Need advice on mounting position on 5 hp motor

[ronboonville]

I have a 12' appleby jon and a 5 hp clinton sea king. I centered the motor on the transom and with the swivel boat seat centered it is very difficult to operate. I think I should offset motor to the port. and remove the swivel seat and set on the bench to find the best spot to remount that seat. I don't really like using my left hand to operate the tiller so have considered doing the opposite. the motor seems like it is low on power so I was thinking it might be to low in the water. The vent plate is maybe 3 inches below the bottom of the boat, should I raise it? I would have to make something to raise the transom height, but I'm pretty inventive. as always I need help and usually get it here. thanks, ron.
Also if I can't get comfortable and be safe I'll probably get an electric trolling motor around 40 lb. thrust.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Need advice on mounting position on 5 hp motor

Center the motor and move the seat. An offset motor is not good.

Need to see a pic of the plate. Is the motor shaft length the same as the boat transom height (e.g., a short shaft motor and a short shaft transom).

All motors are made for left hand for a reason. Just get used to it. If you try to use your right hand and sit to port, the boat will list too much.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Need advice on mounting position on 5 hp motor

+1. Keep your motor on the centerline and adjust your seating accordingly. People have been steering boats that way from the beginning of time. You'll get used to it after awhile.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Need advice on mounting position on 5 hp motor

I drove right handed from 6 years old to about 16.Being a teen ager i was running without the cowl and sitting next to the motor on the rear deck,to get weight as far back as possible,my elbow touched the spinning toothed flywheel at speed.
Fortunately just a severe brush burn I changed to lefthand operation right there. Never had a problem adapting.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need advice on mounting position on 5 hp motor

Other important reason why you must sit starboard is to watch the peeing water port is peeing right, sitting to port will not see it at all. A real danger when boating on kelpy, garbage seas. Fully overheat guaranteed.

Happy Boating

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Need advice on mounting position on 5 hp motor

Btw, why do folks in Europe/Britain always seem to sit on the "wrong" side of the tiller? I see vids all the time where folks are siting to port while trying to use a tiller that is also angled to port. As a result they have tons of room to starboard, but almost none to port ? :/

See below: (I don't get it ?) ( I know they drive on the wrong side of the road, by why do they pilot from the wrong side too?)