Thanks for the replies. All your points are well taken, even the one about getting a prop and fishing the salt. That'll require me to address the ministry of finance (wife) upon my golden kneepads. For now, I have been cleared for a river boat. The salt boat will have to come later.

I am also interested in the brand names of the boats and motors. Reliability, quality, and maintenance are something I am interested in.
I don't know that many guys with boats to ride in, and I am pretty much set on getting something I can ride on shallow water in.