Motor height on a 15' tunnel?

[DanUmbarger]

I'm restoring an older 15' Hustler tunnel boat and am going to be installing a 1967 Johnson GT115 on it. It does have the standard racing gearcase on it and it is a short shaft. It's been 50+ years since I rigged my last race boat ( which was a 15' Hustler tunnel with an Evinrude X115 on it) but I can't remember what height it was. Where would be a good place to start? I want to be close because I need to know how high ( or low) to make the transom. Originally the boat has had a merc and an OMC that were both 20" shafts. Center of the propshaft even with the pads...up...down?

[Dave S]

Hee hee ....50 years ago we were kids and didn't know what we were doing and now we ask from kids that were like us.........The standard..... if there is anything as such would be 20 inches. The X115 was called a 17 inch I think.......Maybe telling installlers to go 2 inches higher......Might just use the V boat as a idea...... same boat company....All told when ya run it you will be adjusting it anyway....If.JMO...... I would leave theX115 on the Vboat..... as it's an piece of history....... Real neat find.

[FUJIMO]

...installed height to where you know it will still get water to the intakes...adjust incrementally later...

[specboatops]

Seen one of your boats running around my neck of the woods, had a 356 number on the side of it, beautiful boat.

[DanUmbarger]

Yes, I've seen pics of it. It is a 15' Wildcat with a cockpit cover and a late 60's or early 70's Johnson V4 on it. That was my dads old race # but I don't remember him ever racing that boat. Sure wish we still had the mold for that old race cockpit cover.

Seen one of your boats running around my neck of the woods, had a 356 number on the side of it, beautiful boat.

[Michael J Giesler]

Yes, I've seen pics of it. It is a 15' Wildcat with a cockpit cover and a late 60's or early 70's Johnson V4 on it. That was my dads old race # but I don't remember him ever racing that boat. Sure wish we still had the mold for that old race cockpit cover.

Jeff Baker can make one he just needs one for a plug or he can make a new one from scratch

[DanUmbarger]

Yea I have the same capabilities...just don't have a plug. I've thought about making one from scratch. Lot of work. Got the GT115 powerhead cleaned up, repainted, rerun and winterized. Now will remove from the boat for the winter. I want to prime and repaint the exterior while it's winter here. Where is Jeff Baker these days? He use to bore my cylinders when he was in Antioch.

Jeff Baker can make one he just needs one for a plug or he can make a new one from scratch

[Michael J Giesler]

He works at Supreme marine in Minnesota plus he builds and still restores boats too there are 2 15' hustlers with the race capsule both in Rockford and both have your dad's number 356 on them one is competition orange the the one is black

[DanUmbarger]

I know my dad ran 2 tunnels with the 356 number on them but they were both purple...one dark purple and the other lighter purple...the darker one I believe went to Wisconsin somewhere and the other I don't remember where it went...hell...I don't remember where my old black and white tunnel went...lol.

[vintage v4]

I know my dad ran 2 tunnels with the 356 number on them but they were both purple...one dark purple and the other lighter purple...the darker one I believe went to Wisconsin somewhere and the other I don't remember where it went...hell...I don't remember where my old black and white tunnel went...lol.

I heard one of the 356 tunnels went to the bottom of lake Monona and never came up.....the one Mike Butler had then sold...... maybe Mike will chime in.

[Capt j]

Put a jackplate on it, even if it's a manual one. Height depends on setback. I'd start 1" above the pad as a guess.

[slowJEEP]

If it's anything like a thundercat, I'd start an inch or two above the running surface.

[Jimboat]

I'm restoring an older 15' Hustler tunnel boat and am going to be installing a 1967 Johnson GT115 on it. It does have the standard racing gearcase on it and it is a short shaft. It's been 50+ years since I rigged my last race boat ( which was a 15' Hustler tunnel with an Evinrude X115 on it) but I can't remember what height it was. Where would be a good place to start? I want to be close because I need to know how high ( or low) to make the transom. Originally the boat has had a merc and an OMC that were both 20" shafts. Center of the propshaft even with the pads...up...down?

Will depend on boat weight and design. It'd be best to have a jack plate for easier adjustment, even with only minimum setback. if guessing, start with CL of bullet/propshaft even with pads or slightly above. should have water pressure gage to be sure you're getting sufficient cooling while testing higher settings.