With winter here it's time to start getting the old Manatee some augmentation.Starting with the old outboard. I'm looking at Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha 115's but wanted to get input from others before making the choice. My thoughts are a new or near new 4-stroke outboard. My boat is an 18ft Manatee at 1375 lbs. Any advise on the prop, diameter, pitch, etc.. Do the variable pitch props work or are they more hype than performance? :-/

This is going to be a major refit and the Bait Monkey is on steroids so please advise me if you have experience with better options. ;D

New electronics. I want to mount a chartplotter/sounder. I've looked at Lowarance, Garmin, Humminbird but I'm leaning toward a Furuno GP1650.

Which fishing seats do you feel are the best for long hours catching fish? The wife and I are getting to that age when the spirit is strong but the flesh is week. I want to get the old girl ready for reeltirement (the boat not the wife) .

I would say the SuZuki or Evinrude E-Tec 115. They are both very reliable motors and have Great performance. With the Fishfinder, Furuno or Raymarine are the way to go. Any commercial SaltWater fishfinders are the best becuase they have higher Grade cicuit boards, Screen, Etc. for the SEats, try suspension seats, they are pretty cool.