How do flat bottom boats perform in choppy waters?? I want to hunt the bay and the water can get rough at times.... Will I not even want to bother taking a flat bottom on 1 ft swells at most?? Thanks

its gonna jar your teeth

So... It pretty much will be a lot more "bumpy" of a ride?? Is taking a flat bottom on big waters discouraged? Can the boat ever get too sideways and hit a wave wrong and possibly flip??

i'lll tell you this if you are riding through waves that can possibly flip you, you don't need a flat botom, flatbottom boats were not built to run big waves but if driven right you can make it through the worst of them to get you were you are going.

It will tamp yer asteroids.

you may want to ansewer the question about conditions.

what will you run that you even need a mm? if you dont run in those conditions you may be better off with an outboard.

We fish in the bay during south winds. It gets a little rough. X2 on jarring your teeth. You will get a lot of spray. Best advice is learn what your boat can do. Learned that the hard way and had to beach the boat one day.

You need a 21' Bay Boat with Dual Prodrives. That should work perfect.

Well.... I will be hunting the bay conditions and and calm conditions. All waters that are tidal, however.... The mud flats extend nearly 50-100 yds off the grass lines around here..... If reverse is available, then where's the limit?? I just wasn't sure if it would be some kind of slip and slide while cruisin through a few wind swells....

Cali, from your "handle" I am guessing you are in the 707 area code and you want to hunt the Napa and Suisun marshes. I lived in 707 and 415 for 20 years but was not into boat hunting during that time. I know that you have to watch tides...I have a buddy who hunts Puget Sound up in the Seattle area and his mud motor rig stretches the "window" that he can be on tidal-influenced waters.

What is the condition of the mud in the areas you are hunting? Is it hard mud? Sand (death on props when you grind through it)? Soft mud - this is what you want. After running short tail mud motors for four seasons that did not have reverse I have run for two with full power reverse. This is a nice feature if you plan to run down some narrow channels through the tules or you want to "cut trail".

If I was you I would think twice about console steering. I have rigged a couple of console steer mud boats and while they are convenient to drive, I don't think they are as nimble when you get stuck. You want to be able to work the tiller in those situations. And you haven't told us your budget. Remote steer will add a couple grand to the cost of your rig by the time you are done.

As for flatbottoms on big water, I have done it multiple times here in Idaho. If you get yourself a hull that is 18 feet long and 52" to 54" wide on the bottom you will have a boat that has good carrying capacity yet is small enough to be able to run acceptably fast with a stock mud motor. Just as important is the fact that you will be able to run a rig of this size in some choppy watter without crapping your pants. I have had my rigs, which have all been in the size range noted above, on 2' chop on 25 mph wind days (gusting to 35). Not fun, by any means, but I got home. As others have said, it is a wet ride. Fortunately for you, that won't be freezing spray like it can be up here.

You should contact dealers in your area and try as many different brands and rigs as possible. Owners of these rigs are often happy to take you out as well. Don't buy the first boat you drive...try a few. Good luck.

Thanks for the great advice. Im meeting with a dealer up in chico next week to take his excel hull for a rip.

Was only trying to get console steering so I could put my gf or let my dad take it out for the day... But, are you saying that reverse won't help me much if I have console steering?? Thanks