Will a short shaft Suzuki 2.5 motor fit a tall transom on a Duckworks removeable mount?

[JeffM]

A highly-specific question maybe one in a thousand here might be able to answer:

 

My CS20 has a removable mount from Duckworks, a sort of tripod thingy you'd know immediately.  (No: I looked and they appear to be extinct.)  Long ago and briefly I had an antique 5hp short shaft motor, for the sake of which I installed this mount.  Despite the power head being below the top of the transom, I'm pretty sure I had no trouble raising the motor out of the water without the cowling hitting the transom.  

 

Now I want to see if I can get away with buying a new Suzuki 2.5hp short shaft to hang on the same bracket.   As I stare at images of this motor on a computer screen, ruler in hand, I can't see how this could work.   But I'm hoping someone with the same motor can tell me how much horizontal room the power heat takes up when a Suzuki 2.5hp is raised compared to when it is down.  (The inside top edge of the mount hangs 7" away from the transom, so that's all I have to play with.)

 

In short, should I buy the short shaft Suzuki 2.5 (which could theoretically also be used on my little Michalak pram), or should I remount the bracket 4-5" higher and buy the long shaft?

 

 

[Captain Tim]

JeffM If the snow we are getting tonight doesn't pile up too high, I will be able to measure my motor for you tomorrow.

Seems like you want to know how far forward the motor travels towards the boat as it tilts.

I'm pretty sure somewhere on this forum there is discussion about which shaft length to get.

[Captain Tim]

JeffM is this what you have? 

[Captain Tim]

JeffM

The space from the back of the bracket to the back of the transom needed for the operating position (down) is 6 1/2 inches.

The space needed for the up position is 14 1/2 inches. The gas cover vent that sticks out a bit is where I measured to.

Both those measurements would give you about 1/4 inch +/- play.

[Paul356]

I put my short shaft Suzi on the mount shown in the picture above.  this is on my 17 Mark i.  It just fits.  The plastic motor cover snugs up against the top of the transom when up.  It lies at an angle and I have to give it a good tug in order to engage the lock.  The motor's plates (anti-cavitation plates?) are just under the water line when it's down.  if they had offered the long-shaft when I bought mine, i would have bought that so that the plates would be well down.  because the motor has to turn when pulled up in order to lock, i can't lock the motor in a straight forward position with the bolt/nut provided.  on the other hand, if i did that, i wouldn't have reverse, either.

caution, from experience, on using that duckworks mount.  it works great, but mine bent and ultimately pulled loose on a choppy lake.  solution:  use the heavy duty gudgeons to mount the pins.  and drill a whole through the pins (the stainless drilled amazingly easy) and put a cotter pine through the whole so the unit can't lift up and come loose while motoring.

i am attaching a photo showing the motor in the up position.

[Captain Tim]

What I would be most concerned about using the Duckworks bracket is putting the motor on and off while the boat is in the water.

7" away from the transom may be a bit of a reach on a tippy boat.

[JeffM]

Captain Tim, that is exactly my mount!  That 14" is roughly what I got looking at photos.  Is yours a long shaft?  I can't imagine the CS17 would have a transom much shorter than mine, but it looks like your powerhead is mostly above the transom.

 

Paul, you had that tripod mount?  Could you raise the motor?  The gudgeon idea is very good!  (The lower leg has a pin already.)  I was more worried about the thin ply of the transom than the mount itself, so have a framing stick for the lower leg (under pressure) and ply doublers for the upper (under tension).  

 

Thank you both for taking the time and trouble to do the measurements!

Jeff Michals-Brown

 

[Captain Tim]

I have the Suzuki 2.5 short shaft so the power head should be the same as a 2.5 long shaft.

I have a Spindrift 11', and the motor sits on the transom. I have to take the rudder off to put the motor on.

The pictures were taking while motor was on motor stand.

The measurements were for you to know how much space the motor would take up if it is lower than the transom.

 

 

[Paul356]

Yes, I had the tripod mount and could tip the engine up.  I reinforced the transom with an extra piece of ply epoxied on the inside, above the rear deck.  I fitted the extra piece in between the pine framing.  I think it was half inch, maybe 5/8.  

[JeffM]

Thanks, Captain Tim.  Now I see.

 

Paul, that's the answer I was hoping for: this motor can tip up when mounted on a tripod mount well below the top of the transom.  Thank you again!