Help Setting Up My 16ft Jon Boat

[Big_Easy_Bassin]

I recently bought a late 80s model MonArk jon boat from a guy I work with. He had just rebuilt the trailer and put a 40hp Mercury 4 stroke on it, but he felt like the motor was too heavy so he bought another flat boat and put the motor on it. I picked it up for (more than likely) less than what the trailer was worth... couldn’t pass it up. Boat is in great shape. I’m trying to decide what hp motor I should put on it. It’s got a custom built center console and I’d like to put a remote steer motor on. Any suggestions?

[Catt]

What length & bottom width?

 

[GreenPig]

Max hp it's rated for. Balance the boat with a 80 lb thrust trolling motor and three batteries. 

[Big_Easy_Bassin]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

What length & bottom width?

 

16x48. Sorry. Forgot to include that lol ? 

[Catt]

5 hours ago, Big_Easy_Bassin said:

16x48. Sorry. Forgot to include that lol ? 

 

That's ok I just noticed you said center console!

 

If I ain't mistaken that model came with a 40hp, a friend of mine had the side console model. We're talking two-stroke which was probably lighter.

 

I don't know if it was just my friend's boat but it leaned to the right slightly at rest. Never could make it sit flat.

[Big_Easy_Bassin]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

 

That's ok I just noticed you said center console!

 

If I ain't mistaken that model came with a 40hp, a friend of mine had the side console model. We're talking two-stroke which was probably lighter.

 

I don't know if it was just my friend's boat but it leaned to the right slightly at rest. Never could make it sit flat.

This one didn’t originally have a console. It’s a flat bottom riveted jon. The guy I work with that I got it from built a little custom console and put it in the center. I’m sure it was intended to have a tiller steer lol

[Catt]

Cool

 

Anytime you use "remote" steering you can use a higher horsepower.

[OnthePotomac]

My brother had a 25hp on his 16 ft john and it worked well and he just kept it in tiller mode.  Don't worry about fast you can get it, just get there safely.  It is real easy to over power a small boat.

[Big_Easy_Bassin]

On 12/9/2019 at 10:11 AM, OnthePotomac said:

My brother had a 25hp on his 16 ft john and it worked well and he just kept it in tiller mode.  Don't worry about fast you can get it, just get there safely.  It is real easy to over power a small boat.

I found a 2001 model rebuilt 30hp mercury at a good price. It’s a tiller, but I’m planning on installing the factory conversion kit and changing it to remote steering. 

[bagofdonuts]

perfect. you'll have some good fun on that rig down there. duck season too.