A 18' Jon boat is likely rated to carry around 1800lbs or a few hundred pounds less I'd think - (motor, gear and people).
So if your heavy jet is 500-600 lbs - the weight diminishes quickly and you, really, have a 2 person boat after you put in the fuel tank (going to need a big one with a jet on a river), battery, and just regular gear.
Not sure how much weight the transom is rated to carry - but my guess is you won't need a jack plate. Besides - a jack plate bolts up to your transom anyways and, because it moves the weight further out from the boat, actually, in some cases, stresses the transom just as much.
I would just check the specs .... if everything looks OK, and you are not exceeding any allowances - go for it. If you are unsure - we can come up with something that will work for you safely.
Regarding the engine brands - without question in this application - Yamaha is the better engine.
Have fun with the boat !!!!
|