How far in the water should an outboard motor be on a pontoon?

A boat rigger’s rule of thumb is that the motor can be raised one inch for each eight to 10 inches of distance between the transom and prop. As the prop moves further aft, it’s also likely to be in cleaner, “harder” water, and be more efficient.

What is the purpose of a transom on a pontoon boat?

The more cross members the transom is attached to the better it distributes the weight and the thrust of the engine. An adjustable transom was popular years ago when pontoons used 20 HP engines. You could use a short shaft engine and in shallow water you’d raise the engine by pulling up on the lever.

What size motor needs a transom saver?

Most transom savers can support up to a 150HP motor, which is sufficient for most regular boats.

What is the motor mount on a pontoon boat?

The motor mount or transom is what supports the engine. Older transoms were not a long as newer ones and most had a piece of 1 1/2” wood to support the engine. Twenty years ago most manufacturers switched to all aluminum transoms. The piece of wood was replaced with a thick piece of aluminum to support the engine.

What kind of support does a boat trailer need?

Motor Support Bracket protects motor’s lower unit and relieves strain on the boat transom. Dual mounting position on the trailer side and the cast aluminum ‘V’ bracket has two self adjusting arms to give a custom fit on almost any size motor.

Can a small boat support an outboard motor?

On a yacht, it may form the entire lateral wall while in a small boat it can only support the outboard motor. Ordinarily, the boat transom is designed to support an outboard motor while in the water. When being towed on land, there is immense pressure or strain placed on the transom.

What is the best outboard motor for my pontoon boat?

While we have seen tri-toons rigged from 150-450 hp, we recommend that you option your tri-toon with an outboard motor in the 150-300 hp range. The next question is, “how do you want to use your pontoon?”

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