After more than 6 months of reading everyone's post and quite a bit of pm's assuring me to go big I just purchased a 35 GDSD!

Although, when I called to order the gal asked me the size of my boat and when I said a 1648 she cautioned me of the weight of these motors thinking a 27 might be a better option.

I just went ahead and got the big boy and figure I can upgrade to a mud hull in a few years! It's going on an '07 Weldbilt and want to ensure the transom is alright!

Alot of people run 35's on 16x48 hulls without a problem. Just need to be sure the transom can handle the abuse.


Congrats on your purchase

Its a 2007 boat with little use.....I don't run true mud like you guys in LA or TX at all. I mainly got it for piece of mind in case of the occasional stump or submerged logs.

Any tips on beefing up my transom without a certified boat welder or anything??? I've seen where some guys without mud hulls have added a thick sheet of metal or even a 2x6 across where they bolt it to the transom.

Thanks in advance for any tips!
Casey

Congrats on the motor, now comes the world of mods.

If you have access to a welder I'd put in a couple of knee braces on each side of the motor to take some of the flex out.

If possible, get him to add a 3/16 or 1/4 alum plate about 12x12 on the outside of the transom & another one on the inside about 6x12. Also just have some gusset supports from the rear cross brace to the transom welded in. That should be overkill for it, but you won't have to worry about it anymore.