Champion Bass Boat long or short shaft

[badjo]

Anyone know if a 1988 Champion 18-4" bass boat should have a long or short shaft Mercury outboard?

The boat currently has a 2008 Mercury 150 efi short shaft.
The motor seems to sit very low in the boat/waterline and if I was to use a higher mount it would no doubt have cavitation issues. (no jackplate)

 

[bud smith]

Re: Champion Bass Boat long or short shaft

short shaft

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Champion Bass Boat long or short shaft

You had better measure the transom.

Generally bass boats use a long shaft and I have not seen or heard of a short shaft bass boat. Short shafts are very rare.

The measurement you need is exactly vertical (not along the transom which is angled) from the top of the transom to the bottom of the keel.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Champion Bass Boat long or short shaft

^ measure

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Champion Bass Boat long or short shaft

Is the engine mounted directly on the transom, or set back on a jack plate? Can make a difference as the farther the engine is away from the transom the shallower it runs in the water....aka short shaft on a long shaft transom......but it's not on the transom!

If it is on a jack plate, make your measurement with the engine vertical to the hull and run your straight edge from along the bottom (touching the rulers full length or in at least 2 places...aka if the ruler sticks 2' under the bottom, ensure that that it is parallel with it, touches the full 2') straight out till it's under the anti-vent plate. Measure not only the height of that (AV plate to ruler), but the distance the clamp bracket of the engine is to the place on the transom where an engine would normally mount (length of setback).

Mark