the propeller to pull water from underneath and push it out behind the boat. The amount of degrees the transom leans back from vertical is known as the transom angle. To do so, measure from the stern (back) of the boat to the midpoint of the hull on both sides. Generally, short shaft outboards are 15 inches, long shaft outboards are 20 inches, and extra-long outboards are 25 inches. A reverse transom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. They keep water out of your prop and increase water pressure in the system. To achieve this, the motor itself has to be attached at the correct height. How Transom Height Is Measured Kicker Motor Shaft Length - This Old Boat - Lake Ontario United - Lake 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. I hope this helps someone out in their search for a new or newer outboard this season. The motor length corresponds to the transom height of the boat, measured from the keel to gunwale at the transom. You may wonder how deep your prop should be in the water. The engine must be linked to the transom at the proper height for a propeller to best meet specific boating demands. 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. How to Raise Outboard Motor on Transom? - Raising the Outboard Motor Higher mounting decisions should be left to the professionals. It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. The faster your boat, the more critical it is to get the sizing just right. This measurement is primarily designed for single motor propulsion. You'll need a short shaft outboard if it's 15 or less than an inch shorter. Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. Take the center measurement from the top to the bottom of the hull. Having the cavitation plate a bit lower than the transom is preferable to having it too high. If you are running a slower boat, the exact location of the ventilation plate is less important. How can you figure out what your transom angle is? However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. The form of a boats transom varies depending on the manufacturer and model. addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com'; Boats with more engine power and weight require longer shaft outboards for better balance. There are also specialty motor shaft lengths. However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), Step 2 requires the propeller's radius (check the user manual and then the technical drawing). Proper Mounting Height for an Outboard - Gone Outdoors boats.com is part of the Boats Group Network. Commonly, the transom angle ranges from 0-30 degrees, with the average transom angle set at 14 degrees. 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. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. Like Westshore Marine & Leisure on Facebook! This distance is very important to the performance of you boat. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If it measures anywhere from 17" to around 22", then your going to want to go with a long shaft motor. 7. How high exactly do you have to raise the transom?- - Outboard Jets A transom saver, which can change the spacing between the lower unit and the trailer, negates some of the support. Industry transom height standards have been evolved during the last 30 years: 15 for short shaft engines, 20 for long shaft engines, and 25 for extra-long shaft engines. The cavitation plate is the horizontal surface of the lower unit immediately above the propeller. This is a measurement that has been used for BassCats, I'm It is possible that the motor could hang low while transporting on the boat trailer causing future boat repairs. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". To achieve this, the motor itself has to be attached at the correct height. Tightening Torque for Engine. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transom's height. xmlHttp.send('{"store_id":"369079","timezone_offset":"-5","timestamp":"2023-03-04T05:39:31.71020200Z","visit_id":"e2642be3-34e5-4a48-b89d-639d139834e0","channel_id":1}'); Extra-long shafts are 25-inches long. and I'll explain it better, (or point you to someone that can help. Ten years ago I bought my first boat. Picking the right shaft length for your outboard is an essential step in getting the best performance from your boat. 7. Long Shaft vs. Short Shaft Outboard (What Are the Differences?) <>/Metadata 127 0 R/ViewerPreferences 128 0 R>> Doing so, will put the propeller right below the boat. No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.8] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Industry standards dictate that for short shaft engines the transom height should be 15. Yes, if there is adequate space while the engine is tilted in the up position, a larger shaft length than what is specified may be used. The performance of these boats depends on quite a lot of factors, but getting the outboard length just right is an essential first step. Some may call it a standard length while others may call it a short or a long shaft. Then adjust the motor in a higher hole with a flat head screwdriver. Then, you can pick the right engine. For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. This provides seaworthiness and offers maximum protection from large seas. It also cuts into speed and fuel efficiency. The transom in a boat today is a place to hang your outboard motor. straight edge from the center of the pad, but this time you're measuring resting on the transom if you had the motor all the way down on the boat Outboard Motor Shaft Length & HP to Boat Calculating However, the shaft length for smaller boats could be long or short depending on its style, speed requirement, etc. The first order of business is to measure your boat for the ideal fit. Although the longer outboard shaft length can lead to lower speed and more drag, the boat can push a heavier load. All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. Thats it. The Best Way to Measure Prop to Pad | How to measure Outboard Motor Height The propellers will also have trouble reaching the water.

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