Picked up a nice little mod-V 15 footer earlier this year and spent a few hundred bucks to fix it up. The first run out the long shaft 40hp outboard was shooting a huge rooster tail up the transom any time I gave it power so the first fix was to raise the transom. The second fix was to install flooring between the ribs and then build boxes to set a couple seats on. All of that then got a rubberized coating as well as the front deck. We also put a ram mount for my fish finder on it and a removable adapter for the bow mount. Got it out yesterday and was very very happy with it We ran around 20mph (no GPS) with three guys and gear, kicked the guys out and it ran closer to 30mph (just a guess). I think this will be a sweet bassin boat this spring and summer and a great duck boat come fall! Can't wait to get it out again!

i think i looked at that boat are you in Utah?

yep. Picked it up for 1500, I'm positive I could sell it for 2500 on KSL, not that I would until I can upgrade! It's better than I thought I could have still in school, I plan to use it as much as the wife will let me this summer and fall!

looks great, but save up about 100 - 200 cash and go to a welder and have them weld a piece on top for the transom and take that wood and bolt job off before you lose your motor. That aint gonna last long.

it's not going anywhere with out the entire transom ripping off! 1.5" 3/16 steel angle on both sides held together by 3/8" steel bolts. My mechanical engineer buddy with a masters of engineering helped me install it, if he thinks it'll hold I'm inclined to trust his judgement!

I realize, of course, that increasing the transom height increases the torque moment arm (torque=ForcexLegnth) and has the potential to fatigue the transom, especially with that heavy of a motor, but the worst it will get is in transport where I have it strapped firmly to the boat to eliminate any bouncing around.

I actually got this idea from tinboats which is an small boat forum. Their "senior technology advisor" had a diagram up that's basically what I've done

LOOKS GOOD BUT NEEDS A LONG TAIL....LOL AND A CAMO JOB

Well your buddy aint too bright for an engineer. Im a mechanical engineer and I will tell ya you torque that motor up just right and that wood is gonna give. The metal should be fine except its bolted and after time it will work its self loose. Not saying it wont work, just saying it wont last. Nice boat though. Oh by the way I also weld and repair boats on the side so Im just giving you free advise. And just because your buddy has an engineering degree doesnt mean he is an expert. I know alot of engineers and that dont have the common sense to walk and chew gum at the same time.

break through a 2.5" thick LVL? not likely in the next five years. Actually the motor clamps on both sides to the angle, not the wood anyway. And I used Nylock nuts on the bolts so they should never come loose. How would you weld an extension to the transom? Just a piece of sheet aluminum on the back side with some aluminum angle to stiffen it?

Of course this isn't the ideal way to do things, but it beats spending money on a new motor or a jack plate! If I had $15k I'd be in an 1848 allweld console steer with a 35pd on it gotta get through grad school first though...

first you would get stuck with a 1848 and a pd second i work with a bunch of dumb engineers couldnt agree with redleg 3316 any more....im no boat expert but if you can weld aluminum support the rear and cut the transom out build a new one to the size you need before you loose your motor....or find a block of aluminum the size you need LxWxH and weld it out on top of the transom with some flat bar supporting it and welded and then bolt it through the wood then dont use nylock they are crap use a double nut i can strip a nylock with my bare hands...but i guess you know its your boat and you asked for advice so the truth hurts ........can you tell me what size is you transom is cause mine is 19 inch and you can run a long shaft on that i have done it and she runs good .....plus rooster tails are bad a$$ trim it out and go to the duck blind super man fast lol

I looked at that boat the day before you got it.Called him the next day and it was gone.Nice boat you going to hunt out of it.I do know a good cheap welder that could help ya if that does loosen up.PM me and i'll get you the info.If needed

its a 16" transom and when I took it out the first time the rooster tail shot up and INTO the boat, no way I'd run that motor on that boat without doing something for it. ran it last weekend and it worked perfectly.

definatly add transom if it is a 16 inch i just sold a short transom 15hp for 650 it was a 03 mercury with low hrs wish you luck in the project but dont get a pd get a mb or gd

Thanks for the advice!