Hello there everyone, I am restoring my old 1992 (I think) Tracker Guide V14. I did it once before maybe about 7 years ago, but I didn’t do some things right and I also let it sit to long under an oak tree and well it turned into a planter box if you will.
But what the issue is, is the transom modification. My circumstances are I can’t afford both a new boat and a motor. We all know times are hard for folks right now, me included. I am mechanically handy and I’ve done my research and the motor I want is a Thai Longtail coupled to a Briggs Vanguard 23 horse engine. I think it’s a reliable setup and the tail is mechanically simple and the brand seems to me to be well made. The setup also fits me best for power, reliability and simplicity for the money. But to use it on the boat and get good performance I need a 15 inch or so transom, not a 20. As I am told these Longtails perform better when on a 15 as opposed to a 20. I don’t plan on any “hardcore muddin” as it’s a v hull and not a mud boat. But I would like to get through shallow waters of about 10” or more. Around here our lake and river bottoms have hard bottoms of iron ore, red clay, some shale and sometimes a bit of silt or decayed plant matter. So I won’t need a huge demand for it to function as a mud motor so much but more as a rugged outboard that can handle some things a conventional outboard can’t or shouldn’t. I thought I’d explain that so the modification would make more sense.
Anyway my concerns are, will I compromise any strength or rigidity, if so how can I compensate. I do plan on adding some channel iron along the transom top to stiffen it. I also need the width on the crop so I can pivot the motor 180 for trailering and for on the water maneuvering, the motor will need to pivot down into the boat as well so the tail can clear obstacles which also means I need to eliminate the splash well in some way. I know they serve a purpose, but isn’t the point of higher sides and transoms for bigger waters? I’m just going to be on lakes and maybe rivers, no salt. Photos coming...
But what the issue is, is the transom modification. My circumstances are I can’t afford both a new boat and a motor. We all know times are hard for folks right now, me included. I am mechanically handy and I’ve done my research and the motor I want is a Thai Longtail coupled to a Briggs Vanguard 23 horse engine. I think it’s a reliable setup and the tail is mechanically simple and the brand seems to me to be well made. The setup also fits me best for power, reliability and simplicity for the money. But to use it on the boat and get good performance I need a 15 inch or so transom, not a 20. As I am told these Longtails perform better when on a 15 as opposed to a 20. I don’t plan on any “hardcore muddin” as it’s a v hull and not a mud boat. But I would like to get through shallow waters of about 10” or more. Around here our lake and river bottoms have hard bottoms of iron ore, red clay, some shale and sometimes a bit of silt or decayed plant matter. So I won’t need a huge demand for it to function as a mud motor so much but more as a rugged outboard that can handle some things a conventional outboard can’t or shouldn’t. I thought I’d explain that so the modification would make more sense.
Anyway my concerns are, will I compromise any strength or rigidity, if so how can I compensate. I do plan on adding some channel iron along the transom top to stiffen it. I also need the width on the crop so I can pivot the motor 180 for trailering and for on the water maneuvering, the motor will need to pivot down into the boat as well so the tail can clear obstacles which also means I need to eliminate the splash well in some way. I know they serve a purpose, but isn’t the point of higher sides and transoms for bigger waters? I’m just going to be on lakes and maybe rivers, no salt. Photos coming...
