how to measure transom height for outboard motorbutch davis chevrolet
The anti-cavitation plate above the prop needs to be within an inch of the bottom of the transom, therefore, the prop should be well below the transom. A reverse transom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. What are Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and Channels? bracket forward with a straight edge to where you can then measure up s.setAttribute("rel", "stylesheet"); For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A yardstick will help you determine if your outboard engine is at the right height. Your at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". 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. relation to pad 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. It is unsafe to have the engine block too close to the water on a low transom. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. Small portable outboards ranging from 2 to 20 horsepower are usually sold only in short or long shaft versions. Over time, Boating Hub has grown into a resource for boating enthusiasts around world. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Whether you already own a boat or looking for your first watercraft we are here to service your needs. Whats the best height for my boat motor? Some outboards have a serial number that tells you which shaft length to go for. If youd like to see this in video format, skip to 0:44 in the below YouTube Video: Is it OK to put a long shaft outboard on a boat thats rated for a short shaft? Most of the standard engined boats it takes shafts that are 15-30inches long. Owners of bass boats, RIBs, or offshore fishing boats need to get this right. Read the following to get the optimal shaft length for outboard motors! (updated These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. disregard the "hooks" at the front of the The clamp bracket is designed so that the engine's mounting height on the transom can be adjusted higher than standard. bracket. All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. A big NO. The boat transom can be flat with zero degree angles. This could also effect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. 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). The first order of business is to measure your boat for the ideal fit. When mounting the engine, you want the cavitation plate to be 1 above the boat bottom for every 12 away from the transom. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. As you can see, the measurement is about 2 1/2". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". endobj Boats with extended transoms, brackets that extend the mounting bracket for the outboard motor behind the back of the boat, can use a higher outboard height. var interval = setInterval(function () { 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. 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. 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. The motor is what powers the boat so the two go hand-in-hand. There are instances where a lower mount may be okay. maxMicroAmount: 0.0, })(); height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: To achieve this, the motor itself has to be attached at the correct height. Smaller boats may use adjustable jack plates that can be changed to fit any outboard. stream straight edge on the top of the transom to "extend" it out A1: Broadly speaking, the outboard motor shaft length for pontoon boat, bass boat, or other larger boats should be long shaft. Add the two measurements and you get 6 1/2". 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. With a jack plate, you can mount it exactly where you want it. 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. The propellers will also have trouble reaching the water. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. Like Westshore Marine & Leisure on Facebook! Also, the boat will be more likely to hit bottom or submerge objects such as rocks or logs. Top 10 Choices for Boaters, Mercury Introduces 600HP V12 Verado Outboard Engine, The Outboard Expert: Tohatsu Propane Outboard Engine. This was the height of my 225 Yamaha on my TR21 Tightening Torque for Engine. As a yacht designer and boater, I prefer longer shafts. The how to measure the shaft length of an outboard motor is a question that many people have asked. In addition, motor totes will not harm the finish of the lower unit. Measure from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. } primeApr: 12.99, If you have a question or need additional information,contact ustoday. Measure from there down to the top of the cavitation plate, also known as the anti-ventilation plate. 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. If it measures anywhere from 17" to around 22", then your going to want to go with a long shaft motor. Is my outboard long or short shaft? This is the dimension you'll need when selecting a width for your outboard motor's mounting bracket. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Of course, its always best to go with standard practices when choosing thebest boat engine. Doing this can have adverse effects. When the boattransom is too low, the motor could end up underwater. Its still smart to measure it yourself though, just in case, the design changed over the years. For boats equipped with a bracket, calculate the same measurement but based on the bracket and not the transom. Depending on the manufacturer, size names might change. Step 3: Add another 10 cm (4'') to the previous calculation for the final ideal shaft length. Whether you already own a boat or looking for your first watercraft we are here to service your needs. You must be still in the blue about that matter. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30 and 35 shaft. loadScript(ptScript); 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. Raising the motor increases the speed of the boat while decreasing the effort needed to turn the boat. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boat design. Picking the right shaft length is mostly a factor of the transom height or the back of the boat. Industry standards dictate that for short shaft engines the transom height should be 15. To sum up, there is a simple calculator of the shaft length for outboard motors: Outboard Shaft Length = Transom Height +/- Factors. One of the great things about an outboard motor is how versatile it is. With this in mind, how can I determine if my outboard has a short or long shaft? What is Transom Height? var xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); Doing so, will put the propeller right below the boat. Here we will guide you in how to get the right boat transom height. This will keep the prop in the water when the boat pitches in waves, or hobby-horses. Your email address will not be published. Bass boats, ski boats, or center cockpit vessels will want to double-check their measurements to get it just right. With the motor trimmed so that the propshaft is parallel to the keel, the anti-ventilation plate should be just about even with your straight edge, and thus even with the boat bottom at the keel. If your boat is newer and the manufacturer is still in business, you might also want to try to give them a call. gtag('js', new Date()); Smaller inflatables and dinghies needshort shaft motors, whilst bigger boats require long or, in some circumstances, extreme long shaft versions. