how to measure transom height for outboard motor

*The Factors indicates the adjustment affected by on your boat type, the outboard working environment, and the transom distance as discussed above. Boats with extended transoms, brackets that extend the mounting bracket for the outboard motor behind the back of the boat, can use a higher outboard height. Outboards designed for saltwater applications usually have longer shafts. If your boat is newer and the manufacturer is still in business, you might also want to try to give them a call. The motor length corresponds to the transom height of the boat, measured from the keel to gunwale at the transom. He is a There is a simple test to see if your outboard motor is set at the best height. gtag('js', new Date()); The outboard comes with mounting holes and brackets. Also, the boat will be more likely to hit bottom or submerge objects such as rocks or logs. 7. xmlHttp.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json'); It also includes attaching the right engine. Thats a fairly simple list of symptoms, but if your motor is too low, youll probably notice at least one of them. It doesnt matter if you have a fiberglass boat, bay boat, big or small boat. It also cuts into speed and fuel efficiency. Many boat transoms are modified to use a different length of outboard by using a bracket. Basically, there are three main ways to measure motor height (that I'm aware of); probably the most common is: # 1: Height of the motor off the transom This is simply a measurement taken from the top of the transom (top of the aluminum plate on top of the transom), to the bottom of the motor "brackets". Measure from there down to the top of the cavitation plate, also known as the anti-ventilation plate. One of the main concerns is causing the engine to overheat if not enough water reaches the engine to keep it cool. Theyre also useful if the back of your boat has a non-standard measurement. This measurement was approximately 4". the propshaft below or above the pad. Place the bracket on the transom to the left of the main outboard or rudder. The faster your boat, the more critical it is to get the sizing just right. In the past, though, it housed the officers and captain of 17th, 18th and 19th century sailing ships. (Any measurement given as "off the transom" This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Boat transomangles play a pivotal role in the flexibility of the boats trimming abilities. If you went too long it would still work but it may lack in performance. Measuring the shaft length can be done in various ways, but the most common way is by using a tape measure. I mean it is better to be safe than sorry, am I right? xmlHttp.open('POST', 'https://bes.gcp.data.bigcommerce.com/nobot'); This is measured by the propeller shaft being parallel to the vessels bottom. If you have a small boat with a 15 to 17 inch aft transom, youll most likely need a short shaft outboard. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Check out the Westshore Marine & Leisure google plus page! So you should just measure the height of the boats transom from the center down to the lowest point of the hull, and compare transom height with the outboard shaft length numbers. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. Shaft lengths are available in increments of 5. Is my outboard long or short shaft? There are instances where a lower mount may be okay. The form of a boats transom varies depending on the manufacturer and model. This could also affect your travelling capabilities on the boat trailer. var interval = setInterval(function () { Some boats are equipped with transom-hung outboards while others have a bracket. Use the mounting bracket on the motor to know where it will sit on the boat. A reverse transom that sits too high can impact the propellers of the motor and motor bracket. Many single-engine boats mount a smaller auxiliary motor for emergency use. Measure from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. The collapsing bubbles are loaded with extremely low-pressure water vapor, which causes damage to a variety of surfaces as they collapse. Most of the time, adding a hydrofoil to an outboard improves performance. loadScript(ptScript); However, youll notice a little increase in drag and a decrease in top-end performance. #1: Height Assistant Measuring tape Grease pencil Ask a friend to hold one end of a measuring tape at the extreme outer edge of the top of the transom while you pull the tape across its width to the opposite outer edge to measure the "length of the taffrail," which is the width of the boat across the top edge of the stern. (function (d) { disregard the downward pointing "hooks" at the front of the The amount of degrees the transom leans back from vertical is known as the transom angle. However, the motor should not be raised more than 5 inches above the standard position. However, with the outboard shaft length too short, meaning the prop is too close to the surface, the engine is likely to ventilate and therefore slip on acceleration or lose power. Its still smart to measure it yourself though, just in case, the design changed over the years. window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Picking the right shaft length is mostly a factor of the transom height or the back of the boat. I would ask you to go back and measure the transom of your boat. On most newer center consoles and offshoreboat transoms might include a rear door leading to a swim platform as well as a molded setback bracket. Boaters who consider going with a higher mount can see increased speeds. The pressure behind your hand dropped as you slid your hand back and forth through the water. A transom saver, which can change the spacing between the lower unit and the trailer, negates some of the support. } It was a 23-foot Crestliner Grand Cayman pontoon boat. All rights reserved. