Lots of Mfg's make stripped versions of their welded aluminum boats. Sounds like you need something with a pretty good v in it for your neck of the woods. I'm partial to G3, but that's just me. 50-70 horsepower is not big HP for 16 or 17 foot boats.
I have a lund alaskan 1800 with a 90 HP on it... what do you want to know ? It’s super stable, runs in fairly shallow water, ... they are only 980 some pounds
*** One thing - new boats have transom weight limits - DO NOT buy a motor so big that you can’t put a kicker on it if you walleye fish
Alumaweld Super Vee or Free Drifter would fit the bill if you can find a used one in your budget... the Alaskan and Lund could get a bit crowded with more than a couple people in it with more than a couple people and pulling a skier IMO....
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
My 18ft alumaweld freedrifter has a 115 tiller. This is a pretty light open boat, no steering wheel, no bench seats. Pretty sure the supervee is rated for more HP. I know the local shop has rigged at least one 16ft flat bottom with a 200hp 2 stroke. Don’t know if they do that anymore, but they told me they would setup my freedrifter with a 150 tiller if I wanted.
That’s are pretty flat 6 or 10 degree boats but you can find similar models with more deadrise.
I ran this by my boat guy buddy and he said to look for a Crestliner Canadian. He had a 60 Yamaha on his from 2003 to 2013 and in his opinion (and this guy knows his boats, fixes them for other guys and lives for fishing) the Canadian is better than a Lund Alasakan and would be even more available. This guy has had a lot of boats, even charter boats and has his captain's licence and says that Canadian was one of the best boats that he has ever owned. FYI.
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory
Are you looking for new or used? Won't find many boats without a livewell but you can surly take them out. I can't think of any 16' boat that won't take a 50hp motor. That's really not much. Hell, most will take a 90.
But...If I was in your position I'd be looking at a Lund Alaskan.
I bought one last summer similar to what you're describing. 17' aluminum Sea Nymph, Sea Striper model. Its a '91 with a '92 Mariner 90 HP oil injected. Has a center console, open bow with dual live wells and a flip-back drivers seat with storage.
