outboard motor shaft length

[cjb300]

Hi all,

I have been lurking here and searching the forums, but I haven't found the information I am looking for. Hopefully I can get some of your opinions.

I need to buy an outboard for my Catalina 22 and want to know what length shaft do you all consider appropriate?

It can get pretty choppy where I intend to sail.

I look forward to your opinions and advice.

Thanks!

CJ
Covington, LA

 

[Ken]

shaft length

Welcome CJ,

I have the 25" Nissan it's come out of the water no more than a couple of times both in some nasty water over the years, both those times I dropped it to the lower setting and had no other problems. You've guessed by now I use the top settings on the motor mount. You didn't say which motor mount, I have the Garhauer tubular mount. (pic)

 

[Chester]

We're using a Tohatsu 4hp with a 20" shaft. Sailing on a small lake, the only time it has left the water was when a rather larger than necessary power boat hit us with a 4 ft wake.

We have the same mounting bracket. I'm almost wondering if ours is mounted a little low. In the higher of the two low settings, the board that the outboard clamps onto catches about an inch of water at its base when we are under power. It seems to me like this would cause some unecessary stress on the bracket, although I guess it has been like that for over 30 years now without pulling out of the transom.

 

[Albanach]

Re: shaft length

Outboards usually come in two lengths: Short ( tinnies) and long shaft (sail boats). You will then have to make sure, that the O/B’s mount is at the correct height so that it does not cavitate and also not leave the water in a small chop. Also, look for a mount with load capacity that exceeds the HP you are going to use. For my 8 hp (for a 23 ft boat) I had a 25hp rated mount.