Outboard for Horizon Cat

[blighhigh]

The engine that came with my used Horizon Cat was a Mercury with a 15 inch leg.  This cavitates unless I am sitting far aft. I was wondering what engine would be a good replacement?  Obviously a long shaft outboard would be better but I was wondering about the ease of shifting gears with a new outboard.  BH

[skip1930]

" I was wondering about the ease of shifting gears with a new outboard. "

Should be no different in effort to reach and in effort to move the shift lever.

Consider a method to lower the engine on it's mount.
The 15 inch may be standard. I don't remember but I think 20 inch was the 'sail boat' model?

I dropped my engine down two inches and 6 inch [+ or -] back and allows me to drop the handle and twist throttle all the way down without hitting the transom.

skip.

[Craig]

Go with a long shaft and consider a remote shift/throttle system. I consider the ability to shift and control the throttle from the cockpit (along with a Boomkicker) the best investments one can make. Reduces stress at least 100% and makes docking/trailering a hell of a lot easier!  The wheel steering on the HC makes it rather difficult to lean over the transom to operate the motor controls.

[blighhigh]

Where did you mount the shifter and throttle? 

[Rahn]

I have a Yamaha T8 on my Horizon Cat and the throttle and shifter are monted on the steering arm (not sure what this is called) which makes everything very easy to access. I also have a 20 inch shaft which is on an adjustable motor mount and have never experienced cavitation.