Particle board? Really? What a Putz!
Get a piece of plywood. and make it look nice and sell it with a clear concience.
By the way, up around the Chicago area, Lund is the best you can get.
16 ft, I think is ideal.
They used to make a guide model that was REALLY wide and I'd go for that.
An electric start 50 horse Evinrude or Yamaha should do you fine! have zero faith in Mercury.
The consol will give you a place to sit in the middle of the boat and protect you from the rain a bit.
