Cumberland River Boat...what motor?

Ordered a new 1650 Alumacraft tunnel haul today.Will use it weekly on the CR but also a little for duck hunting here and there. Presently use a low sided 1436 w a 15HP on the CR and the boat goes about 22-24MPH with two fisherman. But the boat is small and somewhat unsafe when they generate current or when duck hunting. I launch at Helms and often have to drag the boat off the trailer dropping down to 6 inches of water. Loading and unloading is a huge challenge at Helms with one sluice gate open. Alumacraft doesn't like roller trailers due to dimpling of the bottom over time. The new 1650 boat weighs 485 pounds empty. A 25 hp 2Stroke Yamaha tiller($2988) weighs 100 pounds and has a relatively short scaig so it should run and idle in skinny water. The boat should go about 22-24 mph with two fishermen.What other "motor options" do you all see? Boat/motor weight and scaig length are paramont. Don't want a jet motor. Thanks

i used to have a 18 horse 4 stroke tohatsu on a 1648 lowe, pushed it about 20mph with 2 guys and gear... most dependable motor i have ever owned, elec start and easy on the gas, went from ky dam marina to kuttawa harbor and back on 3 gallons... if i ever buy another small engine, it will be a tohatsu... even their 4 stroke stuff is light, my engine was about 115 lbs.

they also make a 25 horse(179 lbs) and a 30 horse(182lbs)

With skinny water and a tunnel hull---I would seriously look into a jet-drive outboard. I am pretty sure they make jet drive for just about any isze motor.
That way you have no skag or prop to worry about. I heard they can run in 6 inches of water.

Depends on the type/shape of the tunnel. They are either cut for a jet drive or prop. If the tunnel is rounded and more than a couple of inches deep into the boat, you will want to run a prop. If the tunnel is rectangular and only goes a couple of inches into the hull, it is made for a jet foot. Enjoy your new boat! Rigged just right, you prop motor should run in about 6", the jet will run in 2"! How cool is that!!

Last june I bought a 16ft grizzly made by tracker, wish I would have bought thwe tunnel hullm but didn't.I opted for a merc 40HP 4 stroke. My old 17.5 fisher deep vee had a two stroke, was comfortable, but even though I was skeptical, this new four stroke is fantastic on gas. The only problem with the rig, is the trailer, which isn,t that good for shallow ramps.Think about a 40 or even a 25 merc four stroke.

Great boat. Should be perfect for the Cumberland River.

I put in at Helm's most of the time and it has been tough launching the past couple years and getting the boat back on the trailer. I think I am going to upgrade my winch this year to make it a little easier getting the boat back on the trailer.

My boat is a 15 foot Alumacraft mod-v with a 25 Johnson 2 stroke. Plenty of power for that size boat. A 25 on a 16 should be pretty good too. I usually use my trolling motor to get me off the first gravel bar and up stream. I have a 65 lb 24V hand tiller on the front. It pulls the boat and 3 guys pretty good. A little bigger wouldn't hurt though. I don't have power trim or a tunnel hull so I try not to use the motor too much when the water is thin. The tunnel hull should help you a ton.

If you can find a 2 stroke you'll save some weight. I like 2 strokes myself because of the weight.

Good luck and post some pics when you get it together. Also, are you selling your 14 footer? I know a couple guys looking for a boat and might be interested.

a 1650 boat makes a good fishing rig for the cumberland i have been fishing the cumberland for over 7 yrs. in a jon boatwith a jet. i have used 3 different combo started with a 21 foot 48 white river boat w50 hp jet glass then to a 1756 express tunel w115 yamaha 4 stroke jet. now i am down to a 1650 express tunnel with a 60 hp yamaha 2 stroke. the difference between tunnels , prop tunnels with a jet you have to a hydrolic jack plate to mount the motor on so you can move the motor up and down while runnning lower on take off as coming on plane raising the motorwhen on plane motor is runnnnning above the bottom of boat about 3 to 4 in. the water exit the tunnel at a greater angle now about hp get the most your boat can handle a 90 power head is a 65 hp jet a 60 is a 40 and so on. i would recommend a 90 hp etec . this will be my next motor better fuel economy. when you increase in hp on a jet you do not not increase in speed to much you increase in lift and being able to much shallower water. more later