I have a Maxxum 55 with a 42" shaft. With the shaft all the way up, the motor is still a tad too far in the water and also the head sticks up far enough that it interferes with trying to skip baits under docks etc. I had a 36" shaft Endura and with the shaft all the way down, it was perfect. I would like to cut 6" - 8" off the shaft. Anyone ever do this? Also, If I set the speed control over 30, I hear a noticeable humming. Has anyone noticed this? Motor is still under warranty. Gonna bring it in to have it looked a this weekend. Just wondering.

Is it a metal or composite shaft? I've shortened a number of metal shafts, but not sure you can do anything with the composite shafts.

Why do you pull the motor all the way up? I keep mine as low as possible at all times. Lets it pull better through the water and control better. The humming is normal but that will dissipate the further you put it in the water.

 

Is it just that the water is so shallow that it hits when your skipping docks?

Composite shaft is easy to shorten. I took a 60" powerdrive v2 and cut it down to 48". Pull the head off and unhook wires. Find a small piece of PVC at lowes/Home Depot that slides inside the shaft. Measure how much wire sticks out. Mark your shaft with tape. Slip PVC over wires and down in the shaft past your mark. Cut with a hacksaw slowly until through the shaft. Remove PVC and cut off part. Cut desired length off wires to make the same as before. Crimp on new end ends. Drill hole for the head bolt on both sides with PVC skipped down in. Now put it all back together and go fishing.

Composite shaft is easy to shorten. I took a 60" powerdrive v2 and cut it down to 48". Pull the head off and unhook wires. Find a small piece of PVC at lowes/Home Depot that slides inside the shaft. Measure how much wire sticks out. Mark your shaft with tape. Slip PVC over wires and down in the shaft past your mark. Cut with a hacksaw slowly until through the shaft. Remove PVC and cut off part. Cut desired length off wires to make the same as before. Crimp on new end ends. Drill hole for the head bolt on both sides with PVC skipped down in. Now put it all back together and go fishing.

 

You cannot do that with a cable steer model.

 

His question was answered on another web site by a trolling motor expert.

Why do you pull the motor all the way up? I keep mine as low as possible at all times. Lets it pull better through the water and control better. The humming is normal but that will dissipate the further you put it in the water.

 

Is it just that the water is so shallow that it hits when your skipping docks?

Yep.

You cannot do that with a cable steer model.

His question was answered on another web site by a trolling motor expert.

Well for me it was simple to do on mine.

Called the closest warranty center and talked to the service tech and he said he has done several that had composite shafts. Dropped it off a little while ago and picked it up during the week. Got a chance to try it out today and it worked perfectly. I can now go into water shallow enough that the hull drags on the bottom- a foot or less and still have 6 inches to adjust the motor lower when needed. Exactly what I was looking to accomplish. If anyone was thinking about doing this and was dissuaded it can be done.