20" compared to 25" shaft for pontoon

[Billwilky]

I finally bought the 90hp Evinrude e-tec. Its a 2006 model never used yet. Someone told me that when you get over 70hp they all turn into 25" shafts. I took their word for it. The dealer hung it on the boat and it turns out to be a 20" shaft. They put a 11 pitch prop on it. The boat weighs 2289lbs empty. It has the bigger toons on the boat. The old motor I took off had a 25" shaft with a 13 pitch prop. Will this 20" shaft give me problems with sucking more air. The boat is a Fisher 1995 24'. Should I tell them to take it off? Or do I ivest in a Jack plate that could lower the motor down? Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 20" compared to 25" shaft for pontoon

or do an extention conversion kit on the motor. i doubt the 20 is going to get deep enough to pick up cooling water, plus ventilating the prop.

also they installed it, they should know if it is long enough. question them extensively.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 20" compared to 25" shaft for pontoon

All of the motors listed on the Fisher web site for their current line of 24' pontoons are 20" Mercury ELPT models. The 20" may well be correct for your boat as well. Why don't you contact Fisher and check?

fisherboats .com

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 20" compared to 25" shaft for pontoon

I can almost guarantee that the 20" shaft is the correct one for your toon. Only on some of the newer model pontoons have they gone to X long shafts due to the larger logs and triple log set-ups now available. This makes them sit much higher on the water and requires a longer leg. A longer leg on your toon will only diminish performance due to the drag caused by it being to low in the water...