This is not a one size fits all answer. For instance, these are both 14' V-hulls that I own:This one is a 14' Grumman with no floor and probably weighs 120lbs hull only. It's a V-hull that I would consider a jon boat. It came with a 15 horse that on plane was so stupid fast and unsafe that don't even put it on there anymore. It's now only used with an electric trolling motor.Here is my 14' Starcraft Superfisherman. Its 14' but has a factory flat floor and the hull weighs probably 600lbs bare. It's got a 25 horse and it's very stable even at full throttle. I've been on some of the biggest lakes in the Northeast in this thing but obviously have to pick and choose my days. Thanks feedback. I'm at the point where my canoe is no longer big enough for myself wife and kid, not ready to spend a lot of money on a boatThen there are some lakes much nastier than others regardless of size. For example, I find Winnipesaukee fairly mild as long as there isn't a lot of recreational boat traffic. It's layout and the amount of islands seem to help. Umbagog on the other hand, even though a fraction of the size, scares the poop out of me. I have seen legitimate 8 footers out there. Not to say that Winni can't do the same thing, but it doesn't seem as bad. So the equation is harder to nail down than you think. Some boats are different and some lakes are different.
"It's all about knowing your limits"Agreed, Some days would I'd be plugging around the Isle of shoals in my 14' Princecraft w/ a 9.9 hp merc.Other days would not be caught out there in my Eastern 22' lobster boat.
I actually took my 14’ Princecraft with 20 horse Merc out of the Merrimac River ONE TIME! What a trip that was! I forget which way the tide was going but I do recall having that 20 hp merc pegged and just making headway past the red pin buoy at the mouth! Scary, but I was young and invincible! Caught a couple of nice blues off plum island too!
As a teenager, I ran eel.pots in the river with a 14' starcraft, powered by a 15 hp evinrude,I often ran outside the mouth to get mackerel for bait,lowing the river and tides has its advantages, most likely you were facing the last half of an out going moon tide, the strong current in that river is the reason I run a 4 blade propeller and an engine jack plate, I'm able to compensate for the ever changing conditions..Modified V is the best compromise, but when I ran a trap line, flat bottom boat was the best solution, it had shallow draft, carried a big load and was stable as an oil rig platform...