I recently acquired a Catalina 27, 1979 model. I need to purchase an outboard motor and don't know if I need a long shaft or short shaft. Anyone have a similar model that has an outboard on it?
Outboard motor length
- Thread starter David575
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Generic answers like that are simply not accurate. There are many, many different mounting arrangements on many, many different boats. On a C27, if it is an outboard model, the cutout is quite low. A long shaft not only has rudder interference problems, but it DRAGS IN THE WATER when sailing at anything more than about 4.5 knots, even when tilted up (I've sailed on one at speed). I have many years of actual, real life, first hand experience, with C27 outboard models. I have personally used at, various times, 5 different short shaft outboards that never came out of the water. Quite the opposite. At any speed, the cowling is almost touching the water. The combination of the low mounting position and the fact that the boat will squat in the rear under power, means that the motor will not be airborne, even in the biggest seas. No offense to the Capri 26 skipper, a boat which I really like, but I'm talking literally hundreds of hours of motoring with this boat. Short shaft is not just OK; it is better.
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Thanks for the education. I appreciate the advice from someone that knows these boats, Obviously I have quite a bit to learn about this model.
Accurate
(jimg)A long shaft not only has rudder interference problems, but it DRAGS IN THE WATER when sailing at anything more than about 4.5 knots, even when tilted up.
Inaccurate. It may drag a little, but it will not interfere with the rudder. See picture. intermittent dragging is likely preferred to poor prop bite.
(jimg)I have many years of actual, real life, first hand experience, with C27 outboard models. I have personally used at, various times, 5 different short shaft outboards that never came out of the water. Quite the opposite. At any speed, the cowling is almost touching the water.
Once under way, maybe, with power squat. But initially? doubtfull. Unless you have ballast in the lazzerette.
(jimg)The combination of the low mounting position and the fact that the boat will squat in the rear under power, means that the motor will not be airborne, even in the biggest seas. No offense to the Capri 26 skipper, a boat which I really like, but I'm talking literally hundreds of hours of motoring with this boat. Short shaft is not just OK; it is better.
Your experience does not = best performance. Cite for me specifically where a long shaft outboard interferred with a cat 27 rudder designed for an outboard. I would even bet that a long shaft would improve your standing start performance, and definately reverse.
It is in fact accurate. A sailboat has the bulk of bouyancy in the center, which inherently levers the ends (bow and stern) in rough water. The prop escaping the water usually occurs at low speed, when there is no wash aft to smooth out the sea. However, the real danger is standing start performance and stopping. I've seen many a cat 27 tread water initially because of poor prop contact, and nearly dead in reverse, with water pressure backing into the transom and stern hull underside due to a high prop. Your boat may be heavier in the stern, who knows. But recommending a long shaft is sound advice. I've seen numerous near collisions because of poor prop contact. Engine whining, water spraying, operator panicking.
(jimg)A long shaft not only has rudder interference problems, but it DRAGS IN THE WATER when sailing at anything more than about 4.5 knots, even when tilted up.
Inaccurate. It may drag a little, but it will not interfere with the rudder. See picture. intermittent dragging is likely preferred to poor prop bite.
(jimg)I have many years of actual, real life, first hand experience, with C27 outboard models. I have personally used at, various times, 5 different short shaft outboards that never came out of the water. Quite the opposite. At any speed, the cowling is almost touching the water.
Once under way, maybe, with power squat. But initially? doubtfull. Unless you have ballast in the lazzerette.
(jimg)The combination of the low mounting position and the fact that the boat will squat in the rear under power, means that the motor will not be airborne, even in the biggest seas. No offense to the Capri 26 skipper, a boat which I really like, but I'm talking literally hundreds of hours of motoring with this boat. Short shaft is not just OK; it is better.
Your experience does not = best performance. Cite for me specifically where a long shaft outboard interferred with a cat 27 rudder designed for an outboard. I would even bet that a long shaft would improve your standing start performance, and definately reverse.
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