Longtail outboard motor: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying

outboard motors of the type longtail (or "long tail") is a unique solution for small boats where standard outboard motors do not fit, and a key feature is an out-of-the-way paddle-rotor gearbox on a long foot, which allows the motor to be used on flat-bottomed boats, pontoons or even homemade swimming aids, making longtails indispensable for fishermen, hunters and tourists operating boats in shallow waters with abundant vegetation.

Unlike conventional outboard motors, longtails don't require complex installation on a transom — they can be mounted on special brackets or even on board boats — and this opens up the possibility of upgrading older PVC boats, aluminum lights, or even catamarans, but there are downsides to this design: increased noise, vibrations, and the need for regular gear maintenance. In this article, we'll discuss how to select a longtail for specific tasks, install it correctly, and avoid typical errors in operation.

It is worth noting that longtails are often confused with long-dadewood engines (for example, Mercury Bigfoot or Yamaha XL). These are fundamentally different designs: longtail gearboxes are put on a separate foot, and long-legged outboard motors have only the bottom block extended, but it remains part of the body, which is a critical difference in the choice: longtails are cheaper and easier to repair, but lose in reliability and resource.

Design of longtail motor: device and principles of operation

Longtail consists of three main nodes:

1. Engine. Usually two- or four-stroke gasoline (rarely diesel or electric) with power ranging from 2 to 20 hp, but the most popular models are the ones on the road. 5-10 hp. for boats 3-4 meters long.
2. Transfer shaft A steel pipe (or a composite rod in budget models) connecting the engine to the gearbox, the length of the shaft determines the "flight" of the screw behind the stern and can be adjusted.
3. Row-rotor gearbox It's a submersible unit where you slow down and you transfer torque to the propeller, and it's the one that needs the most attention in service.

The key advantage of longtails is the opportunity installations on boats with a minimum draft (from 10 cm)And this is where the classic outboard motor will pick up soil or vegetation, like on popular PVC boats. "Kazanka" or Oka-3. Longtail allows you to pass through shallow water, where the depth does not exceed 20-30 cm, However, for this versatility you have to pay:

• 🔧 Increased wear of gearbox lack of lubrication under pressure (unlike outboard motors).
• 🔊 Increased noise - the gearshaft vibrates, and the gearbox often works "dry".
• ⚡ Difficulties with electricity: There is no built-in generator on budget models, so a separate battery is needed for lighting or sonar.

Interesting fact: the first longtails appeared in the 1950s as a simplified alternative to outboard motors for fishermen in the United States, and are now widely used in Russia for PVC boats and aluminum "lightweights", especially in regions with shallow rivers (for example, in Siberia or the Urals).

Pros and cons of longtail engines: an honest comparison

To understand whether longtail is suitable for you, we will weigh its advantages and disadvantages against the background of alternatives (outboard motors, electric motors or oars).

Criteria	longtail	Outboard motor	Electric motor
Minimum draught of the boat	10–15 cm	30-40 cm	5-10 cm
Cost (5bhp)	40-80 thousand rubles.	120-250 thousand rubles.	30-60,000 rubles.
Resource before major repairs	500 to 1,000 motor-hours	1500-3,000 motor-hours	200-500 charge cycles
Noise level	Highly	Medium.	Low.
Service	Every 50 motor hours	Every 100 motor hours	Minimum

And you can see from the table that longtails are a niche between expensive outboard motors and low-power electric motors. price/patency ratioFor example, for fishing in shallow lakes with dense vegetation (such as: White Lake in the Vologda region) longtail on 5-7 hp. It will be better than an outboard motor that will constantly catch the grass.

However, there are also critical disadvantages:

⚠️ Attention: Longtails are absolutely not suitable for long transitions on large water bodies (for example, on the Rybinsk reservoir), their gearboxes are not designed for multi-kilometer marches - overheating and failure are guaranteed.

Another nuance. legal restrictionsIn Russia, engines up to 5 hp You do not need to register with GIMS, but if you install longtail on the 10 hpYou will have to issue a boat registration certificate and the rights to operate a small vessel.

How to choose a longtail: key parameters

When choosing a longtail, focus on five main criteria:

1. Engine power:
   • 🛶 2-3 hp. - for boats up to 2.5 m in length (e.g. Ufimka. Or inflatable loners.
   • ⛵ 5-7 hp. - optimal for boats of 3-3.5 m (type) "Kazanka" or "Diver.").
   • 🚤 10bhp and higher - for aluminum boats of 4 m+ or pontoons, but requires registration.

