small outboard as main power?

[Codger]

If the 318 in my f-26 ever dies, I have the thought of maybe just putting a small four stroke outboard on the transom as the main power. 15 horse or so. Would sort of be a poor mans trawler. I know it wouldn't go fast, but it would be great for late season here in Michigan since there would be no worries about water in the engine. Also would be great for trolling. Might even allow the boat to go shallower if the shaft and prop were removed. Am I crazy? Has anybody done something like this to their boat?

[k9th]

I have seen several people do this same thing at a fishing marina I used to dock my former boat in. We fished for salmon, lake trout, steel head and walleye and they would use the outboard when they couldn't get the trolling speed low enough and did not want to use bags to slow it down.

[prowlersfish]

and you can stand still running into a 10 knot wind or go backwards when in a 5 knot current . would be real fun in a tidal area

yes you could do it but I think you would need more power then a 15 hp
and you could by a long block for less then a outboard

[randyp]

Wouldn't you lose a lot of steerage since the prop wash over the rudder is what provides most of it? Maybe I'm nuts, but I have zippo steerage when I'm coasting in neutral and I think this would be the same if the power was behind the rudder. Learned this the hard way when I tried to dock the boat for the first time after owning a sailboat with big keel and rudder for 20+ years.......OH, THE HUMANITY!!!!!!!

[RWS]

Here's a better idea on the same theme.

Technology wins every time.

This should work.

http://www.franksemails.com/pics/redneck-boat.jpg

RWS

[prowlersfish]

What has a sea ray have to do with this ?

[summer storm]

What has a sea ray have to do with this ?

That's one of the better looking ones

[chauzer]

seeing as the camper is aluminum, i would classify that as a "tinner".
lund, alumicraft, lowe, g3 etc...tinner!