Although a Jon boat can be pushed at speed with a simple trolling motor, as the boat gets bigger a trolling motor will tend to lack in the necessary thrust to get the most out of your boat.
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Although a Jon boat can be pushed at speed with a simple trolling motor, as the boat gets bigger a trolling motor will tend to lack in the necessary thrust to get the most out of your boat.
An electric trolling motor will offer enough power to move the boat into your chosen fishing or hunting waters and then, via the use of paddle or pole, you can get into position using a more stealthy approach. more
When choosing the correct motor for a Jon boat it should not just be about the size of the engine. Shaft length plays an important role as well. here
If we run into that scenario, I would still show you the different options of motors and go over pricing, but I would also ask you to hold off and do one thing before you pull the trigger. I would ask you to go back and measure the transom of your boat. I mean it is better to be safe than sorry, am I right? The transom is the back of the boat where the motor is hung. To do so, you will want to measure at the exact center of the transom from the very top to the very bottom. If it measures 15" or with in a inch of that you will need a short shaft outboard. If it measures anywhere from 17" to around 22", then your going to want to go with a long shaft motor. Anything bigger than that your obviously going to need an extra long shaft. here
Your at your local outboard dealer shopping for a new motor and the salesman hits you with the question, "short or long shaft?". For most boaters this is a no brainer, but for the novice or inexperienced boater it may be a tougher question. As a dealer I run into this situation from time to time, which is fine but getting the right length outboard for your boat is crucial. I mean, who wants to purchase something as expensive as an outboard to only realize you bought the wrong one. So in hopes that this will help out some new boaters this spring, here's a little rundown on outboard shaft sizes and how to figure out which one you actually need.
When the right length motor is hung on the transom of a boat, the cavitation plate (the large plate that extends out over the propeller) should be even with the very bottom of the boat. This placement is not only recommended but it will give you the best performance compared to something that is too long or too short. If you went too long it would still work but it may lack in performance. You will also risk hitting bottom or submerge objects more frequently such as rocks or logs. If you go too short your more than likely going to cavitate and loose power. Cavitation is when the propeller is out of the water due to the boat forming a wake of "air bubbles" or "vapor cavities" around the prop. This is probably the worst case scenario out of the two. At least if its too long you can raise the motor or "build up" your transom. [links]
The dealer just hit you with the long or short shaft question and you have no clue as to what you need or even what he's talking about. You reply, "Im not sure, I think its a long". As a dealer I don't really like hearing this because there is a chance it could go either way and you have to get it right. So from there, I will try to help out by asking questions about your boat such as what type it is and the length. With some boats I have a pretty good idea as to what length motor should be hung on them. If you said you have a pontoon or a larger style boat such as a bass boat or speed boat, I would be pretty confident in saying it needs a long shaft. If you said something smaller than that, thats where it can get tricky. Smaller 12-14 foot boats can require either a short or long shaft outboard depending on the style of the boat and the brand.
Thats it. Pretty easy to figure out but like I said its crucial to pairing a motor with a boat. I would also recommend finding your maximum horsepower rating which is located on the yellow coast guard tag towards the back of your boat. Lastly, knowing the year of your motor and what style of controls you have (side mount, concealed side mount, or binnacle) is also a plus because it will tell the dealer if your current controls are compatible with the motor you are purchasing. Using your existing control box and gauges will save you quite a bit of money in the end. I hope this helps someone out in their search for a new or newer outboard this season.
8hp – 9.8 hp ( Weight 25-45 kg) here
As auxiliary motors on hulls weighing a bit over 300 kg and around 4.5 m long – small outboards should often get up to a suitable speed for trolling, once again depending on several factors. These small outboard motors are small, light and easy to transport. Stow 4 strokes the correct way (Usually with the fuel tank down and the carburetor to one side.) or the engine oil may flood the cylinder and carburetor.
5hp – 6hp Outboard Motors (Around 18-25 kg)
These motors can be heavy to handle but are still considered to be a ‘small’ outboard motor. [links]
This hp range of outboards is ideal for a variety of applications including small inflatable boats up to 3.5m in length, portable folding boats, larger canoes with caution, 2.5-3.5m dinghies and inflatable’s. Hulls such as these typically weigh up to about 115kg and require a short shaft (15” shaft length) outboard motor. All outboards in this hp range should also be available in 20” long shaft configurations which is ideal for trailer yachts and auxiliary/trolling motor applications for hulls less than 6m length.
Performance
* 100 Ah lithium battery; If you use AGM batteries, the battery weight will double to 60 lb. [links]
Another thing you need to notice with this motor for inflatable boat is that you need to purchase batteries separately from other manufacturers. And the recommended AGM batteries are rather heavy compared to the lithium types (usually seen on electric outboards) with a shorter lifespan.
If you are looking for a bit more juice from the inflatable boat motor, like having the boat to plan or tow a skier, you might take a look at the Navy 6.0 model. more
It’s rather straightforward to install and use the outboard motor for inflatable boats, especially if you get the integrated battery models which save you tons of trouble running long cables. [links]
The laws differ from state to state. Generally speaking, the inflatable boats need to be registered but there are several common exceptions including: