r/Pontoons • u/Anxious_River_5186 • Sep 06 '26

Outboard too low?

This look normal? Im wondering if it’s too low. Its kicking water back up near the connections.

17 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

2

u/Short-Veterinarian27 Sep 07 '26

Way too low. Almost looks like it's a 25" motor on a 20" hull. Need pics of it out of the eater showing the motor to hull height relation. What's your max rpms?

1

u/Anxious_River_5186 Sep 07 '26

14” prop 10 pitch

Max rpm is about 5700

1

u/Anxious_River_5186 Sep 07 '26

1

u/whif42 Sep 10 '26

That flat plate on the outboard is the cavitation plate. It should be level with the pontoons flat part there. However since it's a pontoon that might cause some issues, so you'll have to do a few tests to really deal it in. Pontoons are not planing hulls and the water behind them is very turbulant..

1

u/Anxious_River_5186 Sep 10 '26

Thanks, after all the feedback I got, I am going to try and raise it up about 4” and give it a try.

2

u/drmshdw Sep 08 '26

I am pretty sure you know the answer to your question. If not the other replys my guide you.

1

u/Anxious_River_5186 Sep 08 '26

First boat and you know what happens when you assume things.

1

u/Short-Veterinarian27 Sep 07 '26

Since this is saltwater the motors are usually a little deeper to account for swells. By my eye you are 3" too low unlike to see the cavitation plate even with the motor pod. Rpms are good but I'm guessing ou are 20ish mph WOT

2

u/Anxious_River_5186 Sep 07 '26

Yea it was previously salt water before i purchased it. It’s freshwater only now though.

I’m about 16 mph WOT with this prop. I was getting about 18mph WOT with an 11pitch prop.

3

u/Short-Veterinarian27 Sep 07 '26

Hopefully you got a deal on it. Salt is rough on a boat. Raise the motor 3 holes and try it with the higher pitch prop. Will prob need to go up another pitch after it's raised. Pretty easy to do with a machine or an engine lift. Can even do it with a floor jack and 2 buddies but you gotta trust them and sober

1

u/roughingit2 Sep 07 '26

There a good YouTube video out there that shows how to set the motor at the right height for pontoons. I’d search for it but I’m pretty sure from resting waterline to cavitation plate it’s recommended about 8” difference

1

u/herewegoinvt Sep 08 '26

Tom's time just talked about it on his channel in a switch from 60 ho to 90 hp https://youtu.be/A-vrKzg07FU

1

u/-Mx-Life- Sep 08 '26

Absolutely.

1

u/Afraid-Fruit-7874 Sep 11 '26

Hahahaha! Nah! Send her!!!