Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

[wirehoncho]

Anyone hears or knows of folks cutting down the height of a Transom?<br /><br />I'm shopping for a 16 footer with console steering to mount my Mercury 25 HP Bigfoot short shaft.. I over powered and overweighted my 14' Guide V 14 and I need more space as well. <br /><br />The only makers of boats in what I'm looking for have dealers out of the way, like Ultracraft but no one is trying to bring in a "hard sale" rig, then have to strike a deal over the phone then have to cummute up to 300 miles to buy. I dont blame them, but my options are thin as it is already. I’m considering on buying a 16' w/ a 20" Transom and having it cut down, (reinforced of course) so I can mount my short shaft. I got dealers in my area with 16 footers w/ 20" transoms all day not to far from where i live, but none are going to pitch the sale and give me the straight scoop.. they are trying to sale motors too! <br /><br />Just so happens, Mercury doesn't to not make a 5" extension kit for my motor (yet) any aftermarket makers of extension kits?<br /><br />Any one out there had this done? Ideas? Opinions?

 

[05GlastronSX]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

i had this done with my 1999 fisher boat. i had a short shaft 1992 mercury 4 cyl 40 elhpto put on it and they had to cut down the transom several inches so it would be below the water line and not cause poor performance and all of the other things that come along with too short of an engine mounted on a boat. i dont know how they went about in doing it, but it worked. talk to the dealership and see what they have to say.

 

[wirehoncho]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

Thanks for the info! I have been studying all the designs of boat transoms and I couldn't see why it could not be done either. The only thing i could see is that the cut transom would need to be finished as so that water would not get to the wood in between to sheets of aluminum. The other issue is having it doe to a new boat. I know that this leel of work would void the warranty the moment a jig saw laid into it too, so Now im on the lookout for a used boat, or a prior year hold over like a '03 or '04.

 

[wirehoncho]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

Oh by te way, the guys at the nearby Tracker Marine looked like me like I was high on something when i mentioned it.. considering that they dont take motor trade-in's ( even on a new motor bought elsewhere) what do they think? Boaters will improvise to use what they have until we move up or over to a new part like a pricey motor. ANY DEALERS ot there within 200 miles of Annapolis want my business? lol

 

[MFG197]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

don't break out the sawzall yet,<br /><br />have you looked into trying to get an extension for the lower unit? many lower units especially on small outboards look like just a section of lower unit bolted in...did you post this in merc ouboard forum?

 

[Solittle]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

You could also mount a jack plate to the 20" transom that would get the lower unit where it needs to be.

 

[mercury_40hp]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

Have you tried Bay Manufacturing? They have a website that lists all their extension kits. I put a 5" extension on my merc and it works great.<br />Cost about 250$. <br />Cutting down the transom is not a good idea in my opinion, although I have seen it done. The lower transom will be alot more likely to let waves splash into the boat too.

 

[wirehoncho]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

Originally posted by WWYC na7:<br /> have you looked into trying to get an extension for the lower unit?

Mercury just so happens to make 5" extension kits for every model outboard except the 25-40 HP bigfoot models. I am looking for some aftermarket extension kits though.

 

[wirehoncho]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

Originally posted by SoLittle:<br /> You could also mount a jack plate to the 20" transom that would get the lower unit where it needs to be.

Great idea.. Let me know if you know of any jackplates that can hold a motor in the 175-200 lb range. Thanks. Surprising that none of the boat dealers have advised this.

 

[wirehoncho]

Re: Cutting down a transom to mount a short shaft outboard

Originally posted by mercury_40hp:<br /> Have you tried Bay Manufacturing? They have a website that lists all their extension kits. I put a 5" extension on my merc and it works great.<br />Cost about 250$.

I salute you captian!<br />Bay Manufacturing makes one for the 25 HP Merc. http://www.baymfg.com/mercury.asp So instead of hacking off a chunk of transom, I'll be in the water with this extension! The only major difference in their kit than Mercs is that they provide a drive shaft extension vs. a extension that extens the existing driveshaft. Coust about 200 dollars that the average OEM kits too. I'm on back order, but thats O.K. gives me more time to shop around and or haggle over a new boat. Thanks again!