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transoms height. However, the shaft length for smaller boats could be long or short depending on its style, speed requirement, etc. center of the propshaft. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. })(); So you should just measure the height of the boat's transom from the center down to the lowest point of the hull, and compare transom height with the outboard shaft length numbers. Chances are the boat was designed with a specific size of outboard in mind. You will also risk hitting bottom or submerge objects more frequently such as rocks or logs. The motor is what powers the boat so the two go hand-in-hand. s.setAttribute("src", script); boats.com, 1221 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, USA. Later in the article is an image that shows you exactly where to measure. var addy_textd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5 = 'info' + '@' + 'vanssports' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloakd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5').innerHTML += ''+addy_textd53b59933f6c3f2e8b59f1b4a6d41fa5+'<\/a>'; Your goal is to measure how the outboard will sit, so start from the clamping plate and follow the centerline of the hull. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; With this in mind, how can I determine if my outboard has a short or long shaft? The correct shaft length for your boat depends on a few factors. Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Wordpress! What matters is the actual measurement in the specifications, not the name. out the confusion. On the downside, a higher mount can interfere with the boaters steering capabilities. Setting Height of Outboard Motor - YouTube 0:00 / 0:46 Setting Height of Outboard Motor nates90 71 subscribers Subscribe 83 Share 63K views 7 years ago #boatservice #outboardmotor. This number will likely be shorter than that for a single-engine installation since you do not necessarily measure to the point of the keel. var h = d.getElementsByTagName("head"), The center is the point where your outboard motor is (ideally) located. This also means it can affect the safety of the boat. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.2 841.8] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Read the following to get the optimal shaft length for outboard motors! Before we get started lets see what a boat transom is and what it does. To do so, take a measurement from the very top to the very bottom of the transom in the precise center. And thats usually the case since the electric outboards are designed with larger and more efficient propeller that needs longer shaft. A yardstick will help you determine if your outboard engine is at the right height. A long shaft engine requires a height of 20 and extra-long shaft engines will need a transom height of 25. However, you will need an understanding of how the degrees will alter the boats usability. The pros and cons of properly . #2. Mounting the motor lower on the boat transom can create excessive spray, increase case drag, reduce underwater clearance, and negatively impact faster boats. So if you are measuring the outboard shaft length for smaller boats, inflatables, dinghies, sailboat or other low-speed work boats, the cavitation plate is often about 2 below the bottom. It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transom's height. not sure that it's still used. Outboard shaft length plays a crucial role in the performance of your boat. It can also improve the experience of driving a faster boat. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Whether you already own a boat or looking for your first watercraft we are here to service your needs. Sluggish speeds, poor handling, heavy spray, porpoising, or even water pushing up into the cowling are all signs that an outboard is set too low. When mounting the engine, you want the cavitation plate to be 1 above the boat bottom for every 12 away from the transom. The standard installation of an outboard has the top of the transom of the boat at the same level as the bottom of the motor portion of the outboard. if (PayTomorrow) { The boat transom can be flat with zero degree angles. Step 2 requires the propeller's radius (check the user manual and then the technical drawing). Each one has a totally different effect on the boats performance. Having the cavitation plate too low will cause excess drag and reduced performance at high speeds. Finding the right size is a matter of looking at what youve got and taking out the measuring tape. The first order of business is to measure your boat for the ideal fit. No matter what size of boat you are running, one of the most critical choices you can make when buying an outboard motor is the shaft