Extra Long Shaft or Long - Which is best?

[Brian Dinsley]

Can anyone advise the pros and cons of XL vs L on a 6.5 metre Humber Destroyer? Would the XL normally cost more than the Long, and if so, approx how much? (Suzuki DF175)

Appeciate any advice you can give....

Cheers,,,, Brian

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Brian Dinsley

Can anyone advise the pros and cons of XL vs L on a 6.5 metre Humber Destroyer? Would the XL normally cost more than the Long, and if so, approx how much? (Suzuki DF175)

Appeciate any advice you can give....

Cheers,,,, Brian

Brian, there will be a "correct length" for your boat which is determined by the transom length (search here for engine length - and you should find annotated pictures explaining how to match this). Essentially as a rule of thumb is the antiventilation plate should be level with the base of the hull.

List price for DF175 ZX (which I assume is XL) is £9,020+vat
List price for DF175 ZL (which I assume is the L) is £8,935+vat

Hope that helps.

[Nos4r2]

Just a personal opinion but if you've got the option of the right transom for an XL shaft I'd go for that-more freeboard on the transom has to be a good thing

[BruceB]

Swings and roundabouts.
You are pretty much tied on an existing hull to whatever the transom height actually is.
On a new hull you can usually pick the height to suit.

Disavantages are, usually, slightly higher initial cost for the outboard. Less availability secondhand and a slightly higher centre of gravity.

Advantages are a higher transom height and a usually drier boat

I specified XL and went for the drier boat but its all personal choice, no right answer.

[Tony Hill]

Ask Humber for a transom suitable for an XL engine.
At 175HP these engines are quite heavy
The additional freeboard at the stern is always useful (commercial boats require a minimum 250mm so its a good benchmark.).
(the Z in the engine model number refered to by Polwart is for a counter rotating model - you need 175TX
T - standard rotation,
X Xtra Long or 25" shaft

Tony

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Tony Hill

Ask Humber for a transom suitable for an XL engine.
At 175HP these engines are quite heavy
The additional freeboard at the stern is always useful (commercial boats require a minimum 250mm so its a good benchmark.).
(the Z in the engine model number refered to by Polwart is for a counter rotating model - you need 175TX
T - standard rotation,
X Xtra Long or 25" shaft

Tony

thanks for clarifying the part numbers tony. I was just reading off the RI 2008 RIB directory (that happened to be at my side when the question came in) which doesn't bother to explain the nomenclature. Hadn't spotted that there were T's and Z's in the same table. List prices would then be:

List price for DF175 TX (normal rotation XL) is £8,935+vat
List price for DF175 TL (normal rotation L) is £8,850+vat

[K&S]

As others have said get the longest length.

Can recomend the Suzuki 175 dont think you will be disapointed.

[Brian Dinsley]

Thanks for the input guys. Reason I asked the question, was because I bought a stock hull from Humber. They quoted an XL shaft Suzuki, but after picking up the boat last Friday and reading through the documentation last night, I realised that the Long shaft unit is fitted. I called Sue at Humber today and was told that the transom on my hull does actually require a long shaft. This was an error on their part and Sue has very kindly reimbursed me the difference in cost.

The maiden voyage is planned for tomorrow morning at Whitby, North Yorks. The boat looks absolutely great. Can't wait to get her on the water!!!

Going to pray to the sun gods tonight!!

Cheers..... Brian