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Author Topic:   Bought the wrong shaft length - need advice

tomroe posted 04-04-2004 08:27 PM ET (US)
I bought a 1997 Evinrude 225 to put on my 1978 V-20 Outrage. Unfortunately I assumed it was a 25" shaft but when I picked it up discovered it is a 30" shaft. It was my mistake for not clarifying, but I had already committed to the deal and now am not sure which is the best course of action.
I can either;
Have the shaft changed to 25" for about $800.00.
Sell it and keep looking for the correct motor.
Keep the engine and install a jack plate.
Any ideas?
Sal DiMercurio posted 04-04-2004 09:28 PM ET (US)
Yep, those are your 3 options.
The best prices I've found for changing shaft length are from ...baymfg.com....a company in Ohio.
If I'm not mistaken, that 30" shaft is a 2 piece & you only need to get the lower portion.
Sal
Plotman posted 04-05-2004 07:19 AM ET (US)
You can get a manual jack plate for about $125 - bob's machine shop makes nice ones.
Bigshot posted 04-05-2004 03:30 PM ET (US)
Actually there is a 4th. If your engine is 30" and has a 5" block(spacer) between the lower unit and mid section which makes it a 30", just remove the spacer and buy a 25" used lower unit(E-Bay) or have a new drive and shiftshaft installed for about the same $$$. If the midsection is actually made 5" longer in a mold.....you be screwed and jackplate here you come.
LHG posted 04-05-2004 04:16 PM ET (US)
All 30" engines are accomplished with a 5" spacer on the 25" model. Just remove the spacer, assuming the drive shaft and other components are sleeved. If not, a new 25" drive shaft and other components would be required.
David Jenkins posted 04-05-2004 08:52 PM ET (US)
The jackplate is a good idea. Even if your boat gets swamped, your motorhead will stay high and dry.
peetmin posted 04-06-2004 12:01 AM ET (US)
Tom, I just went down the same path by choice. Tom Clark had a very good point (in a differnt thread) the fact that the 30" shaft mounted on a 5" vertical lift plate gets the motor farther above or out of the water. This can work to your advantage on a boat that had some issues with water coming in the back because of the notch transom. I have a picture of my 30" shaft on top of the 5" CMC vertical lift plate at the bottom of the page.
http://home.comcast.net/~p.butterfield/spring.html
Hope this helps, I have been happy with my decision. Pete
tomroe posted 04-06-2004 08:23 AM ET (US)
Thanks everybody for the input.
It does not appear to have a spacer, just the lower unit, mid section and head.
I had resisted the jack plate idea because for some reason I had only thought of using an offset jack plate. I was concerned because this motor is heavier than what the boat was designed for and might put too much stress on the transom if offset. However, after looking at peetmin's application I think that the vertical jack plate is the way to go.
Thanks again.

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Author	Topic: Bought the wrong shaft length - need advice
tomroe	posted 04-04-2004 08:27 PM ET (US) I bought a 1997 Evinrude 225 to put on my 1978 V-20 Outrage. Unfortunately I assumed it was a 25" shaft but when I picked it up discovered it is a 30" shaft. It was my mistake for not clarifying, but I had already committed to the deal and now am not sure which is the best course of action. I can either; Have the shaft changed to 25" for about $800.00. Sell it and keep looking for the correct motor. Keep the engine and install a jack plate. Any ideas?
Sal DiMercurio	posted 04-04-2004 09:28 PM ET (US) Yep, those are your 3 options. The best prices I've found for changing shaft length are from ...baymfg.com....a company in Ohio. If I'm not mistaken, that 30" shaft is a 2 piece & you only need to get the lower portion. Sal
Plotman	posted 04-05-2004 07:19 AM ET (US) You can get a manual jack plate for about $125 - bob's machine shop makes nice ones.
Bigshot	posted 04-05-2004 03:30 PM ET (US) Actually there is a 4th. If your engine is 30" and has a 5" block(spacer) between the lower unit and mid section which makes it a 30", just remove the spacer and buy a 25" used lower unit(E-Bay) or have a new drive and shiftshaft installed for about the same $$$. If the midsection is actually made 5" longer in a mold.....you be screwed and jackplate here you come.
LHG	posted 04-05-2004 04:16 PM ET (US) All 30" engines are accomplished with a 5" spacer on the 25" model. Just remove the spacer, assuming the drive shaft and other components are sleeved. If not, a new 25" drive shaft and other components would be required.
David Jenkins	posted 04-05-2004 08:52 PM ET (US) The jackplate is a good idea. Even if your boat gets swamped, your motorhead will stay high and dry.
peetmin	posted 04-06-2004 12:01 AM ET (US) Tom, I just went down the same path by choice. Tom Clark had a very good point (in a differnt thread) the fact that the 30" shaft mounted on a 5" vertical lift plate gets the motor farther above or out of the water. This can work to your advantage on a boat that had some issues with water coming in the back because of the notch transom. I have a picture of my 30" shaft on top of the 5" CMC vertical lift plate at the bottom of the page. http://home.comcast.net/~p.butterfield/spring.html Hope this helps, I have been happy with my decision. Pete
tomroe	posted 04-06-2004 08:23 AM ET (US) Thanks everybody for the input. It does not appear to have a spacer, just the lower unit, mid section and head. I had resisted the jack plate idea because for some reason I had only thought of using an offset jack plate. I was concerned because this motor is heavier than what the boat was designed for and might put too much stress on the transom if offset. However, after looking at peetmin's application I think that the vertical jack plate is the way to go. Thanks again.