Hello sandsailor...
...try this site, you can get very good advice there, some of the folks used to work for Johnson/Evinrude.Please let us know if you are able to add to the length of the shaft, it can be done, the parts may or may not be still available. Go to the Bombardia, (Spelling) site, they still have parts for OMC. (Johnson/Evinrude was Outboard Marine Corp, the Bombardia, (Or however you spell it) bought them out. They still have a lot of the parts. Get out the wallet!Jackhttp://forums.iboats.com/