Question about motor height with pic

[scipper77]

I recently obtained a 12' aluminum boat and a 1961 Evinrude Fisherman (5.5 hp).

I have been through the motor and it is running like new but I have a question regarding the height of the motor.

When I run at WOT the boat will not plane out. If I sit in the middle bench it planes out fine but I cant reach the controls (don't ask).

It appears to me that the motor is to low. The anti cavitation plate sits about 2 inches below the transom.

Do you guys think the motor height is significant in my situation or should I just add some ballast in the bow and call it a day?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

We've got pretty much the same boat and power it with an '89 Evinrude 4HP Deluxe. While ours obviously won't plane, we have found it pushes it along much better with weight in the bow. So definitely give that a try.

 

[JB]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

Raise the engine. There is too much drag with the foot hanging down there. Even if you get her to plane by unbalancing the boat you will still burn about twice as much fuel.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

Raise the engine. There is too much drag with the foot hanging down there. Even if you get her to plane by unbalancing the boat you will still burn about twice as much fuel.

I am with you JB. The problem I face is that there is only enough room to raise the motor about 1/2 inch at the ransom. I am not ready to buy a jack plate but of there is a way to modify the transom to make it a little taller I would consider it.

I will have to look and see if I can bolt a board to the inside of the transom to raise it the 2 to 3 inches that I think I need. It's the aluminum cap that makes it a little tricky to modify. I'm not feeling brave enough to do any permanent structural changes to the boat. This thing is beautiful condition (other than the ugly paint job). The boat is a 1960 Cadillac and has no dents and takes on no water.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

with all do respect, id be more than happy with a vintage motor running like new, if you want to get from point "a" to point "b" on plane, up the hp at the stern, wanting more rpms might make your rowing skills a little bit better.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

with all do respect, id be more than happy with a vintage motor running like new, if you want to get from point "a" to point "b" on plane, up the hp at the stern, wanting more rpms might make your rowing skills a little bit better.

I am not looking for more rpms. And furthermore I see no problems with wanting to set up my outboard correctly, vintage or not.

I will have to assume that you somehow came under the impression that I wanted to get more out of my motor. I am pretty happy with the outboard, I am interested improving the way it is set up for my boat.

 

[62larkowner]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

i had this same issue on my 1972 ouchita 14ft with a merc 110, i added two 1 x 2 strips first about 2 ft long the other about 18" on tops side of transom ( with threeinch screws straight down), then wraped aluminum sheetmetal over top ( with silicon under it to seal it) , and screwed it down, gave me the hight i neaded and dont look to bad , as long as the clamps are still on original transom, all should work fine, did for me and helped plane issue,

 

[scipper77]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

i had this same issue on my 1972 ouchita 14ft with a merc 110, i added two 1 x 2 strips first about 2 ft long the other about 18" on tops side of transom ( with threeinch screws straight down), then wraped aluminum sheetmetal over top ( with silicon under it to seal it) , and screwed it down, gave me the hight i neaded and dont look to bad , as long as the clamps are still on original transom, all should work fine, did for me and helped plane issue,

I only wish of were that simple for me. I only have about 1/2 inch of room before the clamps would be on the transom cap. I have thought about replacing the wood on the outside of the transom with aluminum plate that would go above the top of the transom by about 3 inches. Problem is that the clamps would hit the transom cap.

Bottom line is that I am going to put 40 lbs or so in the tip of the bow and see the effect on performance.

 

[62larkowner]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

well its worth a shot, let us know how it works out , but if that doesnt help i have a few ideals that may help sence its a light weight motor maybe a homemade jackplate with some aluminum 2" angle or try my original ideal but reinforce it with maybe thicker aluminum plate and bolt through transom asnd silicone it,

trying to find pics from were i did mine but workin with new computer and seam to have misplaced the pics LOL

 

[scipper77]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

well its worth a shot, let us know how it works out , but if that doesnt help i have a few ideals that may help sence its a light weight motor maybe a homemade jackplate with some aluminum 2" angle or try my original ideal but reinforce it with maybe thicker aluminum plate and bolt through transom asnd silicone it,

trying to find pics from were i did mine but workin with new computer and seam to have misplaced the pics LOL

My homemade jack plate would consist of two lengths of 4" square tube mounted horizontally across the transom with an aluminum plate bolted to them.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

scipper - Look at this http://www.iboats.com/Transom-Elevators/dm/*******.115830040--**********.988453835--view_id.40157

It's for a 5 inch lift, but it may give an you an idea how to raise the motor 2 inches with out hitting the transom cap.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

Even if you get her to plane by unbalancing the boat you will still burn about twice as much fuel.

I actually would not be unbalancing the boat. When out alone it's me (200 lbs) the motor and gas tank all at the stern. Adding ballast would actually help re-balance the boat.

As far as fuel consumption, I don't know if I could go through the 6 gallon tank in a season. I only have 3 gallons in there and I have a feeling I will have to take the boat out at the end of the season to burn off the rest of the gas driving in circles at WOT.

So today I am going to throw a 40-50 lb bag of play sand in the tip of the bow and see how it does. I know it's not the correct way to correct the low motor but I don't see the harm. When I go out with someone else they can be my ballast instead of the sand.

Thanks to all who have offered me there insight.

EZ, here is a pic for you since I know we are the same age and have similar children situations.

 

[JB]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

Priceless pic, Scipper.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

I put a 50# bag of play sand in the front of the bow this morning and off I went. While I wouldn't say there was a noticeable difference in speed the boat was much more stable with the ballast in the front. Before the top of the transom sat pretty low in the water. I would say that the small amount of added weight in the front raised the transoms stance in the water by a full 2 inches.

Also the boat is now reasonably level at speed and the extra weight really helps take on the waves much better.

My description of the improvement in ride quality probably doesn't do justice to what a difference it made. Even If I do go through with raising the motor I will definitely keep the 50# of ballast in the tip of the bow whenever I go out alone or with just my 4yo (less than 40 lbs and sits in center bench).

I did notice that my WOT rpm's were not consistent. Squeezing the ball had no effect so I figure its down to a few things. Gunked up carb, fuel filter (I didn't change when I freshened up the motor for some reason), or sediment/bad gas in the bottom of tank. I dumped out the old gas and put fresh in but I'm sure some garbage was left in the bottom of the tank.

This motor is so easy to work on that I'll actually enjoy ripping into it. I'll check the coils as well, of course I doubt I'll do anything before winter except for maybe the fuel filter.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

What do I win?

 

[Tig]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

I've been through this motor raising routine on a few boats and with all due respect, I think we seriously over estimate the drag that an inch or two of motor shaft creates in mid and low speed applications.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

I am not looking for more rpms. And furthermore I see no problems with wanting to set up my outboard correctly, vintage or not.

I will have to assume that you somehow came under the impression that I wanted to get more out of my motor. I am pretty happy with the outboard, I am interested improving the way it is set up for my boat.

geez skipper, i was merely starting that you might be asking a bit too much from a 40 year old, small outboard, no offense intended. i can understand wanting to fine tune yer rig.......nothing beats the feeling of a good "hole shot" from a 5.5.

 

[62larkowner]

Re: Question about motor height with pic

well finly got the pics, i know its not the prittyest thing but it worked