a little help please which motor to use

[newfie123]

i have a bit of a problem trying to decide which one of my to outboard motors to use i have a 40hp mariner short shaft this motor is somewhere in the late 90's i think and i have a 30hp evinrude which is long shaft and is in the mid 80's the problem is my boat is a 16 foot fiberglass open style boat and the transome is 18 inchs i would like to put the short shaft mariner on it but i'm not sure if it will work right i have been searching every where and it says for a short shaft it should be 15 to 17 inches is that extra inch that much of a difference and will my motor still work okay

 

[guyjg]

Put a jack plate on the transom and use the 40 hp.