[CATCH AND EAT]

Okay you avid sled freeks. I had a conversation with another i-fisher last night regarding long or short shaft kicker motors on sleds. Pros and cons please. Information you need is I fish the clack, columbia, willamette with this sled. :cheers:

sorry I did not clarify "kicker motor" when I first posted this thread.

[ 07-08-2003, 11:03 AM: Message edited by: CATCH AND EAT ]

 

[jimh]

I don't have an outboard jet on my boat, but you should just buy the one that is the right length for the height of the stern on your boat. I expect that you save a slight amount of weight going with a short shaft, but it probably isn't noticable.

 

[Troller]

Get one that is the correct lenght. IF it is to short it will cavitate and wont push the boat. If the length is to long then you take a chance of hitting the bottom. When I got my honda kicker I had to go to the extra long shaft (sailboat model) to get the correct length. They were selling a short , long and the extra long.

 

[CATCH AND EAT]

a bit of additional information here. It is a kicker motor that I am looking for here. The sled is a flat bottom.

 

[lost_sailor]

Depends solely on the distance from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. Use a tape measure!

 

[Small Fry]

Here is what I learned. My old Johnson kicker had a 21" shaft length. Under trolling speeds and up to half throttle it worked fine any thing over that it would cavitate. I tried moving it back on the transom, titling at a different angel. Nothing worked. I ended up with a kicker with a 24"shaft and it works great. 3" made all the difference in the world.

 

[Tilla]

My prop is pretty chewed up right now, I'm hitting a couple of times each trip now.
There is a doo dad for about $15.00 or so called a reverse thruster cup or something that reduces the amount of exhaust gas fed through the prop in reverse for better thrust, but it's for reverse.
An electric is an option, I have a 24 vdc 74 lb thrust Minnkota (with some custom modifications), but as a trolling motor electrics seem to lack torque in wind and tough steering situations. But it does good for a 21' with 7' wide bottom sled. And they are pretty stealthy in these low water conditions. :wink:
So, 3 motors fit the bill.

 

[Sore Back]

My opinion is to mount a short on the transom and if you have adequate prop depth, you have a match.

Good luck

 

[Silver Hilton]

I have always viewed the prop as a wear part. I vote for long shaft. You get better thrust, better steering, at the cost of a 50 dollar prop job every year.

 

[Otolith]

If you're talking about a Johnson, its not the length of the shaft but rather how you use it that counts


:wink:

 

[Tilla]

Well I am not much help here, I had the transom height made for a long shaft kicker first. This is very very important for shallow water operation(sidedrifting). The kicker was estimated to be placed 1/4 the way in from the side, the 200 merc was then mounted about 3 inches high in the center so it does not rest on the transom but relies on the through-bolts. ( I could have gotten a sailboat length kicker and had full transom height but I already had a 8 and 15 hp LS kicker).
A long shaft is easily adapted for a drift boat kicker if needed, but is too long for a typical cartopper/johnboat.

 

[CATCH AND EAT]

That was pretty much what I was trying to get at Glen. On my 18' alumiweld flat bottom I have a long shaft right now. In talking with the I-fisher he suggested that a short shaft may be better if you are into boondoggin or side drifting. You kind of loose reverse but you don't polevault your boat in the shallows either.

I am going to be due for another motor most likely next year. the old 8 horse is pretty tired these days and has some problems. Just trying to think ahead. Appreciate the imput.

 

[Small Fry]

Nice one Oto.
I knew that was going to happen!!! :laugh: