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20'' shaft length on an Outrage 20?
mathiasrosenblad	#1  Posted on 09/12/17 - 5:44 AM
Member Posts: 3 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/13/17	I’m planning to re-power my 1981 Outrage 20 and replace the 2002 Mercury Optimax 200 XL (25’’ shaft length) with a Suzuki DF140ATL (20’’ shaft length). I know that recommended is 25’’ for single engine but I can get a really good price on the 20’’ engine. I plan to mount the Suzuki on a jack plate with 4’’ set back and use the top holes on the engine bracket to get the engine as low as possible but I will still have the anti-ventilation plate about 3 inches above the keel line in its lowest position. Does anyone have experience of this? Will 4’’ set back be sufficient or should I go for 6’’?
Phil T	#2  Posted on 09/12/17 - 7:04 AM
Administrator Personal Page Personal Album Project Albums Posts: 6986 Comments: 6 Joined: 03/26/05	Mathias - While you may think it is a good price, you are trying to stick a round peg into a square hole. You are dropping 60hp. Adding weight of bracket, further back off the transom 4" setback is not enough. Don't think 6" is enough. Adding more setback will raise the boat's desire to porpoise (bow rocks up and down) and ruins the boat's ride. Why not look for a good 25" shaft? 1992 Outrage 17 I 2019 E-TEC 90, Viper 17 2+ 2018 Load Rite Elite 18280096VT
Finnegan	#3  Posted on 09/12/17 - 10:39 AM
Member Posts: 1925 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	An effort to save money at the expense of proper design and engineering is never a good deal. You simply can't use a 20" single engine on that boat, since it is not a racing craft. Since jackplates are designed to RAISE engine height, one will only make it worse. it would be a disaster. The reason it is cheap is that 20" Suzuki 140's (about a 125 HP engine) are hard to sell They are not fast enough to sell to the bass boat crowd, the main place where 20" engines are still used in the higher hp ratings. What you should look into, if the engine is that good of a deal, is a 5" extension kit for the motor. Suzuki or an aftermarket vendor may offer a kit for this. I know you can get them for Mercs. if not, find a 25" engine.