[brianct12]

MJ,
I just joined this site ..... * and think it is great. *I have had a 1969 18' Thompson for 20 years now ... *and am finally tired of its "pounding" in LI Sound in anything over a small chop. *I want a better ride ... *and many have suggested the V20. *I am handy with projects and would like to pick up an I/O V20 and do a bracket conversion. *Your first-hand info and suggestions are invaluable - *and make me think I can pull it off. * My questions are more about the resulting performance of the boat. *Will it sit too low in the stern at rest. *Ride to bow high ? *Porpoise ? *Difficult to use in reverse ? *And finally, just how is the V20 in 2-3' chop. *Is it better than average at not pounding ? *Thanx for any help. * Brian *in CT.

ps - Oh ... one other thing. Have you any guess as to what the odds are that an early 80's I/O boat will still have a "good" transom. (Maybe 50% ?) I would think it would be hard to inspect for ... so buying the boat would be a slight gamble on the transom condition. Fixing a bad transom adds to the cost of a conversion - obviously.