Is a 25 inch shaft better than a 20 inch shaft on the engine for a 222 O'Day sailboat? We are looking to buy a 6 hp 4 stroke long shaft engine.
Thanks,
Gene
Thanks,
Gene
engine shaft length
- Thread starter franporcaro
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,558
Hey Gene. You would be better off measuring the distance from the mount to the bottom of the boat on the transom. You have no idea where the motor mount is on the boats providing you with a recommendation.
In calm water, you will want the shaft to be a few inches into the water. You will not go anywhere if the prop is thrashing the surface water. If you have a water intake on the shaft, you must have it beneath the water's surface to keep the shaft cool. You will also want to get the shaft out of the water when sailing.
This often leads to using an adjustable motor mount.
Ideally, the short shaft will be lighter.
Note that if you are cruising the boat in waves and the shaft length you are using has the prop near the surface, the prop will be coming out of the water as you go over the top of waves. This would mean you need a long shaft to maintain steerage. I wish there were simple answers. You need to understand your boat and the conditions you plan to sail/cruise in and then select systems that will work best for your boat.
In calm water, you will want the shaft to be a few inches into the water. You will not go anywhere if the prop is thrashing the surface water. If you have a water intake on the shaft, you must have it beneath the water's surface to keep the shaft cool. You will also want to get the shaft out of the water when sailing.
This often leads to using an adjustable motor mount.
Ideally, the short shaft will be lighter.
Note that if you are cruising the boat in waves and the shaft length you are using has the prop near the surface, the prop will be coming out of the water as you go over the top of waves. This would mean you need a long shaft to maintain steerage. I wish there were simple answers. You need to understand your boat and the conditions you plan to sail/cruise in and then select systems that will work best for your boat.
I had a 23 foot sailboat with an outboard on the back for 15 years and am adamant that the deeper that propeller is the better off you are.
When you really need it to make way against headwinds and waves on the nose the propeller coming out of the water will limit your capability and you are helpless against it.
Been there done that.
When you really need it to make way against headwinds and waves on the nose the propeller coming out of the water will limit your capability and you are helpless against it.
Been there done that.
This is the right answer. We had a Catalina 22, 1981 boat bought in 1983. They started making them almost a decade if not more before then and EVRYONE even back then said get the long shaft or you'll regret it They were right. Still are.
While jssailem's answer is correct, it is one of those "Ask the time, then get an answer as to how to build a watch."
Get the long shaft.
Even a 25" shaft on my O'Day 25 wasn't long enough. It would frequently come out of the water even though it was as low as it could go. A prop that is too close to the surface makes handling in the marina very difficult and dangerous. You lose power and that means far longer emergency stops. It also means that you might not be able to fight through chop or a strong headwind. Overall it makes for a potentially dangerous and unpleasant time