What is the difference between short and long shaft outboards and how do I know which to buy for my boat?

Question

What is the difference between short and long shaft outboards and how do I know which to buy for my boat?

Answer 1

Ideally, the measurement from the top of your transom to the bottom of your transom will equal the distance between the inside of your outboard's mount to the horizontal plate above your outboard's propeller. That is the measurement you are looking for. Whether you call it short or long does not matter. That is the measurement you are looking for. They need to match.

Answer 2

short shaft = for a 15 inch transom

long shaft = for a 20 inch transom

measure from the keel to the top of the transom on the centerline

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

edit:  amended as per truenorth..............

btw, don't put a longshaft motor on a shortshaft boat - it's just more drag to slow you down.  noticeably less efficient

Answer 3

A short shaft motor is designed for use on a rowboat, inflatable or the like

A long shaft (or extra-long shaft) would be ideal for a sailboat, where the pitching would be more pronounced and could cause a short shaft motor to actually come out of the water while running. (Which causes extreme propeller shock which may "spin your hub" when it hits the water again.)

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Women like a long shaft.

Try measuring from the bottom of the transom to the top of the transom in the center. The gunwhales are irrelevant here.

Answer 5

the answer is in the question short=shorter shaft long=longer shaft.

it means the depth a driving shaft is from the  outboard mounting (transom normally) to depth of  power take off (propeller)

if you have a very shallow light boat a short shaft will be  best. for a heavier and deeper craft a long shaft will go down a bit deeper for better drive efficiency.

the propeller should not break! the surface of the water when driving the boat forward.

ideal choices  have probably already been made for you.

A  query to the manufacturers of the craft Will normally elicit a satisfactory response. Or you can try one  of the boating forums they are often quite helpful.