Boat Builder Central

Yep - in the end, it's a boat. I know stuff will break and need service beyond my mechanical abilities. Finding the best shop is key to having a good experience or being totally frustrated. I do plan to do some homework in that department... revisit some shops I worked with in the past and visit som...

This boat will be used in both fresh and salt - but definitely more salt water. And the motor debate can go back and forth forever. If I buy a Merc and have 1 single issue with it - I will always know "I should have stuck with my gut and got that Yamaha". If I get the Yamaha and deal with ...

I'd consider the big tiller a absolutely essential safety feature. Otherwise I'd put a Yamaha 75hp-100hp on her and install a small side console just a metre or two forward of the transom. Very little internal space lost. But I suppose it depends on how strong your arms are, and how well the motor ...

Then that starts the new subject of Yamaha vs Mercury - and I have a feeling that has been beat to death on this site! ;-) I'm leaning toward the Yamaha because I have a little 15hp 4 stroke Yamaha on a little duck boat I built about 20 years ago. Never had a bit of problem with that little kicker a...

Two things you need to do is buy the long shaft motor which will raise the motor from 20 to 25" and then purchase a tiller extension so that you are sitting more forward in the C19…. Tom 25” is XL extra long; 20” is L long shaft. I think this arrangement would be ultra utilitarian. Like a bigg...

TomW1 - your comment - Yes, that will need to be the case. But not the whole transom just the cut out for the motor will need to be raised by 5". But also check the plans that line may also be in them. No other changes are needed due to the strength of the transom. Perfect, and I assumed that m...

As noted above, the Yamaha 70hp is only available in 20" shaft. Will have to go to 90hp to get a 25"shaft. That may limit my options if i truly do need to raise the transom to guarantee tiller clearance.

I'll run that transom height/modification by Jacques and see what he comes back with. I've only researched as big as 115hp tiller, but I know the motors are getting bigger. I'm leaning to a Yamaha, 70 or 90, but I see Mercury even makes a motor called a Big Tiller now - so they seem to be catering t...

Jaysen - all great points and exactly why I asked here. I don't know what I don't know, so replies like I'm getting are so helpful. They ensure I consider what I may not have thought of so far. The water ballast up front does sound complicated - I'll have to take your word for it that it isn't - but...

Hi OrangeQuest, I wouldn't say I ruled out a small side console aft of the casting deck, but it is not my preference. Actually considered a very small console just ahead of rear bulk head, where the helm seat would actually be a fold-over seat between the rear stowage compartments - very similar to ...