DHC-6 wrote:........Stay away from the 190 hp Continental.......

I think you're probably thinking of the 190hp Lycoming O-435.

Seems like at $60K you're kind of in-between markets-- there's the budget 2-seat floatplanes like the T-Craft etc for less, or the 4-seaters for more. I would kind of have my doubts about the quality of a true 4-place float plane for that kind of money. Kind of reminds me of a friend of mine who's looking for a $35 or 40K airplane-- trouble is, he only wants to spend $25K for it.
If you spend all your dough buying the plane, you better hope it doesn't break & that there's none of the all-too-common expensive surprises at the first annual.

Yes, hotrod 50 you're right. Typing faster than I was thinking. I had that Lycoming in my Stinson and it was the worst piece of junk I've ever seen. The only thing worse was the prop that was bolted on it. It had an oil bladder that controlled blade angle. Unbelievably expensive at overhaul.

hotrod150 wrote: Kind of reminds me of a friend of mine who's looking for a $35 or 40K airplane-- trouble is, he only wants to spend $25K for it.

You must have an awful lot of friends!!! I think 99.9999999% of the guys I have conversed with, on either planes I have for sale or guys just asking for advice, must know you since nearly everyone of them thinks that just because the market is soft that is what they are going to get.

C172/ 160 hp with a power flow exhaust will surprise you on performance and payload. 680-800+ pound useful and 7 gph fuel burn. Edo 2000, 2130, pk2300, aqua 2200 are cheaper brand floats, mine is on baumann 2550 with 800 useful. I have owned many floatplanes and find this to be the most economical and perform very well. I do have a set of 2000 edo I would sell with round gear 1970 and newer rigging if you find a plane with a float kit.

A Murphy Elite would fit into your mission and price range if you can find a good one. I've flown the Maule M4 on floats and it would be a good fit also. Doesn't perform quite as well as the M5, but it might be hard to find a floated M5 in your price range. If you find an M4 landplane, I've got the floats for it and they are available.
Good luck.

Andy