engine mounting

B

BrentB

New member
Joined
Jul 15, 2006
Messages
4,420
Reaction score
0
When mounting an engine, is there any guidance on the proper engine height? or do you mount in the middle then adjust later?
 
You want the cavitation plate very close to the bottom of the boat. The easiest way is to make the boat on the trailer as close to level as possible (same as in the water)--and then clamp a level to the bottom of the cavitation plate. With the engine at right angles to the hull (and this would be with the level "level"--the level upper edge should just touch the bottom of the boat.

The rule of thumb for set backs is 1" higher for 1 foot set back. But there can be idiosyncries, and the engine may have to sit from one inch above to one inch below the bottom of the boat--the level is a place to start.

When running on a full plane, you like the cavitation plate to be just on the top of the water.
 
My impression after 3 different engines on two boats, is that dealers tend to mount the engines low. On both boats, when the dust settled, I was running in the bottom hole (highest setting) and I wish I had another hole. The only problem was on both boats there wasn't enough transom left to raise the motor. On my 150 Yamaha, the original dealer set it up with the cavitation plate a good 2 inches below the bottom. I think most dealers are thinking V-hull with dead rise and not thinking flat bottom.

I like Bob's approach. I just ran this last weekend with a Permatrim installed, and I believe I am at the correct height if not about 1/2 inch low. I can see the Permatrim through the spray over the cavitation plate.
 
Back
Top