Timothy, My new 5 hp tohatsu just fits in the motor cut out on my 77' Monty 17. I had it on a spring loaded stand off type mount on the other side of the transom but with 60# of weight that far out I was concerned about fore and aft balance. As it is with the new motor in the cutout, the closest I can get the vertical propeller shaft is just about an inch out of plumb but I figure once I sit in the cockpit the boat will sink enough to bring the shaft perpendicualr to the water level. My old two stroke 4 hp volvo ob took up about half the cutout notch on my old 74' Monty 17. So, yes, the power heads on those were tiny compared to now a days. I do have the old spring loaded mount which thru bolts on the transom and another new spring mount rated for up to 20 hp for sale, by the way. I have found that putting the rudder hard over is seldom necessary and found also that if that becomes necessary by turning the motor also to parallel the rudder blade I can spin the boat on a dime. That also lessens the chance of doing a chop job on your rudder blade. When I am out sailing I have the motor tilted into the cockpit and the lower unit being above the water level does not contact the rudder blade until the rudder is way over which is really not needed. Have fun, go sailing, tell someone about it. Fair winds, Tom B