I have a po-boy setup by comparison to alot of the rigs on here. I've got a 1648 Tracker Grizzly with floor and gun boxes, so it's probably not the lightest boat in the world. I have a stock 21 hp MB Hyper on the back. I can get up to 22 mph in skinny water with just me and a light load. With a buddy or two and a hunting load, I'm looking more at 15 mph or so. My question is, would a mud boat design (PD/Gator Traxx/etc) give me much more performance than my semi-V design or is that all I can really expect out of 21 non-modded horsies?

While there are not substitutes for HP

Yes a lighter hull is faster than a heavy one

and a slick bottom has far less drag than a ridged one

and a square chine is faster with less drag than a rounded
chine but slides badly in a hi speed turn so you learn to slow
down before the turn


So for your motor a light MM hull under 400 lbs, square chined of at least
the 16 x 42 to 18 x 48 would make a huge performance difference
with that size motor and run higher 20s solo and near 20 with full loads
but the hull weight will be the key

like the Gator Trax Rouge or the GoDevil Skiff or the WeldBilt are under 400
http://www.godevil.com/18x30-36_Duck_Skiff.html
http://www.gatortraxboats.com/Models.htm

Good point about actually nailing down the weight of the boat hull. I'll do some checking with the manufacturer and see what the listed weight is. I know the floor and gun boxes are adding unnecessary weight.

Ok, I looked it up. 540 lbs. Is that going to make a huge difference? Is modified V really that much of a downer over slick bottom boats?

No comparison, I had a waterfowler which is a mod V and now have a slick bottom, drafts way shallower and gets up on step like nothing.For shallow water they are the way to go.

If you want to know how much cutting 150 lbs will gain you just put a buddy that is 150 in your boat and u will answer your own question.

My rig is a 2054 and i can tell the difference in adding weight. I could only think of what it does to a small boat.