Motor upgrade help

[billmc47]

I orginally put an Evinrude 18hp [1972] on my Fisher 1448AW Jon boat. Every time I take the boat out I have motor problems. I am just tried of messing with it, and the thought of a new 17 footer set up from Bass Pro seemed to be the answer. Wife is tring to talk me out of it so I said I would do some research on a new motor for the jon. My main passion is fly fishing and wading, Lake Taneycomo in Missouri. This is what I have found out so far. The boat will handle 25hp. This is where the problems begin and hopefully you will help me with this.
Looking at the following motors:
Tohatsu Fourstroke 25hp with power tilt and trim
Shaft Length: 15" (Short)
Drive Type: Tiller Handle
Starting: Electric Start
Trim/Tilt: Power Operated
Weight: 181.9 lbs
[local dealer offering this to me at 3200.00 with my Evinrude as trade in]

Tohatsu Fourstroke 25hp with gas assit tilt
Shaft Length: 15" (Short)
Drive Type: Tiller Handle
Starting: Electric Start
Trim/Tilt: Gas Assist
Weight: 178.6 lbs

Tohatsu Fourstroke 20hp
Shaft Length: 15" (Short)
Drive Type: Tiller Handle
Starting: Electric Start
Weight: 120.5 lbs
I think that the 25 hp would be the better choice since if I ever bought a bigger boat I could just keep the motor. What bothers me is the weight difference between the 25 and 20. Looking for advice and giudance. Thanks in advance
BillMc

 

[redbug]

do you have a trailer for the boat? if so the weight should be fine. the power tile and trim is nice it helps the boat perform better.
Do the lakes you fish have any HP restrictions? that would be the other consideration

 

[billmc47]

do you have a trailer for the boat? if so the weight should be fine. the power tile and trim is nice it helps the boat perform better.
Do the lakes you fish have any HP restrictions? that would be the other consideration

REdbug;
Thanks for the quick reply. I bought the boat and trailer new 2 years ago. It was suppose to be for me and my sons but they never have time to go. Everytime wife goes with me that damn motor gives out on the lake. I use this boat mainly for strip pits, with no restrictions. These pits are up to a mile lone and some over 75 feet deep. Can be fun when no one is around. Was just worried about the weight, will it change my passanger load or gear load? Thinking I might need to move the battery up front.
BillMc

 

[danmyersmn]

Look at this mercury 25hp short shaft.
https://www.smalloutboards.com/m99.htm#2

 

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

<I orginally put an Evinrude 18hp [1972] on my Fisher 1448AW Jon boat. Every time I take the boat out I have motor problems. I am just tried of messing with it, and the thought of a new 17 footer set up from Bass Pro seemed to be the answer. Wife is tring to talk me out of it so I said I would do some research on a new motor for the jon. My main passion is fly fishing and wading, Lake Taneycomo in Missouri.>

The 18 horse OMC series was one of the most dependable motors anyone ever built. If your motor will idle down to a low tickover then it probably is in good shape internally with good compression. A worn out motor with bad compression will be hard to start and refuse to idle. Of course bad idling can also be the result of any number of other problems related to the state of tune so a compression check is still the test of choice.

So if your motor shows a good idle then it's most probably worth saving. That means going through the entire fuel system and ignition system and cleaning, replacing normal wear items and tuning up. I figure that most old OMCs will cost me @ $100 in parts if I do everything it needs. But when I do I then know I have a dependable motor.

If you replace it with a 4 cycle then you give up a little in shallow water draft. As you'll know that can be critical at Taneycomo. Don't give up on the old girl yet! Preservation of domestic bliss isn't to be discounted in a happy fishermans' life either! "If Momma ain't happy then nobody is happy"! Tom @ Buzzard Bluff

 

[billmc47]

Thanks for the replies guys. Still tring to decided what to do. Not sure which way I want to go. Wish the one link has eletric starts at that price. I will keep you posted on what I find out.
BillMc