After looking for months I have found my next boat. I am going to get this 2000 Alumacraft Waterfowler 1546.
It is an all welded aluminum boat that is essentially wide open inside and designed to be that way from the start so I won't have any structural problems when I make a few changes. I am going up from a 1236 so this is a big change for me. It still has a 15" transom but the sides are 20" high so I can take it out in some rougher weather. I really don't plan much in the way of modifications. It already has an aluminum floor so I'll probably just carpet that. The biggest problem is the large bench seat in the back. To run the motor you have to sit sideways and put your left leg up on the bench. I am going to cut out part of the middle to make room for my feet on the floor. I'll move the pin socket for the seat from its current center location to the starboard side.
There is a bulkhead between the back compartment and the bench seat so the gas can/battery will still be covered but opening that up that area will make a big difference. I looked at a 2005 model that had the back open with a pedestal seat and it was a lot better set-up.
It's at a dealer and doesn't have a motor. It's rated for a 25hp motor. The seller told me that most of the new 25hp 4-stroke motors are too heavy for the boat and recommends a 20hp instead. I guess I will either do as he suggests or look for a good used 25hp 2-stroke which would be lighter. I think a motor of 125-140# seems ideal. I found a 2009 20hp Merc online that was used one season for about half the cost of new retail. At the risk of opening a can of worms, I would like to have some opinion bout motors. I can get basically anything at this point and don't have any real strong brand loyalty yet - my Nissan 4-stroke is a really nice motor. Given the season, there aren't too many used motors on CL yet but I have time to look. I have been looking at 20hp 4-stroke electric start motors online and I have found these prices so far - Honda $3829, Mercury $3154, Tohatsu $2710 and Nissan $2636. The dealer quoted me $3400 for a Yamaha.
I am pretty excited to get this even though I won't pick it up until April or May. I've got my 1236 on CL hoping to sell it soon.
It is an all welded aluminum boat that is essentially wide open inside and designed to be that way from the start so I won't have any structural problems when I make a few changes. I am going up from a 1236 so this is a big change for me. It still has a 15" transom but the sides are 20" high so I can take it out in some rougher weather. I really don't plan much in the way of modifications. It already has an aluminum floor so I'll probably just carpet that. The biggest problem is the large bench seat in the back. To run the motor you have to sit sideways and put your left leg up on the bench. I am going to cut out part of the middle to make room for my feet on the floor. I'll move the pin socket for the seat from its current center location to the starboard side.
There is a bulkhead between the back compartment and the bench seat so the gas can/battery will still be covered but opening that up that area will make a big difference. I looked at a 2005 model that had the back open with a pedestal seat and it was a lot better set-up.
It's at a dealer and doesn't have a motor. It's rated for a 25hp motor. The seller told me that most of the new 25hp 4-stroke motors are too heavy for the boat and recommends a 20hp instead. I guess I will either do as he suggests or look for a good used 25hp 2-stroke which would be lighter. I think a motor of 125-140# seems ideal. I found a 2009 20hp Merc online that was used one season for about half the cost of new retail. At the risk of opening a can of worms, I would like to have some opinion bout motors. I can get basically anything at this point and don't have any real strong brand loyalty yet - my Nissan 4-stroke is a really nice motor. Given the season, there aren't too many used motors on CL yet but I have time to look. I have been looking at 20hp 4-stroke electric start motors online and I have found these prices so far - Honda $3829, Mercury $3154, Tohatsu $2710 and Nissan $2636. The dealer quoted me $3400 for a Yamaha.
I am pretty excited to get this even though I won't pick it up until April or May. I've got my 1236 on CL hoping to sell it soon.
