Outboard lower unit depth

[vizwhiz]

I have an older ('93) extra long shaft 9.9 four-stroke that runs great. I've heard different people talking about long shaft and extra long shaft, and i know what the difference between the two is, but what I don't know is how deep each sits below the waterline on a 26' D/S.

Sum raised his slightly, and I'm thinking of doing the same to make the top of it more accessible from the cockpit, but don't want to raise it too much that the prop comes out of the water in waves...

So how much do i need below the waterline to keep it in the water? As a note, particularly to Sum, mine probably won't be as heavily loaded as Kera Jane, at least not regularly, so i guess that needs to be considered too...

 

[Sumner]

... As a note, particularly to Sum, mine probably won't be as heavily loaded as Kera Jane, at least not regularly, so i guess that needs to be considered too...

I never thought about our boat sitting lower in the water so the amount I raised the motor having less difference. I raised the water line stripe about 1 inch and we sit on it now. Not sure if 1-1 1/2 inches deeper is going to make much difference. It does take a lot of weight to lower the boat in the water much, think how much 1 inch of water weighs given the boat's section area size at the water line.

We raised the motor to the extent that it is in the water the same as a long shaft would be, 5 inch raise.....

....... I think Walt was maybe less than that.

We do not move on days of short period steep waves if we can avoid it. I think a couple times we were moving in 2-3 foot seas where you can get the occasional wave double those figures. I can't remember the prop ever coming out. Times the waves were higher we just sat on anchor as probably the winds were also high. If you are going to be conservative in your sailing like we are I think 'long shaft' depth is fine. If you are the more adventurous type I'd put the prop in deeper.

I did make ours so that ....

...you don't have to remove the main side brackets to lower the motor into the well. Just take the 4 bolts out that holds the motor plate/board off and lower the motor into the well with the brackets in place of on each side. We never have done this but could even on the water if needed since we have....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-16.html

... the motor hoist back there. Our 3 1/2 HP Tohatsu is a long shaft so if we needed to put that on to get home for some reason we would remove the plate and put it down on the transom at the motor well,

Sum

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[vizwhiz]

Thanks Sum...I was contemplating just adding a "riser" to the motor well that would raise the motor 3-4 inches, but didn't want to lose the value of the XLS on the motor. I figured that this would also help with several of the other issues with the motor, such as the limited turning and the reach and height of the motor tiller.

Starting to work on a tiller extender like yours. Appears that you bolt through it from below, hex heads beneath the motor structure. About a 1"square tube coming up from the mounting plate?