Transom Outboard Engine Position - YouTube h[0].appendChild(s); Because of the increased friction, cavitation reduces efficiency. Later in the article is an image that shows you exactly where to measure. ), Al Shields For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. %PDF-1.7 LOYALHEARTDY Outboard Motor 6 HP 2-Stroke Inflatable Fishing Boat This allows the engine to idle without the flow of the exhaust being restricted. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. This could also affect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. 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. How to Raise Outboard Motor on Transom? - Raising the Outboard Motor There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Trimming in, trimming down, and trimming out are all terms that a beginning boater should learn. Engine Oil Mixing Ratio Fuel 50: Engine Oil 1. So its easier and safer to communicate with the dealer with the exact measurement of outboard shaft length in order to get the right model. Whether your on a pontoon boat, fishing boat, or speedboat boating is always one of the best times you can have. Your at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". Although the longer outboard shaft length can lead to lower speed and more drag, the boat can push a heavier load. In the second photo, we've measure down from the top of the Detwiler maxMicroAmount: 0.0, The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. How do you measure a transom on an outboard motor? Shaft lengths are available in increments of 5. And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. 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. August 9/08). What is Transom Height? Before we get started lets see what a boat transom is and what it does. #3. s = d.createElement("link"); your motor will be higher.) However, your boat will have slightly more drag which will reduce your maximum speed. In step 3, add another 10 cm (4") to the previous calculation in order to develop the ideal shaft length. The pressure behind your hand dropped as you slid your hand back and forth through the water. Use the mounting bracket on the motor to know where it will sit on the boat. "brackets". If the propeller fails to ventilate, the motor is mounted to low. It is possible that the motor could hang low while transporting on the boat trailer causing future boat repairs. 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. How can you figure out what your transom angle is? <> })(); Boat transomangles play a pivotal role in the flexibility of the boats trimming abilities. the propshaft below or above the pad. debugMode: false, Beefier jack plates can be fitted should a boater be looking to mount an outboard with a shorter shaft than their transom demands. Place the point of a yardstick at the middle of the top of the boat transom. mpeSelector: ".pt-mpe", minAmount: 300.0, (Putting a Industry standards dictate that for short shaft engines the transom height should be 15. Move the bracket as close to the center of the transom as possible while still maintaining clearance to allow the main outboard or rudder to reach its full range of motion without contacting the kicker motor. This restriction includes most fishing boats and longer sailboats. In lower mounting, the engine is set lower than the recommended standard. For vee-shaped hulls, the lowest spot of the hull will come to point, while on flat-bottomed boats it will be more or less level. Youll also want to pay attention when youre in shallow water because your prop will be lower than normal. Upstream Securitys Disruptive Telematics Technology, The challenges of scaling a cloud-based security system, OneStreams unified platform streamlines financial data management, OneStreams impact on the financial software market. Outboard Motor Shaft Length: How do I measure? var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), I would also recommend finding your maximum horsepower rating which is located on the yellow coast guard tag towards the back of your boat. Beginning boaters should be aware of the boats measurements. Required fields are marked *. boats.com is part of the Boats Group Network. WHAT LENGTH OUTBOARD DO YOU REALLY NEED? - Van's Sport Center d.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (e) { Setting Height of Outboard Motor - YouTube Some boats are equipped with transom-hung outboards while others have a bracket. As a yacht designer and boater, I prefer longer shafts. the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor In the photo above, we've measured from the motor bracket to the top of If the height of the boat transom is off it can cause major issues. Measure straight down to the lowest point on the hull. When fighting waves from the stern, a 20-inch transom is considerably safer. Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: You need JavaScript enabled to view it. How to Find Your Shaft Length | ePropulsion Say the 20 shaft is a long shaft length for gas engines, but it is a short shaft length for electric outboard motors. document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML = ''; xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://bes.gcp.data.bigcommerce.com/nobot'); Beyond motorboats designed for large outboards, you will see outboards hanging on the sterns of everything from small canoes to large cruising sailboats. It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Installing a Kicker Motor Bracket - Gone Outdoors To measure the transom height, measure from the center on for transom (rear of the boat). 2 0 obj Some may call it a standard length while others may call it a short or a long shaft. Look at the part of your motor that would be clearInterval(interval); Always weigh the risks of making adjustments. Charles Plueddeman is Boats.com's outboard, trailer, and PWC expert. Higher mounting decisions should be left to the professionals. 