long shaft or short?

[Steelhead2634]

Looking at buying a used 7.5hp rude.
model E8RCIC
serial E0002933
Can someone tell me what year and whether this is a long or short shaft. The guy selling it thought he measure right and is coming up with 18.5" from Cav to top of motor mount. He keep saying he thinks its a short shaft and to my recollection 18-20" was long???

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ezeke]

Re: long shaft or short?

The model number is for a short shaft.

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/model_guide_post80.html

If it were otherwise it would have another letter in the model number.

Of course, it could have been modified since 1981.