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I would ask you to go back and measure the transom of your boat. Higher mounting decisions should be left to the professionals. bassboat can be a bit confusing at times; hopefully this will help sort However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. Mounting the outboard motor in accordance with the industry standards is important. Typical motor lengths include the following. You'll need a short shaft outboard if it's 15 or less than an inch shorter. The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. The first step is to determine the height of your boat's transom. A retired ship captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. The point where these measurements intersect is your centerline. Keith Allen, a 1979 graduate of Valley City State College, has worked at a variety of jobs including computer operator, medical clinic manager, radio talk show host and potato sorter. With some boats I have a pretty good idea as to what length motor should be hung on them. The transom is the flat vertical section at the rear of the boat. Boat Transom Heights The Beginners Guide, Buying a boat can be an exciting purchase. You will also risk hitting bottom or submerge objects more frequently such as rocks or logs. With the outboard shaft length too long, meaning the prop is too deep in the water, the engine wont be as efficient, and the fuel burn is high. Ill also explain the difference between short and long shafts and how they vary by type of boat. MPW eBay Store - Thousands of New OEM Old Stock Parts! On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. This, however, is not recommended for the beginning boater. This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boatdesign. <> (Putting a There are instances where a lower mount may be okay. Always weigh the risks of making adjustments. Happy boating! Ten years ago I bought my first boat. However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. Problems with getting the ventilation plate too low include slower hole-shot and lower top-end speeds. publicId: "32bf3437d1346295e03ebcf545f9c839", The lowest point will likely be directly under your drain plug if youve got one. Or measure from the main engine prop up to the water line? This could also affect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. To measure the transom height, measure from the center on for transom (rear of the boat). boats.com, 1221 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, USA. If you go too short your more than likely going to cavitate and loose power. 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. Most of the time, adding a hydrofoil to an outboard improves performance. 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). Before we start measuring the outboard shaft length, lets get it clear about whats referring to when we talk about the outboard shaft length. debugMode: false, Since the ventilation plate & foil are burried under water it is obviously too low. Safely but briskly accelerate. Boat transom angles play a pivotal role in the flexibility of the boats trimming abilities. 2019s List of the Best Recreational Pontoon Boats for Sale. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. The brackets can add 1 inch to the overall mounting height of the outboard. This exhaust port should be about 1 inch above the water line when the boat is idling. The collapsing bubbles are loaded with extremely low-pressure water vapor, which causes damage to a variety of surfaces as they collapse. Be sure to measure carefully and research thoroughly before diving in. Check the literature about your model boat online, and you may be surprised to find that the number is published for you. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (Any measurement given as "off the transom" For slower boats, its less critical to. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. 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. displayMicroOffers: false, One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. Measure from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. Increased RPM and additional horsepower feed the need for speed. Now that you have a better understanding of boat transom heights its time to take out the ruler and get the perfect measurements. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transoms height. 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). Extra-extra long shafts are 30-inches long. Gear case sits just below or at the hull depth due to the deep v. All rights reserved. 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. It varies between different motors and boats. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cavitation plates are used on the bottom components of boats to help them operate better. And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. Another important measurement is the transom angle. Eq*^?6R83e+j}UY.(M7k]~4g)g ~wmS{ O7t/o(W|X? maxTerm: 36, of the motor off the transom With the long side (22 1/2), place a carpenters square ) in opposition to the keel. All rights reserved. Then adjust the motor in a higher hole with a flat head screwdriver. However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. All you need to do is measure how much to rise. Engine Oil Mixing Ratio Fuel 50: Engine Oil 1. Then, you can pick the right engine. To achieve 35 mph with a 6 hp engine, the total weight is 135 lbs (boat motor fuel passengers). Measure straight down to the lowest point on the hull. If your boat planes, pay extra attention to getting the shaft length as close to perfect as possible. 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. I show you how to consistently measure your prop to pad height. Copyright 1999-2023 Boats Group. var addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = 'info' + '@'; document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML = ''; Picking the right shaft length for your outboard is an essential step in getting the best performance from your boat. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. Most transom savers can support up to a 150HP motor, which is sufficient for most regular boats. Place the rulers end on the ground behind the club and let the club to rest on top of it. boats.com is part of the Boats Group Network. Step 4. Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Twitter! This is a measurement that has been used for BassCats, I'm You dont have to be a mathematician to determine the correct boat transom angle. The pros and cons of properly . 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. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transom's height.
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