Wondering if there was anybody in northern michigan that runs long tails? I have one that i believe was homemade and been making positive improvements on the motor but would really be nice is to have someone look at it with me and help out. Once I'm on step it pushes my 1448 around 16-18 maybe more haven't checked it since the tune up on the motor but the prop climbs out of the water. I've had guys tell me to bend the top plate up but that is almost straight up and barely helps

What is the height of your transom?

What is the length of the longtail shaft?

Ill have to take some measurements and some pics tomorrow and post them

I wanna say the transom is about 15" and the shaft is about 56" maybe?

All the longtails I've owned have 72" shafts. My guess is the shaft length is causing your problem and you're having to pull up hard on the handle and fight to keep it in the water. Is that correct?

Not super hard I can hold it down with one arm just gets tired quickly

^ this sounds like the problem, post a photo of the setup and it'll give us a better idea of what you're up against...

My boat transom is 16"
The seal to seal on the shaft is 67.5"
U-joint to prop nut is 75"
The cav plate is 12"x8.5"
Trying to upload photos not having the best of luck

Here is the full motor and full boat pics just so you see everything

Hit the same one twice here is the motor

I would take that "down turned" edge out of either side of the cavitation plate. Maybe you don't have enough surface area to help push the prop down. For reference look at the mudbuddy website under longtail motors and take a close look at the cavitation plate.

I will check the site out .any other ideas?

Take a piece of sheet metal and bolt it to the trailing edge of the cavitation plate then use that to adjust.

So bend my cav plate down, add the new piece. Should bend the sides up or leave them bent down? After looking at the mud buddy page looks I have atleast a mud buddy frame (older model) and there cav plates have the sides bent down

Looks like a go-devil frame, does it have a serial number? Anyways the problem with bending the sides down on the part you are going to adjust keeps you from making a uniform bend and can make it tricky trying to find that sweet spot.

Havent found a SN yet anywhere on the frame the one on the motor has wear on it so i cant read it to figure out exactly the size i was told its either 18-20-23 the sides of my cav plate came pre bent should i leave them that way?

If it's a godevil, serial number will be on base plate below u joint area . Might be under some grease . Most go devils I've seen that's where they stamped them .

H Finn

Thanks finn. Ill check next time im at the boat do the frame numbers coincide with the motors as well? Like if i search the frame number it would say what motor was originally on it so i can find out what size this motor is possibly

If you find a serial number , then yes. , call godevil , give them that number and they will tell you whatever you want to know .

H Finn

Thanks again Finn

Wait.. Am I reading this right? If your prop is blowing out you should bend the cav plate up,
Not down.. Are y'all tellin him to bend it down?

yep all is good, leave the bent parts the way they are, add a trim tab (sheet metal) as described above and bend that trim tab until you get it to skim under the water.

Havent added the trim tabs yet been finishing up other projects. But did some work on the blinds and decided to gave so fun

I run a tall transom 1448 with 72" shaft beavertail 20hp. Had the same problem with it coming out of the water. This is what I did to fix the problem. Stays in the water now under full throttle and stears easily.

Need to get those weeds or whatever that shit is wrapped around your shaft.. That'll burn up a bushing right quick