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how to measure transom height for outboard motor

All things considered, sticking with the industry standard is best for the beginner. And the rule of thumb is that you should keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom or keel of the boat. You also might not be able to lift the outboard out of the water entirely for storage. To sum up, there is a simple calculator of the shaft length for outboard motors: Outboard Shaft Length = Transom Height +/- Factors. This will keep the prop in the water when the boat pitches in waves, or hobby-horses. Rebuilt - What You Need to Know, Lower Unit and Sterndrive Break-In Instructions. displayPrimeOffers: true, a Detwiler manual jackplate. Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. But in many cases, its a little more complicated than that alone. The shaft length for outboard motors has nothing to do with the water line. Boats with more engine power and weight require longer shaft outboards for better balance. Any questions? What's the best height for my boat motor? bracket. But, how do you measure it? Then, you can pick the right engine. The same is true for the newest, high-powered offshore fishing boats, where triple or quadruple motor setups are becoming more and more common. He is also a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history. It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. My family and I used it to fish, ski (yes, you can ski behind a pontoon boat), and cruise the lakes near our home. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transom's height. For boats equipped with a bracket, calculate the same measurement but based on the bracket and not the transom. Some may call it a standard length while others may call it a short or a long shaft. The boater must also consider if the boat transomsupport is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. |. Finding the right size is a matter of looking at what youve got and taking out the measuring tape. The boater must also consider if the boat transom support is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. The prop will be in cleaner, harder water as it advances farther aft, making it more efficient. These two measurements will give you the length of the shaft you need. What are Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and Channels? <> However, the shaft length for smaller boats could be long or short depending on its style, speed requirement, etc. Tilt your motor until the bullet of the gearcase is If you have a question or need additional information. Amazon has plate extensions to allow adjustments without buying a new motor: T-H Marine Jack Plate Extension. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. s.setAttribute("href", "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/css/pt-mpe.min.css"); Increased RPM and additional horsepower feed the need for speed. Safely but briskly accelerate. Eq*^?6R83e+j}UY.(M7k]~4g)g ~wmS{ O7t/o(W|X? All boats are different, and the motor manufacturers produce a variety of standard lengths. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure Youtube page! This illustration depicts four different outboard mounting height options (courtesy Mercury Marine). 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. For slower boats, its less critical to. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! With some boats I have a pretty good idea as to what length motor should be hung on them. Doing this can have adverse effects. Here is a picture that shows you exactly where the outboard motor shaft length stands: Usually the shaft length for outboard motors falls into the following 4 sizes: In practice, you may find the outboard motor shaft length varies among different brands and manufacturers like the Honda,Suzuki, Yamaha, Torqeedo, etc. It is where the outboard is mounted, and some boat owners place the name of the boat. Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Wordpress! }) } }); })(document); I mean it is better to be safe than sorry, am I right? A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. It also cuts into speed and fuel efficiency. An inch or two probably wont make a big difference, but any more than that will lead to trouble. Tightening Torque for Engine. 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. addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = addyd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com'; }, 100); Should I take the raft onto the water and measure the exact distance from the top of the transom to the water line? Determining Your Boat Transom Angle The transom angle - commonly measured in degrees - is the transom's vertical inclination. Problems with getting the ventilation plate too low include slower hole-shot and lower top-end speeds. Knowing how this can affect the overall operation of the boat is a factor to be considered. As a dealer I don't really like hearing this because there is a chance it could go either way and you have to get it right. How high exactly do you have to raise the transom?-. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. %PDF-1.7 parallel with the straight edge. Industry standards dictate that for short shaft engines the transom height should be 15. These are vertically aligned so the boater can make adjustments. x\[D~OUCO6[j](l%ay <8cylY{.L2s#]~U6A|Wj]-oo|mubqY6wbY_|!>Z8(RB:RHeTzOGO_=~t\ If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. Simply start with the engine in idle, followed by, If you decide to make some custom adjustments we have the. This measurement was approximately 4". d.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (e) { A reversetransom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. 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? Boat hulls are designed in three basic types that range from slow displacement and semi-displacement hulls to the fastest planing hulls. center of the propshaft. You reply, "Im not sure, I think its a long". If your outboard motor height. However, youll notice a little increase in drag and a decrease in top-end performance. The transom angle is the vertical incline of the transom and is measured in degrees. It is unsafe to have the engine block too close to the water on a low transom. So how to measure outboard shaft length? mpeSelector: ".pt-mpe", The transom in a boat today is a place to hang your outboard motor. Propshaft in 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. 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. C Cheaptoon Cadet Joined Aug 4, 2010 Messages 28 Aug 24, 2010 #4 Re: Motor height on pontoon? Keep these numbers in mind if you ever have a need for a new outboard motor for your boat. 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. boats.com is part of the Boats Group Network. What Types of Documents Can be Sent to your Kindle Library? At least if its too long you can raise the motor or "build up" your transom. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transoms height. 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. Because of the increased friction, cavitation reduces efficiency. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Now that you have a better understanding of boat transom heights its time to take out the ruler and get the perfect measurements. var ptScript = "https://cdn.paytomorrow.com/js/pt-mpe.min.js"; The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. Many single-engine boats mount a smaller auxiliary motor for emergency use. height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: This allows the engine to idle without the flow of the exhaust being restricted. straight edge from the center of the pad, but this time you're measuring How do you measure a transom on an outboard motor? To do so, you will want to measure at the exact center of the transom from the very top to the very bottom. Boat transomangles play a pivotal role in the flexibility of the boats trimming abilities. Thats a fairly simple list of symptoms, but if your motor is too low, youll probably notice at least one of them. 