bought wrong motor need advice

C

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,602
Hi guys.Well I thought I was having a new (used) motor put on my 17ft Mako yesterday.The place doing the switch for me told me that all 17ft Makos took a standard 20inch outboard,so I didnt bother to measure.I had a lot of trouble finding a good newer used outboard around 100hp.I finally found a 21ft cruisers bonanza with a 1995 Evin ocean pro std 20inch shaft that the owner had purchased new in 96.Condition of motor is great ,compression is very good and there is no rust or corrosion anywhere.It was very new looking and running so I bought the package just for the motor and I have no interest in the boat at all.Its a good boat but has many scratches and bruises-not for me!! The outfit that told me I had a 20inch shaft takes a look at my Mako the dat they were switching it for me and tells me "Wow,you have a rare 25" long shaft there "I said I thought you told me that I had a 20" and they replied no thats surely a 25.What do I do know.Do I sell what I bought and start looking for a motor all over again????Do I have them get a shaft extender kit and how much more is that going to cost????They were originally charging me $500 to swap the motors with giving me only $100 for my 82 rude that runs good but has low compression in 1 cyl and I have to supply them with the harness conversion if needed.They offered to add the extension kit for 700 more and I just dont know what to do.Any advise would be appreciated.Charlie
 
JB

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

Moving to General Outboard.
 
S

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

Charlie the way you have worded you post is a bit confusing. What is 20" and what is 25"? I can't inagine a 17' Mako needing a 25" shaft motor. Have you measured both the boat and motor yourself? I'm wondering if "they" know what they are doing. I would measure it myself even if you think they may have done it right.<br /><br />And yes you can convert a 20 to a 25". You would need a 5" midsection, driveshaft, shift rod and water tube. $700 does not surprise me for a 150 hp though I am not a professional wrench.
 
C

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,602
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

Yes I measured both the boat and the motor I want to replace.For sure 25inches.Any sources to get the extension kit?????Is a kit recommended???What is a jackplate????I am really in a mess.Charlie
 
B

bossee

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 18, 2002
Messages
727
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

Hi,<br />A jack plate can serve at least two purposes:<br /><br />1) adjust the height of the outboard mounting for better performance.<br />The jack plate can be fixed (non adjustable), manually or hydralic adjustabe. A jack plate is usually used to get better performance since the outboard can be adjusted vertically for optimal height and less drag of lower unit for example as it goes trough the water.<br /><br />2) allow a XL (Extra Long) shaft outboard to hang on a transom built for L (long) shaft.<br />Like this picture show:<br /> http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=22 <br />"solution to mounting a long shaft outboard to a short transom"<br /><br />Possibly also with a suitable jack plate to allow a long shaft outboard to hang on an extra long transom (as in your case).<br />I have not seen any yet on the Internet but I have not looked that much. Just use Google search and see if You can find any. Or e-mail or phone some of the companies that make jack plates and I'm sure they can help you.<br /><br />If You take a look at links above in previous messages the pictures will show how a jack plate works, I'm sure You understand better then.<br /><br />One problem I can imagine when a 20 inch shaft outboard is used on a 25 inch transom (with a jackplate, if it works) is that when You tilt the outboard up it might not be possible to tilt it all way up.
 
C

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,602
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

Thanks for the reply Bo.I emailed thmarine and they said that there is nothing that would do what I need.Sounds like you can get the motor higher but not lower.Charlie
 
M

mred 2436

Seaman
Joined
Mar 26, 2004
Messages
53
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

charlie : just a thought. is the boat that came with the motor THAT bad in condition? the answer to your problem may already be sitting there in front of you.....or at least buy you time to find a better way to correct your problem. like i say....just a thought.
 
C

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,602
Re: bought wrong motor need advice

Yea,I thought of that one already.My Mako is absolutely MINT!!I always wanted this exact boat.The boat that came with the newer motor is a 72 Cruisers bonanza.It is actually a great boat for someone but it is faded,scratched,goughed,rubrail hanging,old seats,need i continue.Its just not for me.I got the package for the right price including a 2000 karavan ez roller trailer with brakes.I really just bought it for the Motor.Im not looking for a project especially since I already have one.Charlie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top