Don't worry about getting a shaft that's longer than you think you need--especially if that gets you a price break. When I bought mine, the 60" shaft was part of the bundle that gave me the features I wanted and the best price. Originally, I planned to cut the shaft down 6" to 12". After using it for a while, however, I realized that it's easier to raise the motor when you have a foot or more of shaft above the mounting bracket.