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. A reverse transom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. If you have a question or need additional information,contact ustoday. Re: Dinghy with a long shaft motor? 2 0 obj The engine must be linked to the transom at the proper height for a propeller to best meet specific boating demands. How to Measure Transom Height For vessels with transom-mounted outboards, you can easily figure out which type of outboard you need to get. ensure that your measurement is accurate. minAmount: 300.0, Extra-extra long shafts are 30-inches long. This is simply a measurement taken from the top of the transom (top of This measurement would be the inches of s.setAttribute("src", script); on How to Measure Outboard Shaft Length: The Only Guide You Need, ePropulsion vs Torqeedo: An All-Round Comparison, 55 lb Thrust Trolling Motors: All You Need to Know Before Purchase, Spot Lock Trolling Motor: Is It Worth It & Best Options in 2022, Wiring 24V Trolling Motors: 24 Volt Wiring Diagram (with Video), LiFePO4 Battery: Why Lithium iron Phosphate Batteries Are Your Best Options in 2022, Minn Kota vs MotorGuide: Best Option in 2022. This exhaust port should be about 1 inch above the water line when the boat is idling. Not to measure boat speed, but to gauge the mounting height of the outboard motor on the boat transom. MPW eBay Store - Thousands of New OEM Old Stock Parts! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Workboats, sailboats, and displacement-hulled boats fall into this category. mpeInit(); To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. disregard the downward pointing "hooks" at the front of the if (PayTomorrow) { The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". As a result, the issue is whether my boat need a short shaft or long shaft motor. 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. Small portable outboards ranging from 2 to 20 horsepower are usually sold only in short or long shaft versions. 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? It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. To measure your outboard motor shaft length, measure from the bottom of the mounting bracket where it rests on the transom to the top of the cavitation plate, this is the horizontal surface of the lower unit immediately above the propeller. 5/rC,aQhsK@Q. For over five years he has worked as a newspaper reporter and historic researcher. It will ensure that the outboards trim will be effective, and it will save you gas too. Industry standards dictate that for short shaft engines the transom height should be 15. See When St. Peters Basketball Games Are Today! I run a 9.9 Mercury Bigfoot 20" shaft off the swim platform of my 89 Trophy 2160. Beefier jack plates can be fitted should a boater be looking to mount an outboard with a shorter shaft than their transom demands. The first order of business is to measure your boat for the ideal fit. The average transom angle is around 14 degrees. Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. 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. #1: Height logoColor: "original", ), Al Shields On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. Some fishing boats can handle the motor being underwater. In the past, though, it housed the officers and captain of 17th, 18th and 19th century sailing ships. loadScript(ptScript); var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; This distance is very important to the performance of you boat. Attention: Remember to measure the outboard shaft length straight up and down instead of measuring along the transom. 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. This transom saver will support the weight of your outboard throughout your road travel, steadily bracing it against the trailer frame to relieve your transom of the weight and impact from consistent bouncing. function mpeInit() { This will be the 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. Having the cavitation plate a bit lower than the transom is preferable to having it too high. (updated Step 3: Add another 10 cm (4'') to the previous calculation for the final ideal shaft length. Although the longer outboard shaft length can lead to lower speed and more drag, the boat can push a heavier load. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. not sure that it's still used. This could also affect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. 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. August 9/08). This is probably the worst case scenario out of the two. Simply start with the engine in idle, followed bytrimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. What the relationship to the pontoons is, I couldn't say. Outboard Motor Shaft Length: How do I measure? #3. clearInterval(interval); By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. jackplate to a point level with the top of the transom. endobj One of the great things about an outboard motor is how versatile it is. 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. former editor at Boating Magazine and contributor to many national publications var xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); Using your existing control box and gauges will save you quite a bit of money in the end. Youll need a short shaft outboard if its 15 or less than an inch shorter. Beyond motorboats designed for large outboards, you will see outboards hanging on the sterns of everything from small canoes to large cruising sailboats. It also cuts into speed and fuel efficiency. Or it can have an angle degree as high as 30. 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. want to measure from the transom to the flat part of this bracket, Step 4. The height is approximately six inches higher than with a propeller. Copyright 2017 Dealer Spike All Rights Reserved. The mounting height of an outboard motor can impact the speed and handling characteristics of the boat. This alone can outweigh the negatives when deciding to adjust the mount upwards. Later in the article is an image that shows you exactly where to measure. In addition, motor totes will not harm the finish of the lower unit. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. trimming the motor out by one-half to full trim. Whether your on a pontoon boat, fishing boat, or speedboat boating is always one of the best times you can have. One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. The height of the boat transom dictates the size of the outboard motor. The height of the transom is estimated by using the center line to measure from the bottom of the hull to the top of the transom. If you are looking to repower, they may be able to offer some sage advice. If you said something smaller than that, thats where it can get tricky. This is somewhat similar to #2, in that you are again measuring with a If youre going the other way around and trying to figure out how long the shaft on your outboard is, measuring it is equally easy. Recommended Engine Oil 2-Stroke Outboard Motor Oil. In lower mounting, the engine is set lower than the recommended standard. This, however, is not recommended for the beginning boater. 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 help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. to where the brackets were actually resting on the transom. The most common percent angle is probably 12, however spec sheets for O/B and I/O boats may show 10 percent, 12 percent, and 14 degrees. However, you will need an understanding of how the degrees will alter the boats usability.

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how to measure transom height for outboard motor

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