Hi,
I have a 13' RiverHawk boat and obtained a old 15HP Johnson from my brother. The motor was originally a long shaft to fit as an auxiliary on a sail boat. My brother shortened it by taking out the shaft extension but due to it's size compared to the boat it is still too long.
The boat is even lighter than most because it's special made of Kevlar. As long as I have a fishing companion the motor is fine for the boat. But, if I try to use the boat by myself the bow is too light and it raises way up. I don't know the weight of the motor but I'd guess 80 to 100 lbs. Then there is the fuel tank to add weight to the back plus my ever expanding gut so it's pretty heavy in the stern.
I know that this motor is too big for the boat but I really can't afford to buy a motor to fit it. What I'd like to do is raise the motor up to match the anti-cavitation plate with the bottom of the boat. I think that if the prop wasn't so deep below the boat it wouldn't raise up so high in the bow. Another reason I want the prop raised is I bought this boat for river fishing and with it so low I'm more likely to strike a rock with it.
I've been online searching and have found a Jack Plate that I think will do what I want IF it works in the up position. I've never see one of these in use so I'm not sure if it only supports the motor underway when it's in the down position. If it will work in the full up position I think it will fix my problem.
Thanks for any help on this.
I have a 13' RiverHawk boat and obtained a old 15HP Johnson from my brother. The motor was originally a long shaft to fit as an auxiliary on a sail boat. My brother shortened it by taking out the shaft extension but due to it's size compared to the boat it is still too long.
The boat is even lighter than most because it's special made of Kevlar. As long as I have a fishing companion the motor is fine for the boat. But, if I try to use the boat by myself the bow is too light and it raises way up. I don't know the weight of the motor but I'd guess 80 to 100 lbs. Then there is the fuel tank to add weight to the back plus my ever expanding gut so it's pretty heavy in the stern.
I know that this motor is too big for the boat but I really can't afford to buy a motor to fit it. What I'd like to do is raise the motor up to match the anti-cavitation plate with the bottom of the boat. I think that if the prop wasn't so deep below the boat it wouldn't raise up so high in the bow. Another reason I want the prop raised is I bought this boat for river fishing and with it so low I'm more likely to strike a rock with it.
I've been online searching and have found a Jack Plate that I think will do what I want IF it works in the up position. I've never see one of these in use so I'm not sure if it only supports the motor underway when it's in the down position. If it will work in the full up position I think it will fix my problem.
Thanks for any help on this.