New to the LTMM game. Got my first one last summer. 6.5 hp on a KKK kit. I am looking to up grade. Found a good deal on a slightly used 16 hp duromax. I am looking at purchasing one of the Thai Style Long tail kits. I have an 85" shaft on my current set up. The length is a little cumbersome. I would like to try to get away with a 65" shaft. I am running this motor on a 14' fiberglass broadbill marsh layout boat. I know its not the ideal mud motor boat but it drafts really shallow and I can still get way with using it in a little bigger water as a layout boat. It has a very low transom height. I was actually thinking about raising the transom height for my tiller motor. I have done my research and learned that the shaft length should reach the wake of boat and that longer shafts lead to lower angles for the direction of force from the prop. Lower angle = more force going forward instead of up. I also read that with the higher angle the prop will want to pop out of the water more and I will have to be physical with it, (Not a huge problem, I play rugby and coach wrestling), or put trip tabs/plates on the rock guard or cav plate above.
Is there away to measure/test to see if I can get away with using a 65" shaft?
Anyone have any experience with a 65" shaft with a 16hp(ish) motor? Was it tough to keep in the water?
Links for Pictures of the boat below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4wJBG ... sp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4wJBG ... sp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4wJBG ... sp=sharingThanks for the help.
Cheers,
Pootz