New guy looking to build a boat specifically for camping

Swamp Yankee, you're on the right track weather you build or buy and do some restoration/repair. Since you're not looking for a go fast boat I'd suggest a 9.9 High Thrust outboard. Yamaha makes one, Honda does as well and there are probably other manufacturers. I use one a lot with my 25.5' Silverton. My boat weights about 7,000 lbs and has quite a bit of windage. The Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust will push me along easily at just under 5 MPH. Of course I can ease up for trolling. The idea behind high thrust outboards is to push hard at low speeds, just what you want in a barge or pontoon type vessel. It's one of the best investments I ever made for my boat. They're a little pricey, but you'll be glad you saved up a little extra for one.

 

Just about every outboard manufacturer has a 9.9 in their inventory. Mine is a Suzuki. Pretty much ideal for what you are proposing. Many of the better known brands are actually Tohatsu engines under the hood. I had a Mercury 4. It was a Tohatsu under the cover. Greta little engine but I'm getting old and don't like manual start much anymore. Moved up to 9.9 to get electric start and trim/tilt. But you may not need that. most 9.9s are manual everything.