Age old chestnut, again.

[Waterwhippin]

So I have an old 1976 shell lake made Lund 315 sportsman. The one I have has the optional 20" transom. I have acquired a few good running short shaft Johnson's I'd like to keep. When running my 25hp at about 1/4 throttle the engine revs up and weeont push water, I assume from not bring in deep enough. How bad would it be to cut a 4x8in piece off?

 

[mickyryan]

That would decrease your freeboard and could flood you when you stopped how about a adjustable bracket?

 

[Waterwhippin]

But if the boat had the other optional 16" transon but the same dimensions, freeboarding still be an issue? Im just trying to save myself the $120 the bracket eould cost

 

[jbcurt00]

You seem to be buying and selling motors frequently, keep the short 25hp and trade/sell into a long shaft motor.

Didnt you just sell a 25hp and get 3 motors for less then you sold the 25hp for?

 

[Waterwhippin]

I did. I sold the 25 long shaft for 175 because it was always a problem and the guy needed it for some reason. I bought 4 motors for $260 but theyre all short shafts. I havnt had my boat on the water for the last two years and was tempted to send it to the junkyard. Think I'll keep her now. Don't want to put a ton of money into another long shaft. But in a perfect world I'd sell these motors and buy a nice long shaft.

 

[Waterwhippin]

So there's my issue, never had the boat in the water because I could never keep that motor running. Now I have 3 good running short shafts so I'd always be in the water. But id rather not be under water

 

[jbcurt00]

End of the season is coming, motor prices should be dropping soon....

Cutting the transom hurts resale value and weakens the transom, and I wouldnt, nor would I use a bracket to lower it the 5in to attempt to get a short motor to worok on a long transom.

 

[Woodonglass]

This is a Glass boat correct?

 

[Waterwhippin]

Yes its fiberglass

 

[Pusher]

If you can't afford anything else, have the SS's and were okay with sending it to the junkyard then I'd say hack that mother trucker up and get on the lake. It's a cool looking boat but you didn't get it to look at. It's no where close to a collectors item right?

I see plenty of boats on CL for free without motors but whole transoms. Might as well run it into the ground and swap the trailer to something bigger and better when it's dead.

You can build a custom splash well if you're worried about flooding.

I'm in no way a purist or class act though.

 

[Pusher]

It might be cool to build a well inside the boat http://www.thehulltruth.com/boats-sale-wanted/417562-atlantic-well-boat.html

 

[Waterwhippin]

I found this on cl for $45. I want to keep the ss's because if I buy a new boat it will be a ss transom. I like having a couple back ups to keep me on the river. So it's prolly either the mount or the sawzall

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Those mounts are just for using a smaller outboard motor for trolling.

 

[Waterwhippin]

I'm going to wait and try to find a long shaft. Seems the right thing to do. Thanks guys.