1972 20’ transom height
 

Hauling boat to fiberglass shop next week for new transom and to have floor replaced. Have 25” 140 Suzuki ordered. My question is how high should I go with transom? Would it be better to go 28 and mount the motor flush with transom and have cavitation plate 3 to 4 inches above keel.

Thanks

Wouldn't go any more than 27"

On my 1972 Seafari I wish I had gone to 27" - I only went to 25.25" and regret it. I would not go over 27, though. Check with Dogbomb - he has a same vintage with a 25 inch Suzuki, I believe.

Thanks for the replies. I will go 27 and that will still give me some room to adjust the motor height.

You'll probably only go up with the motor from there anyway.

I raised mine on my other wise original 74 20SF to 26 and a quarter. I have a 94 Rude 150 mounted through 2nd hole from the top and occasionally I get a little cavitation compared to the previous setup of same engine same boat with the 20-inch transom and a 5 inch static Jack Plate ratcheted all the way up. Although the cavitation is extremely nominal, I do get it occasionally. I believe when it happens that I am in fact trimmed all the way down but I also have trim tabs on the boat since I raised the transom.

I should also add that when I did the transom, I did it with Arjay pourable ceramic for entire size of the transom so if I recall my calculations correctly according the amount of material I use it increased the weight compared to even wood, thus making the rear end just a little bit lower.

That should read " sit a little bit lower"

Yeah Ryan I did the Arjay and when you factor in the wood, cloth and resin the Arjay was like <10% weight difference. In ten, fifteen years the weight will never change on the Arjay transom, we know what happens to the weight of wood when you add in it's friend water.