Long Shaft Outboard Motors for Sale: Buy a Long Shaft Outboard Motor
No engines match those filters
Clear a filter or two, or tell us what you are trying to power and we will find it. We can usually source a configuration inside two weeks.
Shop by specification
All 67 enginesHorsepower
Stroke type
Shaft length
Shaft length guide67
Start type
Steering
Shop long shaft outboard motors for sale
Buy a long shaft outboard motor online and have it freighted to you, rigged and ready to hang. Every long shaft outboard for sale here states its shaft length in the title, so long shaft outboard engines for sale and long shaft outboard motors for sale can be shopped straight to what bolts on your transom.
An outboard motor long shaft build and an outboard engine long shaft build are the same specification. Send us your transom height and hull model before you order and we will confirm the fit, or order direct from the product page if you already know your measurement.
Buy long shaft or short shaft outboard motors
Order on transom height, not boat length. Measure from the top of the transom straight down to the hull bottom at the centerline, and buy to that number.
Short shaft suits about 15 inches. A long shaft outboard motor suits about 20. Extra long suits 25 and up. That settles the short shaft vs long shaft outboard question however you search it. Outboard motor short shaft vs long shaft, long shaft vs short shaft outboard motor, outboard short shaft vs long shaft, short shaft outboard vs long shaft, long vs short shaft outboard, short vs long shaft outboard and outboard motors short shaft vs long all come back to the same measurement.
The difference between long shaft and short shaft outboard models, or the difference between short and long shaft outboard motors put the other way round, is the midsection length between powerhead and gearcase. The difference between short shaft and long shaft outboard motors is nothing else, and the difference between long shaft and short shaft outboard motors is that same midsection. Same engine, same power, same gearcase. The difference between long and short shaft outboard versions never changes the engine you are buying, and the difference between short shaft long shaft outboards comes down to that one section.
Buy long between sizes. Outboard long shaft vs short shaft errors cost you either way, and the long version costs you speed while the short version costs you bite. Order the longer one if you are between, whichever way you phrase it: long shaft or short shaft outboard motor, outboard long or short shaft, long or short shaft outboard, short or long shaft outboard motor, short shaft or long shaft outboard motor, short shaft or long shaft outboard, outboard long shaft or short shaft, or outboard motor long or short shaft.
Long shaft outboard motors for sale by size
A long shaft outboard measurement runs about 20 inches from mounting bracket to anti-ventilation plate. Long shaft outboard length, long shaft outboard motor length and the length of long shaft outboard motor models are consistent across every brand, so the long shaft outboard shaft length chart below applies whatever badge you buy.
Manufacturers code it into the model name. S is short, L is long, X or XL is extra long, so a model ending in L is the long shaft version of the same engine.
| Designation | Shaft length | Transom height | Buy it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (S) | About 15 inches | 15 inches | Jon boats, small tenders, inflatables |
| Long (L) | About 20 inches | 20 inches | Runabouts, aluminum fishing boats, dinghies, sailboats |
| Extra long (X or XL) | About 25 inches | 25 inches | Bay boats, center consoles, offshore hulls |
| Ultra long | About 30 inches | 30 inches | Large offshore, twin and triple rigs |
Buy long shaft outboard motors for sailboats and dinghies
A long shaft outboard motor for sailboat use is the standard order, and long shaft outboard motors for sailboats are worth buying even where the transom measures short. A sailboat pitches, and a prop that lifts clear drives nothing, so spend the money on the longer shaft.
A long shaft outboard for sailboat tender duty is usually the right call too if the boat sees chop. Long shaft outboard on dinghy and long shaft outboard on inflatable dinghy orders split more evenly, since many inflatables take short shaft.
Do not order long for a jon boat. A long shaft outboard on jon boat drags, because jon boats run short transoms.
Shop long shaft outboard motors by brand
Every manufacturer builds both, so a Mercury long shaft outboard and a Honda long shaft outboard are the same engines as their short shaft versions with a longer midsection.
Most demand sits in the small sizes. Order a Mercury 9.9 outboard long shaft, a 9.9 Mercury long shaft outboard, a Mercury 6hp outboard long shaft, a 6hp long shaft outboard motor or a 15 hp Mercury long shaft outboard and you are buying the most commonly fitted configuration in the range. A 6hp long shaft outboard moves fastest of all. Honda long shaft outboard motors run from the Honda 2.3 outboard long shaft up through the Honda 5hp outboard long shaft, Honda 6 hp long shaft outboard, Honda 8 hp outboard long shaft, Honda 9.9 outboard long shaft and Honda 20 hp outboard long shaft. An 8 hp Yamaha outboard long shaft and a 20 hp Yamaha long shaft outboard motor cover the Yamaha small range, and a 25 hp Johnson outboard long shaft turns up in used stock.
Shop the brands: Mercury outboards for sale, Yamaha outboard motors, Honda outboard motors, Suzuki outboards for sale and Johnson outboard motors.
Extra long shaft outboard motors for sale
An extra long shaft outboard motor runs 25 inches and suits bay boats, center consoles and offshore hulls. Extra long shaft outboard motors for sale fit fewer boats than the 20 inch versions, so an extra long shaft outboard for sale usually lists below an equivalent long shaft engine.
If your transom takes 25 inches, buy there. Extra long shaft outboard motor for sale listings are the least competitive part of the used market and the saving is real.
Used long shaft outboard motors for sale
Used long shaft outboard motors are priced on hours and rigging, and shaft length moves the number as much as either. A long shaft outboard motor for sale with awkward length fits fewer boats and sells cheaper, which is your gain if it fits yours.
Buy used on compression figures across every cylinder, corrosion at the midsection and trim rams, and confirmation of what is included. Long shaft and short shaft outboards are stocked in both configurations, so order the one you need rather than planning to change it later.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a long shaft outboard?
About 20 inches from the mounting bracket to the anti-ventilation plate, for a 20 inch transom. How long is a long shaft outboard motor has the same answer across every brand. Short shaft runs about 15 inches, extra long about 25.
How long is a short shaft outboard?
About 15 inches. How long is a short shaft outboard motor is the same figure, suiting a 15 inch transom.
How do I measure my transom?
Top of the transom straight down to the hull bottom at the centerline. Measure at the center, not the sides, and measure the boat rather than trusting the listing.
What happens if the shaft is too short?
The prop ventilates and loses bite in turns and chop, and the water intake can sit too high. This is the dangerous error of the two.
What happens if the outboard shaft is too long?
The gearcase drags, costing speed and fuel. Running a long shaft outboard on short transom is not dangerous, just slower. A long shaft outboard motor on short shaft boat will run, but it is never the right order.
Can you convert a long shaft outboard to a short shaft?
Converting a long shaft outboard to a short shaft, converting long shaft to short shaft outboard and converting short shaft to long shaft outboard all need a new midsection and driveshaft fitted by a dealer. Can you shorten a long shaft outboard has the same answer as how to make a long shaft outboard a short shaft: yes on some models, and it usually costs more than the price difference. Buy the right length instead.
Do sailboats need a long shaft outboard?
Usually yes. A sailboat pitches enough that a short shaft prop lifts clear in any swell.
How much does it cost to ship an outboard motor?
Freight is quoted by weight and destination. Outboards ship curbside on a liftgate truck rather than by parcel carrier.