Transmission shaft length:

Measure the distance from the transom to the water in a loaded boat and add 10-15 cm. 1.2 m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m, 1.5 m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m and 1.8 m mFor catamarans, you may need a shaft up to 2.5 m m m m.

Type of gearbox:

Budget models are being equipped tape-reducers (Easier to repair, but more noisy), premiums wormy (Silent but more expensive in service).

Propeller material:

Aluminum screws are cheaper but less efficient. Stainless screws (e.g., stainless propellers) Solas) more expensive but increase speed up to 15%.

Presence of a reverse:

Without a reverse, it's hard to maneuver on the flow. In budget models, the reverse is implemented by manually rolling the belt, in expensive ones - by lever.

Example of calculation: for a PVC boat Kazanka-3M. length of 3.2 m with a load of 2 people + equipment is optimal longtail 5-7 hp. rampart 1.5 m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m If you have a budget, you can take a model with a tapered gearbox, but be ready to change the oil every time. 30-40 hours of motor.

Measure the draft of the boat in the loaded state | Check the compatibility of the mounting with the transcension |Clarify the availability of a service center in the region | Compare the prices for spare parts (reducer, shaft, screw) | Check the complete set (there should be keys for adjusting the shaft)->

Top 5 models of longtail engines in 2026: review and prices

Both domestic and Chinese longtails are available in the Russian market, and we selected five models with the best price/quality ratio based on fishermen’s feedback and tests on YouTube channels (for example, the company’s website). "Fisher PRO" or Boats and Motors.).

Model	Power	Length of the shaft	Type of gearbox	Price (2026)	Features
Whirlwind-LT 5.5	5.5 hp	1.2–1.8 m	Conical	55,000 rubles.	Domestic assembly, spare parts are easy to find, noisy.
HDX T5.0	5 hp	1.5 m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m	Worm	68 000 rubles.	Chinese brand, quiet move, but weak corrosion resistance.
Burlak LT-7	7 hp	1.5–2.0 m	Conical	72 000 rubles.	Reinforced shaft, suitable for aluminum boats.
Sea-Pro LT6	6 hp	1.2–1.8 m	Worm	85 000 rubles.	Light weight (22 kg), there is an electric start.
Mercury-LT 9.9	9.9 hp	1.5–2.2 m	Worm	120,000 rubles.	The most reliable in the lineup, but requires registration.

If your budget is limited 50,000 rubles.Pay attention to the used model. vortex-LT or Neptune-LTIn the secondary market, you can find them for 30-40,000 rubles.But be sure to check:

• 🔩 Transmission shaft condition (no backlash)
• 🛢️ The quality of the oil in the gearbox (if it is black, the engine was operated without replacement).
• 🔧 Integrity of fasteners (often broken on homemade installations).

⚠️ Attention: When buying Chinese longtails (for example, HDX or Sea-Pro) check with the seller the availability of spare gearboxes. Many models are supplied without warranty service in Russia, and repairs can cost half the cost of the engine.

Installation of the longtail motor: step-by-step instructions

Longtail installation is different from outboard motor installation, and it's critical to set the angle of the shaft and the depth of the propeller up right here. Kazanka-3M.:

1. Choice of anchorage:

   Longtail can be mounted on a transom (if it is reinforced) or on the side bracket. transom with rubber shock absorbers to reduce vibration.

2. Adjustment of shaft length:

   The screw must be submerged in water on 15–20 cm If the shaft is too long, it can be shortened (but not all models allow it!).

3. Engine anchorage:

   The engine is fixed on the bracket with bolts M8-M10It's important to use spring-puckTo avoid self-retardation from vibration.

4. Control connection:

   The gas handle and the reverse (if any) are wired. Budget models often use bicycle-linewhich must be lubricated every time 10-15 motor hours.

5. Checking the centre:

   The boat should be straight, without rolling, and if the engine is shifted left/right, adjust the position of the bracket.

A common mistake for beginners is to set the shaft at right angles. In fact, you have to set the shaft at the right angle for optimal stroke. angle of attack 3-5 degrees (Slightly raised propeller nose) This reduces water resistance and increases speed by 10 to 15 percent.

How to check the angle of the shaft without tools?

Take a smartphone with a level (for example, the application "Level" on Android) and attach it to the shaft. Adjust the bracket so that the indicator is +3 °... + 5 °. If there is no angle, the engine will "buried" with its nose when accelerating.

