15" or 20" Transom on 14' Aluminum Boat. Opinions??

[nhboater]

I'd like to know opinions/experiences on 15" or 20" transoms on a 14' aluminum boat. I'm not sure which is better and I'd like to hear pros and cons before I make a decision on what type of boat to buy. I'll be using the boat for fishing in lakes (big and small), rivers and an ocean bay. Any opinions on wave/wake overflow on the stern? Size of engine-short or long shaft??

 

[JB]

Re: 15" or 20" Transom on 14' Aluminum Boat. Opinions??

20"

 

[Newhook]

Re: 15" or 20" Transom on 14' Aluminum Boat. Opinions??

I agree with J.B. that the long is prefered especialy if you are doing any salt water boating. That being said, I went through the same analysis some time ago and bought a short transom boat in a 16 foot alum. I did it because I got a sweet deal on a short shaft 4-stroke. Before taking it out, I was very apprehensive about using the boat on salt water but it is otherwise very deep and has a beam of over 6 feet with a splash-well on the back. (Princecraft Starfish)<br /><br />I instslled, st J.B.'s suggestion some Lexan on each side of the motor to give a little more security and the boat is fine. I have used it all Summer in a large lake, sometimes in 40 km/hr winds, and had no difficulty at all. I take the boat on the salt water in a sheltered bay frequently but only go out when the weather is fine and have no problem at all.<br /><br />If the boat is deep and wide, you should be o.k. with either, but all things being equal, the 20 inch transom is preferable. You have to be sensible in a small open boat at any time and that is the key. If there are white-caps at all I do not go out on the salt water and would not unless I had a much larger boat.<br /><br />Good-luck, and let us know how you did.