I'm semi-move in to the old "Ambulance house" in Morgan Hill, and last night an old buddy sold me a boat for $100. It's a 12' aluminum with a 5hp 2-stroke 1968 engine that just needs a shear pin. It has Rivercraft oars, a Feather sculling paddle, 2 rod holders, a 20# navy-style anchor, 2 clamp-on swivel chairs (slightly weathered), 3-5gal metal gas cans, a trailer with new tires and greased hubs, and a 20hp motor which may be a junker, OH and definitely last and least a rusty wire fish basket. It needs some TLC as the rattle-can paint job is blistering, and the trailer has some rust problems, but nothing bad.
Does anyone know much about 2-strokes, the 20hp I've been told was flying along at top speed when it coughed twice and died, belching thick black smoke.

Tight lines,
Wade

Wade, that's cool you hooked up a boat. From a guy who has a very old boat I would offer the following advice.

1. It's all about the trolling motor. If your outboard is a 1968 a good trolling motor is a must because sooner than later you're going to be using it to get back to the dock. Bow mounted foot control is really nice. I bought the cheapest one they had, a minn kota, for about 300 bucks. You can bolt a flat piece of plywood on over the tip of the bow and mount it even on a v-hull type aluminum.

2. Decks are nice because standing up is nice. it's not too hard to fashion a plywood deck that's level with the seat going up towards the bow so you can stand up while you fish. My buddy Austin at Margarita had a little aluminum with a deck like that and it worked out even though it was tippy. My boat is a flat bottom so it's a little more stable, but either way, if you can stand on the bow, that is key.

With a deck and a foot control trolling motor, there's not all that much difference between you and a regular bass boat. I mean, yeah there is, but once you're to the spot there isn't.

Hope it works out for you.

Great minds must occasionally think alike. Although, we'll have to see about implentation. The boat has a pretty small beam and I want to be able to use it for a variety of species/techniques.
The motor is one of the cleanest used motors I've ever seen. The previous owner really babied it.
I've already started looking at trolling motors.
How much is registration for this thing going to run? The last reg for it was '99.

Tight lines
Wade