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. How To Mount An Outboard Motor Properly - Start to Finish! While this is the case there is certain saltwater motors that are extra extra long at 30. Simply start with the engine in idle, followed bytrimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. Thats a fairly simple list of symptoms, but if your motor is too low, youll probably notice at least one of them. Place the clubs bottom on the ground as though it were going to be used to strike a golf ball. (updated endobj The transom is the flat vertical section at the rear of the boat. Like Westshore Marine & Leisure on Facebook! Kicker Motor Shaft Length - This Old Boat - Lake Ontario United - Lake All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. would be more accurate.) Here we will guide you in how to get the right boat transom height. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Outboard shaft length plays a crucial role in the performance of your boat. 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. For example, you can have the Mercury outboard shaft length by model code. Any owner seeking the last bit of speed from an outboard-powered boat should grab a yard stick. There are a series of four to six holes at the top of the bracket, and the lower bolts actually fit into slots. How Low Should a Motor Set on a Pontoon Boat? (Explained) Lastly, knowing the year of your motor and what style of controls you have (side mount, concealed side mount, or binnacle) is also a plus because it will tell the dealer if your current controls are compatible with the motor you are purchasing. How to Measure Transom Height For vessels with transom-mounted outboards, you can easily figure out which type of outboard you need to get. If you have a short shaft motor, the distance between the top of the transom and the bottom of the boat should be between 15 and 16 inches. Step 3: Add another 10 cm (4'') to the previous calculation for the final ideal shaft length. Gear Oil Quantity 195ml(6.6 Fl.oz.) Another important measurement is the transom angle. 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. But in many cases, its a little more complicated than that alone. of the "bullet" on your lower unit. This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. 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. With it comes a lot of responsibility and new things to learn including boat maintenance and boat basics. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transoms height. The brackets can add 1 inch to the overall mounting height of the outboard. stream This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. How to Measure Outboard Shaft Length: The Only Guide You Need maxAmount: 6500.0, The point where these measurements intersect is your centerline. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boat design. There are also specialty motor shaft lengths. Then test the boat and adjust the height, if necessary . You may wonder how deep your prop should be in the water. One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. However, there may be times when a boater strays away from these recommendations. disregard the "hooks" at the front of the According to MarinePartsMan.com, the outboard can be raised 1 inch above the standard height for every 10 miles per hour of speed the boat can attain. Take your time and understand your boat and your entire transom. This also means it can affect the safety of the boat. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Boats that use longer outboard shafts include: Not to measure boat speed, but to gauge the mounting height of the outboard motor on the boat transom. This was the height of my 225 Yamaha on my TR21 h[0].appendChild(s); The amount of degrees the transom leans back from vertical is known as the transom angle. 1855 Alpine Avenue NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504This email address is being protected from spambots. This is probably the worst case scenario out of the two. Using your existing control box and gauges will save you quite a bit of money in the end. Figuring out how to measure motor height on a If you are running a slower boat, the exact location of the ventilation plate is less important. Oftentimes you will want to adjust the outboard shaft length in order to improve the boat performance such as speed. The transom is the back of the boat where the motor is hung. It is very versatile as it generally . However, you will need an understanding of how the degrees will alter the boats usability. 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. Measure the area of the transom directly where the engine will be mounted. However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. The first order of business is to measure your boat for the ideal fit. To do so, measure from the stern (back) of the boat to the midpoint of the hull on both sides. Place the bracket on the transom to the left of the main outboard or rudder. What types of boat need an extra long shaft? 5/rC,aQhsK@Q. This measurement is primarily designed for single motor propulsion. 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. Whether you already own a boat or looking for your first watercraft we are here to service your needs. If youre looking for a bracket that can handle motors of up to 10/15 horsepower, go no further. If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. 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. The transom is the "back wall" of your boat, the most rearward part of your hull. Its where the outboard motor is attached, and its also where some boat owners put the boats name. Small motors built for sailboats might come in a unique configuration with an extremely long shaft since these are mounted higher off the water. To break it down a bit more for you: Short shafts are 15-inches long. High powered boats usually only come in long and extra-long variants. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. There are 2 steps to help get a relatively accurate figure. 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.