Shallow Water Drive Question

[FishyBC]

I have a 1979 Mercury 20 HP that is great except that it does not have a shallow water drive. I fish on the Fraser river in BC and need to have a way to tip the motor up so that I can run up onto gravel bars without scraping bottom. I just want to be able to tilt the angle of my motor so that it is still taking in water for cooling but in the water as shallow as possible. This would only be used for very short distances.<br /><br />Is there an aftermarket, 3rd party or any other type of solution that anyone knows about for this ?<br /><br />Has anyone fabricated something like this before ? <br /><br />Any suggestions would be appreciated.<br /><br />FishyBC <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

There are some trim-tilt products out there but they are expensive.

 

[BF]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

maybe carry a short hunk of 2x4 that you stick on top of the pin when required (?)... If you wanted to make "fancy" you could notch it so that it stays in place. That's my first thought anyway. The shallow water drive on my 15 hp is just a little metal support that flips down and sits against the pin. Not high tech.<br /><br />Brent

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

You'll get more help if you don't double post the same question in two places.

 

[FishyBC]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

Sorry about my double post. I hit he Merc post first and realized that it's not a Merc only problem and wanted to broaden my Audience.<br /><br />It won't happen again.

 

[FishyBC]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

My biggest concern with how I do this is that the river is moving pretty good where we're fishing so I only have one crack at getting this in place. I need something that I can just lift the motor in drive pull into place and lower the motor on it in a matter of seconds.<br /><br />I'll try the wood idea but if anyone has a more permenant solution, that would be much appreciated.<br /><br />Pat

 

[DJ]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

Look at the first item on this page.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/boatproducts/mallsearch/power_tilt_trim/ <br /><br />You would want the PT-35. I believe it may be cheaper that the PT-130.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

Like i said they are expensive

 

[FishyBC]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

Thanks folks for the input. Looks like when I get the motor back from the complete tune up / Going over, I will have to put my fabricating hat on. There's got to be a way and I'm thinking about using a piece of wood to rough something out and then I will build something out of steel.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Shallow Water Drive Question

www.bobsmachine.com<br /><br />they have everything you need, from shallow water drive replacement nose cones for your lower unit to hyrolic and manual jack plates to lift that puppy outa the h2o