Outboard height in relation to transom?

[Slayer33]

Hi All,

So I've been to my local zodiac shop about 6 times this year to pick up odd and ends... every time I talk to the tech there he always asks me if I've put a piece of hockey stick shaft under the motor mount on top of the transom to lift the height of the motor.. he said it's something he does and recommends to improve the performance of SIBs.

I still haven't done it as I'm skeptical about it.. but on my last couple outings I noticed a "gurgling" sound coming from the prop.. kinda like air is being swooshed around.. I measured the height of my cavitation plate in relation to the bottom of my transom and it's about 0.5-1" below the bottom of the transom without the keel inflated.. is this bad?

Technically this would make the technicians hockey stick recommendation valid since a hockey stick would probably raise the motor that 3/4" to keep the cavitation plate level with the bottom of the transom???

Will this improve the overall performance if I can level the cavitation plate with the bottom of the transom?

[beamishken]

In theory the higher you lift the engine the less drag you have and the faster you will go
The trade off can be ventilation of the prop when it's a little lumpy or in corners when the boat leans over and the leg lifts
An inch up is a reasonable compromise and worth a try, if it performs better then your on a winner of its worse and you find its ventilating too much you can always drop it back

[Max...]

Check out Loco's definitive guide to engine height/set up:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/abc-sib...nes-58373.html