TOPIC: long shaft motor on short shaft transom

here is a idea i have been tossing around and want your ideas about it. i have a real nice 50 hp merc long shaft, and a jack plate so would it look stupid on a short transom boat? and would it make more stress on the transom? the boat is rated for a 45 hp and the transom is in good shape. i just do not know what it would look like. any thoughts? you will not tick me off, so tell me what you think. the boat is my 1961 fleetform, thanks frog

Frog,

Well you asked - so here are my thoughts. I believe a jack plate of any kind ruins the look and cool factor of a vintage boat. I personally look at it as a major comprimise. Your little boat needs a shorty to keep the lines clean. A jackplate will add weight to the boat, and it will look clunky and out of place. Short shaft parts are easy to obtain for most Merc and OMC engines. Another thing, the engine being lower on the transom makes is a bit quieter, as the rear seating and or splashwell helps to shield some of the sound from the cockpit.

There you go........

PS - what's wrong with that pretty little Merc on there now? It looks perfect for the boat!

Clamp a 2x6 to the top of the transom and have a look. That will tell you if you can live with it up there or not. It might look really dumb.

Personally, I'd find/make a short shaft motor.

I watched a guy backing his boat in the water with a long shaft on a short shaft boat. It was bolted without no added height. It almost hit a few times backing up. he didn't seem to care. It was a nice Merc too. I'm sure he ruined it.

Frog,
Get a hold of me I have a 45hp Mark 58a shorty for ya. Its a nice motor and I was going to use it on my fleetform but I have other motors I could use. I may choose to sell the whole rig off too so that may interest ya. IT has a lot of beautiful rigging and the windshield is perfect.
Bob

I thought I had pictures of it but guess not so I guess you will have to take a drive to rochester and come see it in person.

thanks guys, i was thinking the same, that it would look like h#ll. but needed to hear it from some one else. the deal is i have a nice running long 500, and the shortie has been sold. may be i'll find a good shortie to trade for. thanks for your input and i will not use the jack plate. frog

I'll put the final nail in the coffin. Outboards push against their transom bracket. Jackplates place the push point higher than many older transoms can handle. Thicker transoms (at least 2") and/or backing plates are recommended, adding even more weight.

Did that long ago on a old Allison. 5 up. Couple aluminum plates, block of wood, good to go.

option #2, get a hold of tim and tell him what you got and see if he has a short shaft leg and lower unit you could swing the power head on to...

thanks guys, i guess a shortie is what it will be. maybe next spring

Robby321, Is that a real live 1974 Honda CR250M on the back?

Frog are you any where near NY? I have a ?? 67 500 Shorty with a bad power head.

This is what my Dads Herter boat looks like with a long shaft.Used late model short shaft motors are very hard to find.Right up there with small hp remote control ones.

Cr250M's were not year specific,'73,'74 were the same except the very early ones that had billet cranks

stashm2, thanks for the offer. but i'am in minnesota and the trip would kill me, i can ride for about 1 hour and then my back hurts so bad i have to walk around for 10 min. and the shipping would be just as bad on my pocket book. frog

Hello, from southwestern, MN!

My name is Jim and my brother and I have been looking for a short shaft 50's 45-60 hp mk58 or mk75. I can get a long shaft motor, but the transom on the boat i am restoring ('56 Crestliner Voyager) is only 16 in. i was told that a swap from long to short is very difficult to perform. I am a decent mechanic, and have removed a lower unit from a 60 hp evinrude V4.

1.) Is this something I would be able to do?

2.) Would you by any chance have a shorty (either lower unit for a swap or the whole motor)?

Please let me know! I am new to the forum, but got a lot of great advice when we were working on our last boat project a 67 Starcraft Wildcat V. I will have to get pictures up of both boat projects now that I have an account.

Thanks!

Jim