20" or 25" shaft?

[BkFL222]

Hello, I have a 73 22-2, what is everyone's advise on HP and shaft size?  Porta Bracket or swim platform? Im leaning towards a Porta Bracket but I also have young children and getting in out of the boat would be a problem. What do y'all suggest? What set ups are you guys currently running?  Thanks for the help guys!

[mshugg]

You can instal a swim platform with a portabracket.  Or you can get a transom bracket with integral platform.  I fish offshore without much need for shallow running, so it’s floatation bracket All the way.  If your territory is shallow, or deep mixed with shallow, the versatility of the portabracket may be the way to go.  All in all, figure out what you want to do, and make choices from there.

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Good advice above. In my case I went with the porta bracket and love it. It took a little time to get used to having so much adjustment. For a while I was constantly checking it and playing with the trim and height trying to get it perfect but now I can pretty much set it and go. Plus being able to lift it completely out of the water for sandbars and leaving it in the water for a few days is nice. I added a swim ladder with a flip down ladder for $200 and it works well.

I am only running a 140 but it works well for me. I cruise at 30 and can top out just over 40. It is also a 20" shaft but that doesn't matter as much with 12" of lift travel. For the price I got it for I can't complain, but when I repower way down the road I may go with a 150 or 175 just for the little bit of extra torque. With a full load and some rough seas it would be nice to help climb the waves but that is very rare with the way I use it.