lowering an ouboard motor

[wildlfe]

Does anyone have experience or ideas on lowering a short shaft engine in order to run it on a standard transom. I would like to use a jack plate since I cannot cut down the transom on this boat. However it is a tiller steer 40 HP Evinrude and I am afraid that lowering will interfere with the tiller handle. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

Have you looked into a shaft extention kit?

 

[wildlfe]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

a outboard mechanic told me this would be very expensive and not easy to do. I don't know if he knows what he is talking about.

 

[fast_c_class]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

have you looked into trading with someone with a longshaft, short shaft models 15" midsections that is are hard to come by and well sought after by many peaple.

 

[wildlfe]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

I would love to trade my 15" shaft for a standard 20" shaft. That would save me a lot of headaches. If you know of anyone who wants to trade let me know chriswsample@wmconnect.com.

 

[Link]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

Wildlife<br />You didn't state the year or model but another option may be an extention for the lower unit. IE: I always run a pump on my 1990 90hp merc but I have a extention housing with a little ity bity ext drive shaft if I want to run a prop on the sled. I bought this motor when it came in for its 20 hour service in 1990 and it came with the extention but I have never tried myself and also don't know the pro's and con's of using one, but you can bet that someone in this forum will know about them.<br /><br />Happy Boating<br />Link

 

[bonitoman]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

It will cost you $200-$250. I did it on my 19 foot offshore boat and it works great. Whether you are putting a 15 inch shaft on a 20 inch transom or a 20 inch shaft on a 25 inch transom you can do this and your boat jumps on plane.You need at least an 8 inch setback plate. It is similar to a jack plate but cannot be adjusted. You can have a sheetmetal company fabricate one for you or do asI did and call bobs machine shop in ruskin florida and I purchased the 8 inch manual jack plated and he converted it to the 8 inch setback plate. Good Luck

 

[buttonhook]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

what year is your motor?

 

[KenOhki]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

the conversion is not tough, expensive yes, but not hard to do.<br /><br /> I have a 88 15 Hp long shaft and wish it was a short. 2 differetn marinas quoted me 200 bucks to return it to a short shaft motor. I would imagin its about the same to go long shaft. I made a home made transom extention to allow me to use this long shaft where I should have a short one.

 

[wildlfe]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

The outboard I need to lower is a 1985 40 HP Evinrude Short Shaft Tiller Steer. I have a regular 20 inch transom and the motor isn't catching good water.

 

[buttonhook]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

i would go with the conv. but save all the old parts just in case you need to ever change it back.

 

[wildlfe]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

Bonitoman are you saying that an 8 inch set back plate is all I need in order to catch good water. I did wonder if just a setback without lowering would allow the prop to catch the water that rises up behind the transom. I still feel like I should drop it down a bit since I shrimp and fish off of the bow which tends to lift the stern up a bit during this activity. Chris

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

Your motor is old enough that there are likely similar ones laying in boneyards in your area. Mid-sections from several years either side of your motor are likely to work, but they messed around with driveshafts quite a bit so I can't say what will/won't work. I've seen blown motors with good units on eBay, too - be careful with shipping costs...<br />- Scott

 

[bonitoman]

Re: lowering an ouboard motor

Hi wildfle, an 8 inch setback works great. Your boat will jump up on plane. If you set your engine to low you don't want to submerge the engine. You could lower your plate about an inch. I took my 110 johnson that is 20 inch shaft and stuck it on a 19 foot hull with the setback plate and it does 43mpn wot. The hull with fuel is about 2500 lbs. I am pleased with it. But if it is a small outboard some local machine shops can fabricat one out of aluminum. I bought mine from bobs machine shop in ruskin fl. I know cmc and panter also sell them. Good Luck