12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

[Krs1]

hello everyone, i have 12' aluminum westcoaster set up for fishing but all i need is an outboard. i will be doing mainly bay fishing but willl be going offshore on nice days and also to surf. im in california so there a few surf spots only accessible by boat. myquestion is which motor shaft will fit my boat uses better, and is there a diffrence between the way they push the boat

 

[lncoop]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Depends on your transom height, but it does seem like a long shaft would cut down on ventilation in what I assume is choppy water.

 

[shrew]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

hello everyone, i have 12' aluminum westcoaster set up for fishing but all i need is an outboard. i will be doing mainly bay fishing but willl be going offshore on nice days and also to surf. im in california so there a few surf spots only accessible by boat. myquestion is which motor shaft will fit my boat uses better, and is there a diffrence between the way they push the boat

Uh, could you define what you're calling "Offshore"? That isn't an offshore boat. It's not even really an inshore boat. It might cut it in a cove or calm bays on a light day, but I would think that would be about it. That is really better suited for inland lakes, ponds and rivers, though I do like the 'Fountain-esque' nose.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

most 12' use a short shaft. Measure your transom at the mounting plate--should be about 15".

 

[NYGiants]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

most 12' boats dont take over a 9.9 hp outboard. putting a 25 on it is too much. i have a 14' heavy duty aluminum boat and 25 is just big enough. get a 9.9 for that boat and itll be fine.

 

[Solittle]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

The pureists will tell you that you need a short shaft. Truth is you can run either (I have a long shaft 9.9 on my 13' tinny). Putting a short shaft engine on a long shaft transom will not work as the prop needs to be below the bottom of the hull.

 

[Boatist]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Most 12 foot Aluminum are a 15 inch transom so a short shaft motor.
I would messure with a tape messure from the top of the transom where the motor mounts
to the bottom of the hull or keel in the center of the boat.
If that distance is 15 inches then it is a short shaft.
If it is 20 inches then it is a long shaft.

I agree that 25 HP is too much motor.
Boat should have a max HP plate on the boat unless it is very old.

If it has no plate then I would get a 15 hp.
The 15 Johnson is the same block as the 9.9 and the same weight.

Many 12 foot are rated at 9.9 HP and if you go over could cause some problems.
In Northern California not many days a 12 foot aluminum boat is safe in the ocean.
I would not go out of San Francisco Bay on any day in a 12 foot aluminum boat.

Southern California there more days that it would be safe.
Any place you launch where you would have to go thru surf or a low water sand bar I would not do in a 12 foot aluminum boat.

One other thing is many small lakes in california Have a 10 HP max.

 

[Nomad1972]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Please have someone post the news article of the results of you taking a 12' tin boat into the surf zone or off shore......Darwin Award

 

[Krs1]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Just have to be a man about your boat in the ocean! Remember it's the pacific. Not the bearing sea, thanks for the concern though

 

[bitterboater]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Being a man about your boat means knowing where it is not smart to use in any conditions, the OCEAN, being one of them.

Second, go for a 9.9 or smaller. Your boat won't be rated for anything bigger.

 

[Bigperch]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

No boater is safe on the high seas unless he has a life boat on board.

How big is the life boat on your 12 foot tinny?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Just have to be a man about your boat in the ocean! Remember it's the pacific. Not the bearing sea, thanks for the concern though

Ayuh,... But Big balls don't trump Stupid...

 

[shrew]

Re: 12 aluminum long or short shaft 25 hp?

Just have to be a man about your boat in the ocean! Remember it's the pacific. Not the bearing sea, thanks for the concern though

Have you taken a boat out into the area you're considering? Have you taken a boat of this size out to that area? I have to admit I am not familiar with where you're going or the conditions in the area. I can only go by your statements "Offshore" and "Surfing" which would imply that swells in deeper water would need to be large enough to generate surfable waves inshore.