Motor offset from center of transom?

[Johny25]

Today I ran my 30hp Johnson with it offset 2 inches toward the starboard side for better comfort while operating my 14ft aluminum boat. I couldn't even tell a difference in boat control or performance. Has anyone else ever ran there motor like this? I know kickers motors are off to the side but this is the main motor and I run at speeds of about 30mph WOT.

Just curious if anyone has done this before and has some horror story why not to do this? Before I drill holes in my transom I will take any advice ya got lol

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

All the install guides I've seen call for motor's to be centered.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

On certain high powered deep-V hulls the engine is mounted off center to compensate for propeller torque. Have done it a couple of times, but only involving boats doing above 60 knots and a clean 21++ degree V-bottom and engines above 200hp. In your case hardly any idea.

 

[sasto]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

Just curious if anyone has done this before and has some horror story why not to do this? Before I drill holes in my transom I will take any advice ya got lol

I see no problem. I had a boat simular and did the same. Much more comfortable to me. I also had an old Mitchell, which was popular around here for fishing. She had the motor mounted as far starboard as she could be by the factory.

Good Luck!

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

I've mounted numerous motors favoring the PORT side, for comfort....and balance/trim....I run the tiller with my left hand and sit towards the stbd side.
Not sure that I'd find the starboard side an improvement in comfort.....or trim.

 

[kbait]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

Agree w/Tim^. I've done it on 14' rowboat types to 'even' the load w/an 18hp. Worked fine, no adverse issues w/a 2" off center mount.

 

[Johny25]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

Hey all, thanks for all the replies And to commander: I operate my boat from the port side. Sounds backwards I know but growing up as a kid in the boat with my father I learned to fish out of the starboard side while trolling and what not because he would sit on starboard and fish out of the port side..... I got so used to it over the years that when I started running the boat I could not get comfy fishing out of the port side and running motor from starboard. So I have been running all my small boats and tins from the port side, some 20 plus years now so I don't think I will change lol. And as we all know, motors are designed to run from starboard (except the newer ones with the tiller in the middle of the motor) so this has been an issue at times. The older I get the harder it seems to be on my shoulder so I am going to offset the motor a couple inches for comfort. I am also going to move the tiller handle on the motor 2 inches or so, I just have to come up with a new idea on that project. Again thanks for all the responses guys

 

[Johny25]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

Hey Kbait, I just noticed you are from Lake Minnetonka! That is one of the lakes my father used to take me to all the time as a kid..... I loved going from lake to lake through those channels Matter of fact the biggest largemouth bass I ever caught in MN was on Minnetonka while fishing pike on a weed hump, close to 7lbs. Oh the memories......

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Operating from the port side is actually a good idea for a variety of reasons. Not only does it offset some of the torque steer to starboard caused by the motor, but it also allows you to keep and eye on any passengers you may have while always looking into on coming traffic (e.g. forward starboard side), rather than turning away from such traffic to look over your left shoulder to keep an eye on your passengers as you would have to do if you were piloting from the starboard side. It seems like many vessels in Europe and the UK also have the helm/tiller to port rather than to starboard like we do here in the States. My old 50s runabout came from the factory with mounting brackets for controls on both sides of the hull and many of the old vintage control boxes are able to be mounted on either side.
I'm with Tim Frank, I would've also thought that offsetting the motor to the port side would be more desirable, but if you're happy with your set up, then go with it. Make sure the motor is also set at the proper height too. You want the anti-vent plate, found just above the prop, to be level, or slightly higher (1"-2") than the keel of the boat. Having the leg too deep in the water can create excess drag which will diminish performance.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Motor offset from center of transom?

Hey all, thanks for all the replies And to commander: I operate my boat from the port side. Sounds backwards I know but growing up as a kid in the boat with my father I learned to fish out of the starboard side while trolling and what not because he would sit on starboard and fish out of the port side..... I got so used to it over the years that when I started running the boat I could not get comfy fishing out of the port side and running motor from starboard. So I have been running all my small boats and tins from the port side, some 20 plus years now so I don't think I will change lol. And as we all know, motors are designed to run from starboard (except the newer ones with the tiller in the middle of the motor) so this has been an issue at times. The older I get the harder it seems to be on my shoulder so I am going to offset the motor a couple inches for comfort. I am also going to move the tiller handle on the motor 2 inches or so, I just have to come up with a new idea on that project. Again thanks for all the responses guys

Got it! Your explanation makes perfect sense now.
I am sure that this won't be a problem for the minor off-centre position that you have made.