I started looking for a 16' outboard a few months ago to put my 115 Suzuki 4 stroke on. I sat in one and said "hell no". Probably the same reason I passed on a new 1990? leftover 16' back in 1992 over a slightly used Scarab 1 21'....they are tiny. They should be tiny they are 16' boats. Compared to any 16' boat I bet it rides better than 95% of them. So then I started looking at 18's and honestly I could not justify it over the 16 except for the seating and a windshield(on many). I then went for the gusto and bought what I always wanted which was a 22'. When you look at $12k for a 16' and $15k for what I paid for my 22' I would not settle for anything less. I had my 22 out in 3-5's a couple weeks ago. Tabs down, drive in, directly into it doing about 20 and she just went from crest to crest on top. The 16/18 would have been stuffing the bow or severely beat the snot out of us. Would I want to be in that again...no but glad I was in a 22. I also think after owning a 16' Checkmate Predictor, my wife would divorce me if I came home with another "tiny" boat. Gotta keep Momma happy! Then again if I lived on a lake or river, it might not matter much.
As far as props go...I would hope the owner has the right prop on it already. In order to give advice on a prop we need to know rpm, gear ratio and what prop it is running now....especially when something is modified. Lastly mid 70's out of 400hp in a 16 seems a tad pushing the envelope and you BETTER know how to drive.
Nick
1994 22' Classic-454 B1 Red & white
1981 13' Whaler sport(original owner)
South Tampa Bay, FL "May I mamoo dogface to the banana patch?"