TOPIC: long or short shaft motor

I have a 1963 white and black mercury 500 with a long shaft. Is there a way to know if it will work or do I need a short shaft. The boat is a 1958 beeline boat. any help will be appreciated thanks

Measure your transom, it should be 20 inches to the bottom of the boat for a long shaft, 15 inches for short shaft. A long on a 15 inch transom will push the boat, but it will drag like crazy. You can have the transom raised if necessary, but make sure the builder knows what he is doing first. Best thing would to find the correct length engine, your boat is probably a short shaft, 15 inch.

I measured the boat transom and it is 17'' from top to bottom of boat. does this give me the option of either long or short shaft? please advise. thanks again

It is a short shaft transom, and you will need a short shaft engine, sorry. Yours can be converted to a short if you can find a donor engine however.

Or you could mount a Jack Plate that will allow adjustment to proper height without messing with the transom.

Yes!