shaft length question

[mike samilo]

can you use a short shaft on a boat intended for a long shaft and if done what would happen?Thanks for any insight

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Mike,

That arrangement usually does not work well. What usually happens with a too short of shaft is the prop will starve for water flow and you will have no forward thrust.

It will work for slow speed operation only. Even then you will need to confirm that the intake for the water pump is covered and not sucking air.

 

[mike samilo]

ok thanks for the info

 

[Coach Dauber]

I had a boat with a long shaft transom and tried a short shaft 25 merc on it. What a disaster, felt like a 10 horse with weeDs on the prop. Bought a kit from the dealer to convert the motor to a long shaft and was back in business.

 

[CGeminski]

The shaft length should allow for the cavitation plate to be at or slightly below the bottom of the hull. If it's shorter than that the prop is going to be near the level of the hull and wont have any water to bite into....