JoLin
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2007
- Messages
- 5,146
I stay on the lookout for a small 4-stroke outboard to mount up as a companion to my 175 Johnson. My boat has a full transom and I can't seem to find much information about the importance of motor shaft length in my decision. There are a lot more short-shaft motors in the 10-15 hp range than there are long shafts.
I'm concerned that a short shaft motor will be tough to manage when I bend over the end of the transom to raise and lower it with say, a Garelick spring-loaded bracket, but I don't know if that needs to be a real concern. I'm not planning to spend $1K + on a hydraulic mount.
How much leverage do those spring-loaded brackets give? Do they really provide a lot of "lift" to help one pull up the motor, or is it minimal? I'm no spring chicken, and I have this vision of throwing my back out or dragging myself right over the stern trying to raise one of these things.
What are your experiences with the mounts and what are your recommendations for motor shaft length?
Finally, even though the aux will be mounted off to one side of the transom, I assume that in running position, the aux's cavitation plate should be positioned at the same depth as the primary motor - about even with the keel. Right?
I'm concerned that a short shaft motor will be tough to manage when I bend over the end of the transom to raise and lower it with say, a Garelick spring-loaded bracket, but I don't know if that needs to be a real concern. I'm not planning to spend $1K + on a hydraulic mount.
How much leverage do those spring-loaded brackets give? Do they really provide a lot of "lift" to help one pull up the motor, or is it minimal? I'm no spring chicken, and I have this vision of throwing my back out or dragging myself right over the stern trying to raise one of these things.
What are your experiences with the mounts and what are your recommendations for motor shaft length?
Finally, even though the aux will be mounted off to one side of the transom, I assume that in running position, the aux's cavitation plate should be positioned at the same depth as the primary motor - about even with the keel. Right?
