Kicker, long or short shaft

[aarons 470]

Hi all. I need a kicker motor for my boat project.
1982 19' glasply cuddy. Has Merc outdrive.

Do I want a short shaft or long shaft kicker?
I found a good deal on a long shaft but want to make sure that's what I need.

I have a basic adjustable kicker bracket that isn't mounted yet.
Thanks

 

[redneck joe]

Typically long. You want the thing to be below the bottom of your hull when in the down position. You could do that with short by lowering the bracket, but then it may be too low for you to operate (start, turn, speed, etc)

If it is a 4 stroke make sure you get a stout bracket.

 

[ezmobee]

Absolutely long if you have a choice. Shorts can pop out of the water in choppy conditions, longs will have better "bite". It isn't gonna plane your boat anyway so any performance detriment to the long shaft are outweighed by the advantages.

 

[aarons 470]

Ok, thanks guys. Redneck That's a nice
Carver.

 

[JimS123]

Brackets typically have an 11" travel. If you use a long shaft it may drag in the water when its up. You want the prop to be below the bottom when down, and above the waterline when up at no wake speed. Short is 15" and long is 20". Only the prop needs to be below the bottom, not the skeg too.

With those dimensions, measure your transom and then you can decide which length you need.

I use a short shaft on a 19' bowrider. A long shaft would not be suitable for me.

 

[redneck joe]

Thank, my most favorite boat ive iver owned .

What boat do you have

 

[Texasmark]

Seems to me it matters not the length, short or long, since the bracket isn't installed yet. The prop on a 9.9 would be in the 8" dia range, skeg an inch below that for a total of 9". Set the AV plate (the horizontal plate just above the prop) to even with a yardstick protruding from the bottom of the boat....making it even with the bottom of the boat with the bracket in the down position and mount it. Per Jim's numbers that would give you 2 inches above the bottom clearance (11" total up to down) when in the up position.