I currently have a 25 merc 2 smoke on my boat now(tall transom) and I hate it. I want a surface drive and found a 23 sport hd with low hours. I know the boats not ideal for the motor but hunting the Great Lakes a mod v handles the rough water much better. I have to cross channels that are 60' deep to get to my spot that has silty bottom and weeds! Lifting a damn outboard every 75 yds has pushed me to surface drive.

My question is will the boat handle a 250 lb motor on the back? I don't beat on my equipment and it won't be driven like a mud motor is made for. I weigh 175 and always drag a buddy and the dog. I'm not looking for a rocket but 16-20 mph with this hunt load would make me happy.

I've searched and researched till my wife has begged me to buy one so she doesn't have to hear about it anymore. Again, my main reason for a surface drive on a less than ideal boat is so my damn outboard isn't hanging up on the weeds and bottom sending me into limp home mode.....

Move some weight forward, and hang a 35HP surface drive on it. If you don't abuse it, it will serve you many years. Slight V in hull won't hurt anything.

Wife begging you to buy a boat motor? You need to teach a class.

I run a 35gtr on a 1648 mod v. It does good for what I use it for. Mostly shallow water and vegetation. If I was you id reinforce the transom a little and hang a 35 on it, it's only a matter of time before you'll want a bigger hull so you might as well already have the motor. Mine runs about 28mph with me by myself, 25mph with another guy and a hunt load.

This is an old duracraft console boat. Measures 15.5/ 48. Tall transom. 35 godevil runs great. 26 solo 23 with family bone stock. If motor was anything smaller it would be a turd.

What's the difference in out drive lengths do? The motor I looked at today must have been 40-42"

We have a 40" on our MB 7000, I think prop gets a better bite further back of transom in less aerated water. Also prop angle isn't as steep, and will dig out off deep mud almost like a LT.