I have a 15 hp Mercury Bigfoot, tiller, longshaft (20"), fourstroke, electric start. I used it last season on my Scott 16' Deep Duckboat (with a 5" transom riser to deal with the long shaft), and it moved along very well. However I have not been happy with how low the transom rides in the water due to the heavy weight of the motor - about 135 lb, so I am planning to put an older, lighter two-stroke Merc 9.8 on it this year.
I am shopping for a suitable aluminum boat with a 20" transom to mount the lonsgshaft motor and am considering either a jon-boat (like a Lund 1448 or Tracker Grizzly 14'), or one of the 'deep-and-wide' type utility boats (e.g. Sylvan Alaskan 15 or Lund WC 14), at least 60" beam. (While I would like to have a 16' length for use as a tender for my layout boat I don't think a 15 hp may be enough power so I will probably go 14')
Before diver season the boat will mainly be used for fishing at my cottage which is on a shallow, muddy lake, about 1/2 mile wide and about a 6 mile fetch.
I would welcome any recommendations on choosing a jon boat vs. a deep-and-wide utility boat, suitable sizing for a 15hp, and any preferred boat brands or models.
I am shopping for a suitable aluminum boat with a 20" transom to mount the lonsgshaft motor and am considering either a jon-boat (like a Lund 1448 or Tracker Grizzly 14'), or one of the 'deep-and-wide' type utility boats (e.g. Sylvan Alaskan 15 or Lund WC 14), at least 60" beam. (While I would like to have a 16' length for use as a tender for my layout boat I don't think a 15 hp may be enough power so I will probably go 14')
Before diver season the boat will mainly be used for fishing at my cottage which is on a shallow, muddy lake, about 1/2 mile wide and about a 6 mile fetch.
I would welcome any recommendations on choosing a jon boat vs. a deep-and-wide utility boat, suitable sizing for a 15hp, and any preferred boat brands or models.