Why did you buy a boat older than 2015?
ALL boats in the 80s and 90s and most in the 00s used wood.
Many boats today have engineered stringer tubs glued together with Plexus or other glorified glue. The glue joints become the failure point
Nearly every boat constructed in the 60s to mid 90s is built like that
Co here https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/
Read links 14, 15, 17, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety
yes, you will pick up power in your 4.3
what year is the engine? original 1989? newer ? upgrading to vortec heads when you switch to a 4-barrel will move the boat along at a bit higher speed
the islander doesnt weigh much, similar in weight to my bud's 24 foot crestliner hawk that hits...
I drove my stock 1973 Opel GT back in the mid 80s for 3 weeks without a starter until the replacement came in..... Drive around into a parking spot on a hill opened up, push start it down hill
still tossing ideas.......
Trebuchet and net... (image pulled from youtube vid)
your boys would probably fight to go get the boat
learn to tite-rope walk.
Water Bike
Paddle Board
Kayak for rough seas
All sillyness aside, put a platform on the lift pilings for a SUP or kayak to be...
Boats don't need a choke if you live where the temperature is consistent within a 30 degree window year round
However yes, the electric choke conversion is fairly inexpensive
@nola mike , you already have 12 volts and solar panel at the boat. add a 4-channel remote and run the lift off two channels and your cable pulley system off the other two.
few options:
dock on wheels (like the Tommy Dock), just remember to pull it out before going home
folding dinghy like flote-bote
Build a swamp buggy - power it with a mercruiser 3.7
learn to walk on stilts.....
