Short vs long shaft
 

I just got a '75 V-20 Fisherman CC that I'm restoring and would love some advice. The boat came with a 235 Johnson long shaft mounted on a jacking plate but the plate is cracked. I have a short shaft here that I could put on or replace the jack plate...what would y'all recommend? I'd rather drop the motor down for easier fishing for my son but if the boat rides significantly better with the plate/long shaft, then I'll get another plate. Any ideas or comments would be much appreciated. FYI: the boat will mainly be used for fishing in the Gulf of Mexico off the Mississippi Coast within 10 miles of shore but will also be used in much deeper water 20-or-so miles out sometimes.

Thanks all,
Kenny

I'd do two things...stay w/the 25"er and replace the bracket...or fix the one you have now... it might be a weldable repair...the common experience around here has shown a motor on a bracket likes to "BURY" itself in the wake when coming off plane...a 20" motor's power head is closer to the water and makes this situation worse...the 25" tends to stay higher and dryer...assuming you have an open, notched transom like my '74 had, I would close in that opening w/Starboard or something prior to going offshore...that of course assumes also your bracket holds the OB off enough to clear closing it up...

Does he have a bracket? Sounds like he just has a jack plate mounted on a regular transom. Kdubuissonb, some pics would be a good idea so we can see what you're faced with. :head:

You right, Destroyer...he did say jack plate...I used "bracket" as a generic term and didn't come out just right...but hope the point got thru...

Just for fun.....

Short shaft = 15"
Long shaft = 20"
X-Long = 25"
XX-Long =30"