Long shaft outboard needed. Short shaft Conversion?

[mark_turner]

I have a very good mercury 4hp that pushes my 18ft boat along quite nicely and is very reliable. IF the sea isn't too lumpy and IF I don't have anyone on the foredeck dropping an anchor, picking up a buoy etc.

In this situation the propeller won't stay deep enough in the water to work properly.

I am reluctant to buy another engine as the one I have is very good and reliable I haven't got the money.

My engine is a 4hp Mercury two stroke and is about 5 years 6 or 7 years old.

Is it possible to convert it? If so how do I go about it? Presumably I'd need to pick up some bits from a scrapped long shaft engine to make it cost effective but where am I likely to find such a thing (if at all).

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[andy_wilson]

The long shaft version of your engine probably just had an extension casing bolted inbetween the top and bottom section.

You will need the longer drive shaft, gear selector and water pick-up tube too.

Go for a scrapper. When you find the cost of buying new to do the job you will have probably covered the cost of a new motor.

The other alternative is find someone who has a long shaft but uses it on an inflatable dinghy (like me), but could really do with a short shaft, and come to some arrangement.

Sorry, I'm hanging onto my long shaft as it is 100% reliable and I live in the mistaken hope that one day it might push my yacht out of trouble if need be.

 

[Guest]

I have a 4hp longshaft Johnson that I need to change to a short shaft. Its in excellent condition and has had very little use. Its about 5 years old. Why not email me at woodsb2@aol.com and we can discuss it.

 

[ccscott49]

are you sure its not already a long shaft?