Last May I bought my 204c overnighter for a song. It had a 200 Mercury Black Max hanging off the back. I re-did the whole boat, you name it, I did it. I found another Black max 200 about an 8 hour ride from me and I picked it up. Great buying experience, the seller took me out with it on his boat. I did the celebration launch on labor day 2014. Have enjoyed it immensely.
I navigate the mouth of plum island (Mass) and Newburyport harbor (Mass), which can be tricky. Every time I got my motor up to 5k rpm it would rev out. Didn't matter where I went or what I did same thing.
On my own, trying to diagnose this issue, I changed props 4 times, (I own 5 props now) Changed my throttle control, ran wires, cables etc at least 3 times thinking I may have *&$5^ something up when I installed and set it up. Finally after the last 3 months this year and 2 months last year of reading everything I could find, I had a marina take it out of the water last weekend to tell me whats wrong with my motor. Took them 4 mins, shaft is to short.
My black max has a 20" shaft and I need a 25
When I bought the boat it had a blown 200hp black max on the back, now I know why. It's been a real learning experience.
4 Choices;
Extension Kit
New Motor
Cut the transom
Jack Plate
I have contemplated every option several times and have spoken to many a seasoned mechanic. Can't get a majority consensus on any option
Cost to ponder
Extension Kit; $800
New Motor; $$$
Cut Transom; Pandora's box
Jack Plate; $300 and up
I bought a 79 GW Hatteras with a 175 Johnson on it. This boat has a 4 1/2 inch cut out for the motor to sit in, in the splash well. Mine doesn't have that cut out.
GW said my Overnighter was a 25" transom to bottom of the boat, my Hatteras was a 20" from the factory.
Which means there was no cut out from the factory on my Overnighter.
And go figure, the serial number on my mercury says it was an original 25" shaft. Years ago someone must have changed it, it's a 1986
I found a power lift jack plate with 10" offset and 5" vertical up/down. This is what I am going to try first. All my cables and steering will move freely even with this 10" setback.
I tell this tale, to advise those out there that are having an issue with their motor revving out, or not going anywhere in your higher RPM's
before you think the worse, check your shaft length.
I navigate the mouth of plum island (Mass) and Newburyport harbor (Mass), which can be tricky. Every time I got my motor up to 5k rpm it would rev out. Didn't matter where I went or what I did same thing.
On my own, trying to diagnose this issue, I changed props 4 times, (I own 5 props now) Changed my throttle control, ran wires, cables etc at least 3 times thinking I may have *&$5^ something up when I installed and set it up. Finally after the last 3 months this year and 2 months last year of reading everything I could find, I had a marina take it out of the water last weekend to tell me whats wrong with my motor. Took them 4 mins, shaft is to short.
My black max has a 20" shaft and I need a 25
When I bought the boat it had a blown 200hp black max on the back, now I know why. It's been a real learning experience.
4 Choices;
Extension Kit
New Motor
Cut the transom
Jack Plate
I have contemplated every option several times and have spoken to many a seasoned mechanic. Can't get a majority consensus on any option
Cost to ponder
Extension Kit; $800
New Motor; $$$
Cut Transom; Pandora's box
Jack Plate; $300 and up
I bought a 79 GW Hatteras with a 175 Johnson on it. This boat has a 4 1/2 inch cut out for the motor to sit in, in the splash well. Mine doesn't have that cut out.
GW said my Overnighter was a 25" transom to bottom of the boat, my Hatteras was a 20" from the factory.
Which means there was no cut out from the factory on my Overnighter.
And go figure, the serial number on my mercury says it was an original 25" shaft. Years ago someone must have changed it, it's a 1986
I found a power lift jack plate with 10" offset and 5" vertical up/down. This is what I am going to try first. All my cables and steering will move freely even with this 10" setback.
I tell this tale, to advise those out there that are having an issue with their motor revving out, or not going anywhere in your higher RPM's
before you think the worse, check your shaft length.
