hi guys
i'm new here and i just want to say yes it can be done, as a matter of fact i just got done doing this to mine, i am now the proud owner of a 27 inch long shaft 40 lb thrust minkota riptide saltwater edition for my 14 foot flat bottom jon boat, it is a simple process, first mount the trolling motor where it is going to be used and decide on the lenght you want to cut it ( on this always measure twice and cut once ) because there is no turning back after you cut it.
1. first step remove the hand control ( top) and then mark the holes that hold the handset to the shaft at the desired lenght straight below the exhisting hole or holes
2. get a pipe cutter and slowly turn it until it cuts the shaft into or if it wont cut deep enough you may have to hacksaw through the remainder of the shaft ( slowly and carefully ) there are wires in there.
3. seperate the 2 halfs of the top to get at those wires, and mark where they go before unplugging them ( very important) and slide off the whole head unit off the wires
4. slide off the piece of the cut shaft and use it to find the proper size drill bit to drill the new hole that you marked in step 1 ( but drill slow and have a friend hold the wires out of the way inside the shaft ( very simple )
5.you may need to shorten some of the wires, but that is simple just get some good female connectors of the proper gauge and recrimp new ends on and reassemble.
the whole project only takes about a hour or so and is a very simple task so cut away boys.............................Mike