Friend of mine has a 16' SmokerCraft. 50HP evinrude with a 6HP Seahorse kicker. It's a mid 80's with four pedestals, one bow pedestal. Thing is a tank... They are heavy, but they ride well. That said trolling in heavy winds are an extreme adventure, even putting as much weight in the bow as possible. You would think a heavy boat would track better, but in reality none track real well in 20MPH+ winds. One of the reasons I kept searching for a '60's MFG Niagara. My nieces husband has one and I have been in it in some of the same conditions as the smoker. It may be because they handle better than the big Aluminum but his tracks a lot better. Gets on plane with a 28HP motor, and trolls all day at .5-1MPH with no other motor needed and on 3 Gallons of fuel or less. Yes the closed bow doesn't lend to Bass fishing as well, but with a solid fiberglass floor with fiberglass stringers, you could put a few pedestals in and cast away. Depends on how you fish and what your looking for.
