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View Full Version : Engine Shaft length on a V21

Destroyer
11-08-2011, 10:34 AM
Quick question. Does anyone know what the engine shaft length on a V21 is? Someone was telling me that a 25" was the proper length on the engine. I thought that it was a 20". Anyone know for sure what the proper length is? (without a jack plate) :head:
THEFERMANATOR
11-08-2011, 11:49 AM
All V21's are 25" shaft from the factory. I know Reel used a jackplate and dropped his 20" down all the way with it and got away with it.
Destroyer
11-08-2011, 12:02 PM
All V21's are 25" shaft from the factory. I know Reel used a jackplate and dropped his 20" down all the way with it and got away with it.

Thanks Ferm, that's exactly the info I needed... You da man!! :clap:
smokeonthewater
11-08-2011, 10:42 PM
fwiw... if you have the boat all you have to do is measure from the top of the transom to the keel http://www.smalloutboards.com/shaft.htm

Mine is 20" btw.... I thought that was the norm but I'm new to V-20's?
Destroyer
11-08-2011, 11:29 PM
fwiw... if you have the boat all you have to do is measure from the transom to the keel http://www.smalloutboards.com/shaft.htm

Mine is 20" btw.... I thought that was the norm but I'm new to V-20's?

You're correct, 20" is the norm for a V20. But when they made the V21 they basically added a built in bracket on the stern, and for a V21 the norm is 25"...which makes me a few hundred dollars poorer since I'll either have to convert my 20" Merc to a 25" or add a jack plate to lower the Merc. Either way it's gonna cost a few sheckles.. I'm kinda leaning towards converting it since I have to change the impeller for routine maintenance anyways. Anyone have any thoughts on the matter? Anyone have a 25" lower end for a 1991 Merc 200?
THEFERMANATOR
11-08-2011, 11:36 PM
You're correct, 20" is the norm for a V20. But when they made the V21 they basically added a built in bracket on the stern, and for a V21 the norm is 25"...which makes me a few hundred dollars poorer since I'll either have to convert my 20" Merc to a 25" or add a jack plate to lower the Merc. Either way it's gonna cost a few sheckles.. I'm kinda leaning towards converting it since I have to change the impeller for routine maintenance anyways. Anyone have any thoughts on the matter? Anyone have a 25" lower end for a 1991 Merc 200?


They get about $550 for the 5" spacer kit for the outboard, so finding a 25" engine with a blown powerhead may be cheaper, then resell your old 20" stuff to recover the profit. Soundsl ike to much work, you should ship it down here and I'll hang this 225 I got on it.
Destroyer
11-08-2011, 11:47 PM
They get about $550 for the 5" spacer kit for the outboard, so finding a 25" engine with a blown powerhead may be cheaper, then resell your old 20" stuff to recover the profit. Soundsl ike to much work, you should ship it down here and I'll hang this 225 I got on it.

LOL Ya, but the question is, will you ship it back up after you hang the engine? :you:
smokeonthewater
11-08-2011, 11:51 PM
WHOOPS! I totally missed the 21 part ugh..... I figured that a guy with almost 5k posts on this site PROBABLY knew something I didn't...... turns out you do... you know HOW TO READ LOL:zip:
THEFERMANATOR
11-09-2011, 12:38 AM
LOL Ya, but the question is, will you ship it back up after you hang the engine? :you:

After a short delay I will, how does a few years sound for me to get the bugs worked out?
phatdaddy
11-09-2011, 10:54 AM
destroyer, might want to get up with big shrimpin and see if he has access to a longshaft lowersection or one of the kits ferm is refering to.
randlemanboater
11-09-2011, 04:04 PM
You may check on Screamandfly.com, those go fast guys dont sell whole engines, its always in pieces.
RWilson2526
11-09-2011, 08:03 PM
You're correct, 20" is the norm for a V20. But when they made the V21 they basically added a built in bracket on the stern, and for a V21 the norm is 25"...

Just for the record I'm pretty sure V-20's went to a 25" transom way before the V-21's came out...not sure on the year but prior to 86 at least
reelapeelin
11-09-2011, 09:09 PM
Just for the record I'm pretty sure V-20's went to a 25" transom way before the V-21's came out...not sure on the year but prior to 86 at least


CORRECT-A-MUNDO!!...it transitioned between the late 70s and early 80s when you could order either...sometime along the way, the 25" transom became the standard...all the '84s I've looked close enough to know have been 25s...
randlemanboater
11-09-2011, 09:30 PM
Mine is an '84 (The best year V-20) and it has a factory 20" transom.
reelapeelin
11-09-2011, 09:47 PM
Mine is an '84 (The best year V-20) and it has a factory 20" transom.

I knew somebody's would...:clap:...had to yers, eh, RB...:sun:
randlemanboater
11-10-2011, 08:12 AM
When I was looking for a V, I was pleasantly suprised to find one as late as '84 with the 20" transom, which was what I needed for my Johnzuki.
THEFERMANATOR
11-10-2011, 04:15 PM
When I was looking for a V, I was pleasantly suprised to find one as late as '84 with the 20" transom, which was what I needed for my Johnzuki.

A 25" transom can easily be made to a 20" transom with a sawzall and a new transom cap, it's the 20" to 25" that gets tricky. Many of the 20" transoms out there are in fact 25s cut down. As for the later model 20" transoms, I'd bet money ALL the V-20's were made as 25" transoms once they started offerring teh 25" transom. It is easier for them to cut a transom down 5"s and put on a cap than it is to use 2 different molds. Just like teh sea-drive models early on were I/O transoms, but later on they added in knee braces to the I/O transom for a sea drive.