Alumacraft competitor bow motor shaft legnth

[bpswing]

Recently (last fall) I got a 1 yr old Alumacraft Competitor 175 and I need to get a new bow motor. Im looking at a Motor Guide x-3 70 lb. thrust but I am not sure of the correct shaft length 45" or 50". What do others use? Can anyone help me out here? Thanks BP

[Yarhcaz]

Well in my opinion neither of those are long enough. I would switch series and try to get at least a 54 inch...and 60 would be even better.

Originally Posted by bpswing

Recently (last fall) I got a 1 yr old Alumacraft Competitor 175 and I need to get a new bow motor. Im looking at a Motor Guide x-3 70 lb. thrust but I am not sure of the correct shaft length 45" or 50". What do others use? Can anyone help me out here? Thanks BP

[bpswing]

Holy shoot! Is that overkill? 60" shaft, Thats 5 feet long. Does anybody use a 50?

[headcheese]

i have a 60" on my 175 alumacraft, it has came out of the water a few days on big lakes.

[Yarhcaz]

I have the 54 inch and really really wish that I wouldn't went with the 60. My boat is only a little 16 footer, and the 54 will pop out of the water when I am fishing in some good chop.
I can't really think of anything that will screw you up more than having the prop come up out of the water. I suppose if you don't fish when its windy you should be ok with a 50, but any real wave action that thing will be bobbing in and out of the water like crazy on that alumacraft.

Originally Posted by bpswing

Holy shoot! Is that overkill? 60" shaft, Thats 5 feet long. Does anybody use a 50?

[wpwarhawk]

Mine is a competitor 165 and the TM has a 54 inch shaft.

[cyber16]

Minnkota sells plenty of 48" & 54" bow motors
It all depends on the type of fishing you are doing and if you are out in the larger swells?
Them swells makes the bow rise and at times the prop may lift out of the water or near it.
This site is stuck on those 60" motors
Yes I have one as well, at times fishing swallows it gets in the way sticking up so high.

edit:
Minnkota makes it easy to remove the head and cut the shaft down some if needed.
You may want to see if that is an option with MG

[FishCo]

You will NOT be sorry with a 60"

I had a 54" MK on my Lund and last year upgraded size, and Length to a 60". Very glad I did. Even with moderate wave action my old 54" would sometimes come out of the water. It's very hard to control the boat if the motor is in and out of the water.

Go with a 60"!

Jeff

[fishingthrills]

I'm running sixty inches on a Competitor 185 basically the same boat just a foot shorter. At times that's not long enough if your trying to have boat control, the winds blow waves 1- 1 1/2 foot my motor comes out of the water.

[T Mac]

Originally Posted by Yarhcaz

Well in my opinion neither of those are long enough. I would switch series and try to get at least a 54 inch...and 60 would be even better.

X2... I agree.