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Motor Mounting Height
mobsta1	#1  Posted on 06/12/07 - 4:15 PM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/12/07	I have a 1988 20 Outrage and I just got a new 200 Mercury. I have a 25'' leg on it and it is lifted all the way up and it is still sitting too low in the water. If I get a 20'' leg do you think it will be too high? It says that boat should use a 25'' leg. Any advice? Thanks. Edited by Tom W Clark on 06/13/07 - 5:36 AM
kamie	#2  Posted on 06/12/07 - 4:30 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	I would go with a jackplate and leave the 25 inch shaft. On my new E-Tec, they had to mount it in the top holes and the cavitation plate was just even with the keel. I have an 8 inch bracket on my 18 Outrage.
joninnj	#3  Posted on 06/12/07 - 5:21 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 408 Comments: 3 Joined: 06/07/07	Would be best to see where the cavitation plate is in relation to the bottom or the keel. If your are even or slightly above your good. Probably can adjust with the different holes on the Merc bracket. But you mention you are at the highest. An adjustable jack plate is a great way to go because it will set the engine back a bit. I had one on another boat with a V6 merc (175) and it allowed me to play with props and squeeze everything I could out of that engine. All I needed to do was twist a big bolt under the engine to raise and lower. It also allows you to swap engines without drilling new holes. I am thinking about adding a jack plate on my 17 ft just that reason. Good Luck Edited by joninnj on 06/12/07 - 5:24 PM
Tom W Clark	#4  Posted on 06/13/07 - 5:33 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	A 1988 Outrage 20 takes a single 25" shaft length motor. There is NOW WAY a 25" shaft Mercury would be sitting too low if it were mounted as high as it could go. Are you sure you do not have a 30" shaft motor? Has the transom been modified? Do you have a photo of the installation to share? Edited by Tom W Clark on 06/13/07 - 5:34 AM
mobsta1	#5  Posted on 06/13/07 - 7:22 AM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/12/07	it has a 25'' leg and the transom is not modified
Tom W Clark	#6  Posted on 06/13/07 - 7:28 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Then the motor should be mounted one or maybe two holes up at most. This will put the cavitation plate just a little above the keel. Do you have a photo to share? Why do you think is mounted too low? Edited by Tom W Clark on 06/13/07 - 7:43 AM
mobsta1	#7  Posted on 06/13/07 - 2:23 PM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/12/07	i dont have a camra. when i am under way water shoots up from the lower unit and it feels like the boat is draging somthing?
Tom W Clark	#8  Posted on 06/13/07 - 7:42 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	That describes a motor that is too low. Are you sure you have a 1988 Outrage 20? A 1978 Outrage 21 is a completey different boat and has a 20" transom. What is the model number of your new Mercury 200 HP outboard motor? I ask because I suspect you have a 30" shaft motor, not a 25".
Jeff Cunningham	#9  Posted on 06/13/07 - 8:34 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 12 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/13/05	I have a 1989 20' Outrage with a Yamaha 200, 25" shaft. I have the engine in the 3rd set of holes and still get a little spray out the sides underway. I think the engine is at the best possible elevation. Jeff