length. (Putting a To achieve this, the motor itself has to be attached at the correct height. Smaller inflatables and dinghies needshort shaft motors, whilst bigger boats require long or, in some circumstances, extreme long shaft versions. on How to Measure Outboard Shaft Length: The Only Guide You Need, ePropulsion vs Torqeedo: An All-Round Comparison, 55 lb Thrust Trolling Motors: All You Need to Know Before Purchase, Spot Lock Trolling Motor: Is It Worth It & Best Options in 2022, Wiring 24V Trolling Motors: 24 Volt Wiring Diagram (with Video), LiFePO4 Battery: Why Lithium iron Phosphate Batteries Are Your Best Options in 2022, Minn Kota vs MotorGuide: Best Option in 2022. Triton. Follow Westshore Marine & Leisure on Twitter! Other boats that need long shafts are. endobj 12 Small Fishing Boat Accessories to Buy Today. I live for the weekends when I can go out on the water and escape the stress of life on land. But in many cases, its a little more complicated than that alone. Step 2: After you get the transom height, add the radius of the propeller (check the user manual, and then technical drawing for the number) to calculate the minimum shaft length needed to make it work. Ideally, you want the outboards cavitation plate, also called the anti-ventilation plate, to be at the same level as the bottom of your hull. % Any owner seeking the last bit of speed from an outboard-powered boat should grab a yard stick. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. Having the cavitation plate a bit lower than the transom is preferable to having it too high. This will be the Using your existing control box and gauges will save you quite a bit of money in the end. No one wants to have issues with a new transom or boat repairs. For boats equipped with a bracket, calculate the same measurement but based on the bracket and not the transom. straight edge from the center of the pad, but this time you're measuring If mounting directly to a boat transom: Measure from the top of the transom down to the bottom of the hull or keel (lowest point). The boater must also consider if the boat transomsupport is designed to bear the weight of a higher mount. Remanufactured 4 Cylinder 4-Stroke Cylinder Heads, Remanufactured 6 Cylinder 4-Stroke Cylinder Heads, Trim Relays, Trim Solenoids & Sending Units, Remanufactured V6 & V8 4-Stroke Cylinder Heads, Volvo Cobra SX Bearings and Bearing Carriers, Volvo Cobra SX Driveshaft, U-Joints & Parts, Volvo Cobra SX Transom Assembly & Bellows. Amazon has plate extensions to allow adjustments without buying a new motor: T-H Marine Jack Plate Extension. To achieve this, the motor itself has to be attached at the correct height. h[0].appendChild(s); 5/rC,aQhsK@Q. Rebuilt - What You Need to Know, Lower Unit and Sterndrive Break-In Instructions. If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. If you have an outboard motor, the distance from one end to another will be found on the side or on a label near its bottom. Another important measurement is the transom angle. Generally, the anti-ventilation plate on most engines is aligned with the bottom of the vessel. Variables to consider when determining the mounting height include the size and style of the boat and the length of the outboard motor's shaft. The height is approximately six inches higher than with a propeller. This is the dimension you'll need when selecting a width for your outboard motor's mounting bracket. Place the rulers end on the ground behind the club and let the club to rest on top of it. Spark Plug 25.0nm(18.4 Ft-lb) (2.55 Kgf-m) (function () { This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Most transom savers can support up to a 150HP motor, which is sufficient for most regular boats. As mentioned above, the operation of the propeller relies on the transom height. mpeInit(); You'll need a short shaft outboard if it's 15 or less than an inch shorter. Hold the tape on the top, center of the taffrail and measure straight down to the point, usually a sharp angle, where the transom joins the bottom of the boat. The clamp bracket is designed so that the engine's mounting height on the transom can be adjusted higher than standard. Raising the motor increases the speed of the boat while decreasing the effort needed to turn the boat. If youre going the other way around and trying to figure out how long the shaft on your outboard is, measuring it is equally easy. <>/Metadata 127 0 R/ViewerPreferences 128 0 R>> It is extremely important that the boater understands the significance of the transoms height. Knowing the width, height and depth of your transom allows you to make several important decisions when selecting or purchasing a new outboard. If you said something smaller than that, thats where it can get tricky. The height of the transom is calculated by measuring from the bottom of the hull to the top of the transom, using the center line. Doing this can have adverse effects. your motor will be higher.) Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. If you decide to make adjustments, please consult a marine engine dealer about the boat design. Remember, if you use a longer outboard shaft than you need you will be increasing your draft. Mounting the outboard motor in accordance with the industry standards is important.

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