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If we move back up I am considering hauling this up when we move as it is sitting on my property:
https://www.loweboats.com/hunt-fish/jon/tiller/l1852mt-aura.html

Slap a Kenai legal jet outboard on it and maybe a small steering console and call it good. Should be good for lakes as well as the occasional river journey.
Thoughts?

Better have a jet outboard lined up quite hard to find! During covid and before tough to get one with a year lead!

If the boat moves with us (if we sell the house) I won’t be buying an outboard till spring of 25.
Good choice for small rivers such as Little Su, 20 mile, and the occasional Kenai trip as well as small lakes?

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That looks like a light gauge riveted boat.
It probably shouldn't be taken into shallow water that would require a jet pump.

Then you'll have to decide if it's worth hauling from TN to AK

The power penalty of a jet is too high for Kenai and lakes, IMO. How much skinny water do you plan on?

I'd stay with a tiller and get a 50hp with both a jet and prop lower. You won't win any races on the river with the jet, but you'll be fine. The prop would be the way to go for lakes or summer Kenai. Once you swap them out a couple of times you'll get pretty fast at it.

As I said before, the occasional trip up 20 mile or Little Sue.
Light boat, 50 hp jet, 2 adults and fishing gear
And it’s not enough power for the Kenai or the rivers I mentioned?

A Tohatsu 40 HP jet has a 60 HP powerhead. People used to run 40 hp on the Kenai in much heavier boats.

It’ll work, but you may become frustrated lacking full power. Kenai used to have a lot of 50hp detuned to 35hp, but still with props. They ended up doing more bank erosion they were supposed to prevent, by being underpowered and more difficult to plane. Boat have a tag stating max HP?

Ptarmigan just found the easy button above. 👍

can't use a 60 hp powerhead on the Kenai River above the bend below the bridge, 50 HP max powerhead regardless if jet or prop

Did not know that. Thank you

Like mentioned above, no 60hp powerhead on the Kenai. My little 50hp Tohatsu TLDI does just fine pushes a couple guys and gear up 20mile. I've carried my caribou camp, my son, and a quartered caribou with no issues in my 1752 Aweld.

Are you running a prop or jet?

Just a jet on mine. A prop would be nice though for lakes and bigger rivers.

I would avoid a riveted boat also personally. FWIW. Rivets are tough on rivers in TX where I still run in the winters. They all eventually come loose and need to have all the rivets welded. This after some years of running rivers in AK. Both riveted and not riveted boats.

The natives go everywhere here with riveted boats.

Just remember switching from prop to jet will require a lift, either manual or electric.
And moves the motor back several inches, which in turn sinks the azz end deeper.

Not a huge deal, but everything has pros / cons.

You can correct that with pods. Then you will wish it was bigger.

I would bring it up, leave it as is and use it

Snow,
Is the transom height and side height 21” and 20” respectively.?

Riveted is definitely not my first choice but in fairness I have seen what can be done out of a 16 or 18’ Lund. And it’s a bunch.

I’ve tightened rivets up with a sledgehammer against one side and strikes with a ball peen on the other side..then painted it with Marine Tex. Worked.

It is and that is marginal for the Kenai with all the "woke" wakes.

First factor in all hull speed:power calculations is length to width ratio at the waterline. Short and wide leads to excess wakes and lost power.

Flat bottoms start bringing in "reserve bouancy" concerns, especially in high wake areas like the Kenai. In calm water they are very stable and standing on the gunwale is no issue. But lots of reserve bouncy leads to snap-acting in rougher water. Coupled with very low sides it takes the fun right out of it. Older folks do not respond well to sudden surprises in their footing.

I believe the lighter Lunds are at least .125".