std-vs-long shaft swap

[rivers]

I've have a featherweight(short) and a 40+(long) and will be buying a boat soon. Likely a blow up boat. Yeah yuk but for my needs a better option. In any case it'll require a short shaft. I'm sure my featherweight would work fine but I like the extra poop of the 40+. I'm not big on adding a taller transom to an already goofy boat. Without getting into machine shop custom work costs is it possible to swap the shaft, tubes and related bits between the motor and gear box from the short feather weight to the 40+ motor and gear box? Sounds too easy to me so I must be missing something important(read expensive).
Any thoughts?

[david doyle]

I could be wrong but I think The only tough part will be convincing the exhaust tube to come off. Remove the set screw holding it and the 2 nuts holding the drive shaft and start wiggling and pulling, at some point you will expose the nut holding the water tube to the head, back that off and let the nut drop down the tube. Once it is off it will go straight into the other head.

Once you have the bottom end off the head use the opportunity to clean out the cooling passages. You can blast water/soap/vinegar in there with a large syringe. You can also leave it soaking for a few days and blast some more. Lots of crap will come out. I used a surgical glove to cover the exhaust port with an elastic holding everything snug so that no matter what I did I could not get cleaners/water into the combustion side. You can also clean the cooling water passages/tubes on the lower end at this time. A wire passed thru the tube with some appropriate size knots bent into it and worked back and forth works well or a small rifle bore brush makes it quicker.

BTW there is nothing wrong with an inflatable. Great boats and pretty desirable for alot of reasons. Being able to store a 12 foot seaworthy boat, an engine and all your marine kit in a closet has alot to be said for it. Comfy, quiet boats as well. You will enjoy owning one.

EDIT:

Just another thought if you decided you needed 2 short shaft motors you can trim the long shaft tubes and the drive shaft very easily. Permenantly turning the long shaft into a custom length to perfectly suit your boat. I would'nt suggest doing it lightly or with out forethought but it is an option. Be warned though the minute you trim it you will find a great deal on a 'must have' pocket cruiser or other high transom boat and then you will be searching for a long shaft assembley

[rivers]

Thanks for the reply David. I was thinking and hoping it's doable but thought I'd ask first before tearing stuff apart. I agree about inflatables too and have no issues with quality ones. I'm retired boat trash. Licensed oceans master with 30 years on 175-300ft work boats and very used to Zodiaks in particular as tenders, rescue boats and paint/maint boats. I just mentioned the 'yuk' part cause most folks here are seemingly traditional wood tender/skiff people. For me I'm getting old so weight/size is getting more and more important plus it'll be towed with a sidecar outfit.
Thanks.

[david doyle]

Cool, please post how the 40 plus handles what ever inflatable you get. I myself have a lurking intrest in a smallish inflatable Somthing of the size that can be moved with pump, motor and collapsable oars on a dolly/cart over ground that would not afford a launch to any other boat.

[1650bullet]

See the hose clamp that i use. Where the blue saftey strap wraps around. Its just a normal everyday hose clamp that wraps around the drive shaft. Its the most easy and cost effective way of using your seagull on any type of boat. You have a million to one ratios. Make sure you get a stainless steel one.

[david doyle]

Yeah that is a smart set up. Aguy with too much time could also slide a PVC female couple- close nipple-female copy over the drive tube from the bottom. That would allow the depth to be easily adjustable and you could dremel the steering locks into it.

[Charles uk]

I suggest a forum search on these topics, all this has been done & discussed before & it might clear up some of your miss conceptions.

[david doyle]

LOL, the day people use the search feature on a forum, pigs will fly.

[david doyle]

double tap sorry

[charlesp]

May I suggest this thread if the search doesn't appeal:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=619&start=0

[david doyle]

But that thread says absolutely nothing abuot swapping legs between short and long shaft 40 series Outboards The OP wanted to know if he could swap legs.

[Niander101]

Its possible to swop a hell of alot of the gearboxs around obviously small to small and large to large[denoted by exhaust diameter]
Hence very easy to make bitzas [for instance early boxs on older powerheads or vice versa] useful engines but somewhat frowned upon

[Charles uk]

Of course you can swop the legs, but if you'd done the research you'd realise you would end up back where you'd started, as the powerheads are identical.

1650 is right there are 3 ways of shortening a 40+ one involves a hacksaw, & the others some sort of clamp device, which could be a Villiers carb clamp, a hose clip or a Seagull height adjuster or even swopping the gearboxes around with a modified drive shaft.

There are 3 different shaft lengths on 40 series motors, Featherweight, standard & long!

[skyetoyman]

A proper seagull clamp is the best way as you can exactly match cavitation plate to transom height. Plus you still have a longshaft if needed later.
Sad that it doesn't work on my silver century. Which , by the way , ran really well today but only in my barrel.

[david doyle]

[img]you%20would%20end%20up%20back%20where%20you'd%20started,%20as%20the%20powerheads%20are%20identical.[/img]

right you are LOL. My mistake.