Is anyone on here running a 20's hp LT on a 0.80 gauge all welded Welbilt boat... 16x48 to be specific...? Or something like it or close to it... What about you guys with aluminum boats with Lt's... Any problems with the boat itself...? I have been researching these motors, and so far people are telling me not to put one on it because I may tear the bottom out of it if i hit a stump or i may hurt the transom because of the motor... So was just curious to see what peoples opinions on here where... Maybe some of yall that run LT's can put me in the right direction... ALSO... I know all about surface drives cause i have plenty of friends who run them, so I am not looking for any advice on them, or switching to them... just about the LT's... Thanks for any replies... God Bless...

A hull that thin will obviously not be as strong as a .125 hull. But it will be fine if you keep that in consideration. The MM will put a lot more stress on the transom than a typical outboard. All the weight rocking back and fourth, and the tourque when your digging in the mud. It doesn't take much to brace it, but it is well worth the time spent to do it.

i run a 25hp on a 1448, i dont know the thickness of the aluminum but it isnt very thick at all, just like a regular jon boat. as far as durability goes . . like CB said you gota know the limits, i havent had any problems out of mine and where i mostly run there are LOTS of stumps, but i know the boat cant take a hard hit to the bottom so i idle through em!

o and for the transom i have no issues there because my boat has a huge brace coming off of the back bench to the top of the transom! i jus noticed your boat is welded, mine is rivited and still no issues.

We run a 23 hp on a 14 by 48 john boat and we have to alum. braces coming off the back of it to the floor and we are fine

Thanks guys for the replies... I kinda figured that i knew my limits, then I would be ok...

You'll be good, my area is loaded with .100 thickness riveted Polarkrafts from the 80's, and people are running anything between 25 horse lt's and outboards to 35 MM's and outboards up to 90 horses. It's not the motor pushing on it, it's what you run into and how fast.

Thanks for the advice DMD... I hope I make the right decision...

I am in the same boat as you.

I have a 1648 semi V weldbuilt, 0.080" hull. Looking at a 22hp longtail and wondering what speeds I am going to get.

Got a lot of good advice in this thread.

I use to run a 20hp GDLT on a 15x42 alweld! Never had a problem with the bottom, and i aways hit stump an jumped trees with it. It ran around 16-20mph depending on the load an the condition of the prop!

I bought a 27hp LT last night to put on my Weldbuilt 1648 semiV. I will let you know how it does in a couple days

See this thread. I have the exact same boat your talking about.

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