I've been looking at used listings for a couple months and getting familiar with 14-16 foot v-hull utulity boats, the old classic style with just bench seats accross. I have a project skiff on a trailer and a 2005 25hp Merc with a 20" shaft sitting on it, but I don't want to take the time and nrg to maintain the project boat, so - it will get flipped over and some day turned into just a rowboat is what I'm thinking. I didn't like running the 25 as a tiller. I never got it set up so it didn't pull to one side far more than was enjoyable to drive it - so, I put a console in the boat and that seemed much better. I'd like to put the tiller handle back on it, and run it on a factory utility boat, and see if I can get it set up better to not pull as much. I can probably monkey with the mounting of the motor to see if I can get it to not pull, I adjusted all the tabs on it years ago, and it has sat now for 10 or so years, had no time to mess with it.
I was thinking a 15" transom would be good, and also was thinking of picking up a 15hp motor for it, but - well I have the 25hp Merc 20" shaft sitting there, and a skiff trailer with bunks. A lot of the 14 foot aluminum v hulls are rated only up to 15hp, so - I was thinking maybe a 16 foot.
I'd like to be able to run either a short or long shaft 15" or 20" motor on it, what transom height is better to have more options with plates and what not? I have some little 3 and 4hp kicker motors, all short shaft, I'd like to be able to run on it for trolling and such. I'd like to pick up one of the older 15hp Evinrude/Johnson motors they made from like 65 to 1992, it is on the list of wants.
I was hoping to stay light weight, so - at the end of the year I could just pull the motor and put it in my garage, and flip the boat over on blocks to get snowed on. So, I'd like to keep the raw boat weight to around 250lbs or less.
What boats should I be looking at with what height transom, and how would I set it up so I can run either shaft lenght? or is that a flawed idea out of the gate?
I was thinking a 15" transom would be good, and also was thinking of picking up a 15hp motor for it, but - well I have the 25hp Merc 20" shaft sitting there, and a skiff trailer with bunks. A lot of the 14 foot aluminum v hulls are rated only up to 15hp, so - I was thinking maybe a 16 foot.
I'd like to be able to run either a short or long shaft 15" or 20" motor on it, what transom height is better to have more options with plates and what not? I have some little 3 and 4hp kicker motors, all short shaft, I'd like to be able to run on it for trolling and such. I'd like to pick up one of the older 15hp Evinrude/Johnson motors they made from like 65 to 1992, it is on the list of wants.
I was hoping to stay light weight, so - at the end of the year I could just pull the motor and put it in my garage, and flip the boat over on blocks to get snowed on. So, I'd like to keep the raw boat weight to around 250lbs or less.
What boats should I be looking at with what height transom, and how would I set it up so I can run either shaft lenght? or is that a flawed idea out of the gate?