For clarity, we give the installation parameters for popular boats:

Boat.	Length of the shaft	Inclination angle	Depth of propeller immersion
Kazanka-3M (PVC)	1.5 m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m	+4°	18cm
Oka-3 (aluminum)	1.8 m m	+3°	20 cm
Frigate-360 (PVC)	1.2 m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m	+5°	15cm
Catamaran is homemade	2.0–2.5 m	+2°	25cm

Maintenance and repair: how to extend the life of longtail

Longtails require more frequent maintenance than outboard motors.

• 🛢️ Replacement of oil in gearbox - every 50 hours of motorsport (or after each season) Use butter TAD-17I or Liqui Moly Hypoid-Getriebeoil TDL.
• 🔧 Lubrication of the shaft - once a season, apply lithole or graphite on the squat joints.
• 🔩 Checking of anchorages The bracket and shaft bolts should be tightened with effort 20-25 Nm..
• 🌀 Screwing the screw After each exit, remove the vegetation and check the blades for chips.

Typical breakdowns and their causes:

1. Leaking oil from the gearbox - wear of the osels or crack in the case Repair: replacement of osels (cost) 1,500-3,000 rubles.).
2. High-speed vibration - screw imbalance or shaft bending solution: screw balancing or shaft replacement5,000-10,000 rubles.).
3. The engine stalls when the boat tilts - a problem with a fuel hose or a carburetor. 2,000-4,000 rubles..

⚠️ Attention: Never use longtails without water anymore. 2-3 minutes - the gearbox will overheat and fail. water-barrel or sackwrapped around the gearbox.

For self-repair, you will need:

• 🔧 Carbon key set (8-19 mm).
• 🛠️ Screwer for propeller (e.g., Jonnesway T00028).
• 🧴 Hermetic ABRO 11-AB to seal the gearbox.
• 📏 A rod for measuring backlashes.

Tuning and modernization: how to improve longtail

Longtails are very tuning-friendly, allowing you to increase speed, reduce noise or adapt the engine to specific tasks.

1. Roller replacement:

   Standard aluminum screws can be replaced by stainless (for example, Michigan Wheel Apollo) for speed up to 10–15%For heavy boats, a large-step propeller is suitable (for example, 11-13 inches).

2. Installation of silencer:

   Longtail noise can be reduced by car-muffler (e.g. from VAZ 2108) connected to the exhaust pipe through a flexible hose.

3. Upgrade of the cooling system:

   Power to the engines. 7 hp+ It is recommended to install additional water-pump (e.g. from Mercury outboard) to prevent overheating.

4. Electrical starter:

   For models without a starter (e.g., Whirlwind-LT 5.5) an electric starter kit with a battery can be purchased 12B.

5. Strengthen anchorages:

   For aluminum boats, the longtail bracket is better to fasten through transom-plate thickness 5-6 mm.

An example of successful tuning: boat owners "Kazanka" squatting HDX T5.0 screw Solas 3013-091-11 (step) 11 incheswhich allows for speeding up to 25-30 km/h opportunistic 18–20 km/h.

⚠️ Attention: Increased longtail power over 10 hp If you topping up the cylinders or chip tuning, you'll get accelerated wear on the gearbox, and the optimal balance is to redesign the screw and the cooling system without any interference with the engine.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I use a longtail on an inflatable boat without a translator?

Yeah, but you will. side-bracket For example, for a boat with struts. Ufimka. fitting Crab 2. The key is to spread the load evenly so that the cylinders don't break.

What kind of gasoline should I put in longtail?

For most models, it is suitable. AI-92Air-cooled motors (e.g., Burlak LT-7) sensitive to fuel quality - use gasoline with an octane number not lower 90 and add an additive Liqui Moly Benzin-Stabilisator (1 bottle on) 50 l.).

How much does a longtail weigh?

Weight depends on power:

• 2-3 hp.: 12–18 kg.
• 5-7 hp.: 20–28 kg.
• 10 hp+: 30-40 kg.

For comparison: the outboard motor Mercury 5M weight 26 kgand the electric motor Minn Kota Endura C2 55 -all 10 kg.

Do I need to register longtail in GIMS?

Power-powered motors up to 5 hp No registration required. 5-10 hp. need to be formalized boat registration certificate category rights "M." (if the boat is longer than 2.5 m) 10 hp+ They are required to be registered.

Can a gas pump be converted into a longtail?

Technically yes, but it is not appropriate:

• 🔧 It's gonna take a make. gearbox and ramp (The cost of the parts is comparable to the budget longtail).
• ⚡ Powers of the benzocots (1-2 hp.) sufficient only for a boat up to 2m.
• ⏳ The power of this engine will not exceed 100-150 motor-hours.

Better buy used longtail. Whirlwind-LT 3.5 post 25-30 thousand rubles..