1997 Mercury 2.5 offshore 200 on a hydrosteam Valero? Are all offshores long shafts ?

[koshlakehydro]

Hey guys. Want to put this 1997 Mercury 2.5 offshore 200 on my Valero v bottom. Just not sure if the shaft length matters ? I will have jackplate on the boat. Thanks for the help everyone.

[transomstand]

25" motor is no good, needs a 20.

[koshlakehydro]

25" motor is no good, needs a 20.

Guy says its a 20. Are you sure it's a 25? Thanks !

[Baja170]

It looks like a straight leg/bass mid I thought all OS mids were smooth without the ridge on the back. I can't tell by the pic for sure but I think my son's boat has a 20" straight leg on it I can get a pic later to compare to see what length that is.

These are 20" OS Mids I am 100% sure. I think TUX here on S&F has some 20" OS mids if you want to change to one if you buy it.

[Baja170]

I am pretty sure this is a 20" Straight Leg Mid. I am not 100% sure but like Transomstand I think it does look shorter than the one in your pic but it could just be the phone pic. In your pic, see how long the shift shaft goes below teh clamp. This one on the Mirage was nowhere near that far below the clamp as you can see in the pic. I know for sure this is not a 15" mid.

[koshlakehydro]

I am pretty sure this is a 20" Straight Leg Mid. I am not 100% sure but like Transomstand I think it does look shorter than the one in your pic but it could just be the phone pic. In your pic, see how long the shift shaft goes below teh clamp. This one on the Mirage was nowhere near that far below the clamp as you can see in the pic. I know for sure this is not a 15" mid.

Ok thanks a lot for all the info. Could I tell by the vin number once I get it today ? Is there a vin on the mid section as well ? Thanks again for all the help

[blacktruck]

It looks 25" to me from the picture. Just get him to measure it or confirm it.
Like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Mercury...JXbuIg&vxp=mtr

[Baja170]

I don't think there is any VIN in the MID. You can measure it though. I believe this is a 20" straight leg on this 2.5 200 of my son's. Would love to find a viper hull and trailer to put this on. I did not have a tape on me and it is dark in the shelter. I wonder if the skirt blew off while it was getting towed to me by u-ship? I better go look at the before towing photos.

[Baja170]

It looks 25" to me from the picture. Just get him to measure it or confirm it.
Like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Mercury...JXbuIg&vxp=mtr

See how far your shift shaft extends down past the clamp. Like this one on the fleecebay ad. Good example blacktruck!!

[koshlakehydro]

hey guys. Here is a better pic. He also sent tape showing its a 20.... But still looks long! Help!.... lol motor is coming Saturday morning

Thanks again guys

[koshlakehydro]

motor will be going on this v bottom

[Baja170]

NICE!! Wish I could find something like that.

[David - WI]

I think the rest of the guys are right, that's not a 20"... he's measuring to the skirt not the plate. The lower motor mount would be at the bottom of a 20" mid:

[Baja170]

hey guys. Here is a better pic. He also sent tape showing its a 20.... But still looks long! Help!.... lol motor is coming Saturday morning

Thanks again guys

That measurement looks like it is to the skirt that goes between the pan and to the mid. See in my pics you cannot see it because it is not there. I don't have my glasses on but I ma pretty sure you have to measure up to where the mid meets the plate for a proper measurement. Not just to the skirt that is just to cover up the bolts that you can see in the pics I posted. You can see the line on my son's mid to where the skirt goes down to, the clean line.

[Baja170]

Yep someone beat me to it. Actually my son's 2.5 is this 16" mid. Cool. ---- Mercury lightened flywheel, 16" cutdown midsection, Bob's coned gearcase, lightweight cowl & pan, Ruck Rivercut exhaust, Boyeson Reeds, SeaStar hyd. steering