Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello all, First post,
I have a 1995 Lowe 185F pontoon boat, 30 HP motor with a shaft of 25 inches as far as i can tell.
This seems to be too long of a shaft for this boat but I am not sure. The top of the prop is about even with the bottom of the pontoon.
Isnt this too low? Should i move the motor up? A transom plate of some sort?
The boat will go about 15 mph with just me in it. If i add 4-5 people it will go about 10 mph.
Never seems to get on plane.

Every toon I've ever seen with that small of a motor is basically pushed around the water rather than planing up.

If you're getting that speed with it, you're doing quite well.

As for depth, it looks about right to me, but......I'm a relative newbie and others here are much more experienced and qualified to comment on that.

I just traded off a 2012 lowe ss210 with a 60 horse bigfoot. Did good to get 19mph on gps. If your getting 15 your screaming fast for that setup. The prop looks like the right depth. Without at least a 90 horse and lifting strakes you will never get up on plane .

Basically pontoons without lifting attacks are displacement hulls. They won't plane. With size and HP you're about right. That being said it does look low. Motors are usually placed with the cavitations plate (the flat above the prop on the engine) at or slightly below the bottom of the "v" on the engine mount. Judging from the stain on the toons that would put the top of the prop just below the standing water line.

30 HP isn't too heavy. You could try a shim on it before permently mounting and try it. Secure it tightly and go slow to see how it looks and feels.

I may try a shim just for grins, Hopefully I can upgrade to a bigger, faster pontoon this year. This one has been nice for fishing with a few folks on it. Had it a few years and its just a little slow.
Thanks for responding...