My first boat I bought was a 1542 Alweld flatbottom with a 35 Merc tiller I bought the rig new in 87 and still fish out of it today. We used it to push a barge across the chute when we hunted on and island in the Mississippi river and it has hauled several 4 wheelers across the chute so it has been through it all. The bottom of the boat looks like a washboard from jumping logs when we used it for duckhunting. It is rertired to nothing but crappie fishing now and my dad uses it about 3 or 4 times a week. The old 35 merc is getting a little tired and have been thing about repowering it but probably won't till the 35 gives it up. Through all that the boat has never leaked a drop!
Slabologist
"Professor of Slabology 101"
Keep your line tight !