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I spend an hour on the phone speaking to Norm about aluminium fishing boats. Norm had been a boat salesman for 30 years. A fast education!
Here is what I learned:
There are many manufacturers.
There is a wide difference it quality.
Many boats have different manufacturers name on the same hull, but the hull is built by a third company.
Many hulls were built in Quebec.
The poorly made hulls cannot be repaired.
Some of the very old hulls are better built but heavier,
Some hulls have a single knee on the transom. Others could have 3 and are very strong.
There are both flat and semi V bottoms
A good 12 foot will weigh approximately 200 lbs.
The wide hulls will drive better with the over size motor.
The boats get super light in the nose running over 30 mph with a single person in the boat.
Side winds move the nose all over the place.
We may need a larger hull. A 14 can be faster than a 12 with the same oversize motor.
There are two different seat layouts. Three rows of seats or two rows of seats and a pair of side rear seats.
He did not think there was a 12 footer with rear side seats.
Prince Craft and Starcraft do make a wide, deep. strong boat. He doesn't think it would run 45 mph with a 30 hp.
Drivers would not feel safe with a tiller 30 hp on a narrow, shallow, 12 footer.
Feather craft and Crestliner made 12 foot centre deck runabouts in the 60's. They would be ideal, but far to costly and not many around especially in Canada.
Stay away from any of the light car top models.

Just need to do a bulk order on a few of these from Australia. 10', mod 30 motor, getting about 55mph with 2 people.

I like this video, get a little bit of a background on it.

http://youtu.be/_5aKcpAhTOk

Everything I know about tin boats is in Rick Cole's head so I'm a genius!

Find a 14' Crestliner sportsman from say..1998. Beat the hook out of it...welded, strong, handles well.

12's are too small for anything but a 15...

Have you considered a jon boat? Those southern boys seem to like them..

Flattery will get you everywhere lol

I have a couple old Misty Rivers 12'& 14'WD. Strong, welded where it need to be, take a beating. The 12 is light and is a lot of fun with a 25Merc two stroke , jacked and pitched but mosty 9.9-15. The 14 is rated to 35.

I know a 30 mariner on a 12' flat bottom is a hand full even with a steering wheel/ contols. With a properly placed sand bag it was a hoot till one guy flipped it. still got the motor and would like to find a 14' semi v and try that. Probly still be quick

Our 14 foot starcraft with a 25 hp 2 cylinder yamaha runs 30-35 mph on gps with the motor up a tilt pin setting. Ive wanted to put the 25 yamaha on our old 12 foot starcraft to see what it would do. The 14 footer is prone to getting grabbed by gusts of wind with how deep the front of the boat is with only one 5 gallon can up front. A second can solves that problem for the most part.