Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

[rscholar]

Hi again... My 12' Landau boat transom is 20.5 inches, my new/used '82 25 HP Johnson long shaft is 23" to cav. plate. I had a short shaft on it at first, but even with a transom mount, it was too difficult to operate. My mind tells me that this new motor will be too low in the water? If I do have problems (got to wait for the ice to leave), any suggestions? I prefer to fish alone, which has always made it difficult to get the boat to plane, any suggestion there... has tiller, no steering wheel. Gets dangerous for me to go forward and leave the motor to turn at random.

 

[F_R]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

Your boat is a long shaft. Your motor is a long shaft. Use it. And put away the tape measure.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

If you can't easily plane with a 25hp on a 12'er something is seriously wrong. Weight distribution, total weight or engine. And are you saying you go forward with the engine running in gear at the back? That's not too safe! Get some steering hooked up! And if the cav plate is 2.5" lower than the boat I would not worry too much about it. You can shim it up a bit with some blocks of wood under the transom mount if you want.

 

[rscholar]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

Other than easing my mind, I still haven't stopped laughing, Sir! Once I had an electrical problem on my tractor, and asked about it. The response was " three possiblities, check the ground, check the ground, check the ground dummy!" It made me mad, but it was the "ground." Thanks again! To the other reply: Yes I use to go forward for it to plane, but only a few times...to scary! I haven't had the boat in the water yet with the new/used motor, but by what you guys are telling me, it will be just fine.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

Why not get a tiller extension so you can continue to steer from a more forward location?

 

[Cofe]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

As stated, it is very dangerous to move forward in your boat with the motor in gear. But if you think you must, there is a adjustment screw on the motor bracket that will tighten up the steering.

 

[54fleetwin]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

my 14 footer planed with an 18hp and me in the back operating it.
It was really cool looking at the horizon, wacthing the bow get higher and higher and then drop back down to a lower then starting position

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

My 14' tinny gets between 33-39 kmh with various 18's on it and me at the tiller. and I'm 240#!

 

[54fleetwin]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

My 14' tinny gets between 33-39 kmh with various 18's on it and me at the tiller. and I'm 240#!

yeah....well....my 14' gets 35 "MPH" with my 35hp

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

yeah....well....my 14' gets 35 "MPH" with my 35hp

Oh know. We're getting into a who's faster debate! Well I weigh more than you and my 18 gets better mpg!!! So there!

 

[54fleetwin]

Re: Often asked, but I have questions of my shaft length.

Oh know. We're getting into a who's faster debate! Well I weigh more than you and my 18 gets better mpg!!! So there!

LMAO
How do you figure you weigh more?

You said pounds not kilos right?

I am a hefty 250 pounds