Have Kohler Longtail 25hp and considering putting it on the above mentioned hull.
Nada says 2006 Xpress 1450LW weight 315 pounds, lady at Xpress told me that hull weights 390. No doubt it's all welded and sturdy, but concerned it's going to run sluggish with this weight.
I will only hunt 2 guys in this boat, but would like to run fairly fast. Is 1450a good hull for a 25hp longtail. Don't need to set speed records, but want to run well on plane. Thanks for any hull advice on this engine.

The 1546xpress john only weighs 315 (with .080" hull). I cant see that hull weighing 390 even though it's .100" thick. The xpress website says 300, which makes sense.


That engine should be fine on that hull.

Yes, the xpress site says 300# and .100 gauge on the 1450lw hull...a big question is which transom height do you have 16" or 20"? The short transom no problem; the high transom will be tough to keep the prop in the water and never be optimum...obviously a 16-18' hull would have been better but you will be fine limiting it to two hunters and gear...if you are keeping it a long time, pods will help a good bit. Additionally, though the prop is rated many times for a 9x7 prop, you might find a 9x6 better, a matter of trial and error; adding steelflex or gatorglide to the hull bottom is recommended; tweak the throttle to 4300 rpm OTW; switch to synthetic oil and grease (e.g. Mobil 1); remove any foam pre-breather filter from around the air filter; you might tinker with relocating gas and/or battery to the front under the deck to improve weight balance; all these hulls that are welded, though better than rivetted in most applications, have crimps and will plow in the water because they are more designed for conventional outboards...my 2004 all-welded Grizzly 1648 is 395# and I run a 27 HP LT Kohler and it does plow but I get 20 mph by myself and 17.5 mph two hunters and gear...three hunters and I am down to 14 mph. It gets you there and back in a leisurely fashion, will never be fast but the Kohlers are durable and reliable if a bit finicky in cold weather to start...have fun!