How much can I move my engine up?

[Drew61199]

Just repowered my Chase 263 with a Verado 350 and took it out for the first time Sat. The spray from the motor is excessive, "unnatural", and fills the splashwell. I believe the engine is mounted too low. Here are some pics I just took of it sitting on my trailer. Sadly I was solo and couldn't have it running at speed and go to the transom to hang off and snap a pic of cavitation plate's relation to the water.

The motor is trimmed level in this pic which is slightly out of plane from the bottom of the boat, but I can't trim all the way down on my trailer wo skeg hitting the ground. I still think I can easily move up one hole....maybe even two based solely on the cavitation plate to hull, but as you can see I'm already very close to the top of the transom. This may or may not matter as the 4 bolts will obviously still be secure and I can't imagine it'd add that much stress / flex, but looking for some opinions.

 

[Doc Stressor]

Getting the right engine height is not rocket science. You just keep moving the engine up one hole at a time until you start to ventilate when turning sharply. Then you lower it one hole.

Your engine looks far too low in the third picture. I would start by raising it 2 holes.

Every hull is different, so you can really only use trial and error.

 

[Drew61199]

The main issue is I'm looking for the "best solution" as I need as close to a "one n done" as possible. I don't have a lift, cherry-picker, etc, so will be paying the engine installer to modify this. I was thinking 2 holes as well, but that will put the engine "base" sticking up above the top of the transom an inch or so. I assume that's not an issue?!?

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Based on the photos i would suggest 2 holes up as well, worst case would be that you have to lower again 1 hole down.

You can go up as much the holes will fit the transom, however i would consider more than 3 fingers space between transom top and the top of the bracket as too much as as higher the engine sit on the transom, more strain it put on it.
Based on your last photo you should be able to go up 2 holes without being too high.

Chris

 

[Ekea]

another vote for 2 holes

 

[Drew61199]

I also plan on buying transom saver bars for the mounting holes. Not sure if it makes a difference, but figured if I'm risking any additional strain, I may as well try to distribute the weight as much as possible. Thanks for everyone's input

 

[efx]

I have a 268. Mount the engine one hole down from the highest position. There is no need to derig the engine. Put a hoist on the engine, support engine weight. Unbolt with a helper to keep the mounting plate coplaner with the back of transom. Block the hoist so it doesn’t roll back or forward. Crank the hoist up, place the top bolts with sealant then the bottom. Torque to spec. Don’t crush the transom. Pic below is my 268, but with twins. I have my engines all the way up since I have a 60 gallon bait well.

 

[DennisG01]

It looks like you're barely on plane. Try going WOT before you do anything. You don't want to raise it up too much to "get it right" at a slow plane only to cause ventilation at higher speeds or in turns.

Lot's of ways you can get the transom higher. Crank the trailer jack down as low as it can or use a floor jack to lower the tongue further. And/or, pull the trailer wheels up onto blocks of wood.

Your engine is a little over a foot back from the transom. You should have no problem going an inch higher than the keel - "probably" 2" will be OK.

 

[Drew61199]

You're correct in those pics I was barely on plane, but used those as it was easier to see the spray. I took a video at WOT and just did a quick screen grab.

I read the Verados have a larger set back over other engines (I don't have any measurements or pics from prior OX66 to compare) and that they can sometimes tolerate being higher over due to that. That said, I only have 3 holes avail, so feel pretty confident moving up 2 and calling it good. I can't imagine I'll gain much from that last one even if I felt 2 still dragged a lil too much

 

[DennisG01]

You're correct in those pics I was barely on plane, but used those as it was easier to see the spray. I took a video at WOT and just did a quick screen grab.

I read the Verados have a larger set back over other engines (I don't have any measurements or pics from prior OX66 to compare) and that they can sometimes tolerate being higher over due to that. That said, I only have 3 holes avail, so feel pretty confident moving up 2 and calling it good. I can't imagine I'll gain much from that last one even if I felt 2 still dragged a lil too much

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Ekea]

let us know how it runs after you move it up