Guys,

For those of you that own Phowler Boats, do you have the bottom runners on yours? Do you like them? If you don't have them, why not?

I am contemplating whether to go with or without them on my Phowler. Thanks in advance for the input.

PM Willett

I have them on my hull. Depending on the terrain you run they can be somewhat of a hindrance, especially on the hard sand bottoms I often encounter. Usually when I get stuck you need a winch to get the boat out to deeper water, same thing with the GD hull I also run that has a smooth bottom.

These rigs will never go fast enough to need them IMO.

I've got "training wheels" on mine.

They can be a pain in the ass when hung on a stump, luckily I'm strong like a bear and have always been able to push off.

I run a hard-side blind which can be a biatch in a strong cross wind, in my opinion it would be nearly impossible to turn against the wind without the runners.

No runners on my Phowler 1848 and have never had one instance where I wished I did have them. We hunt lots of stumps so it was never a question for me. We also occasionally take my boat to hunt the public green timber here in Arkansas. If you have ever hunted in our state then you know how tight the ditches are in the public areas. I may not be as fast as the outboard guys but I can handle the tight turns just as well as the 15' and 16' war eagles. The only time my boat slides in turns in deep water is with just me and no load, but it is not a problem.

In my opinion, if you run a mudmotor of any brand and actually use it as it was intended there is NO reason to add runners to a smooth bottom hull. They hinder performance more than anything.

I have never felt that performance was hindered in any way. I'd say performance is actually enhanced when it comes to tight turns in deep and shallow water.

Probably going to depend on how you plan to use your rig.

Thanks for the feedback, fellas.

After owning three round chined boats and a mod V, the harder chined flatbottom is a new thing for me. I don't run stumps, but we do run on dropping water as the lakes and rivers are drawn down to winter pool. This means going as shallow as possible over the occasional sandbar, hard mud bar or gravel bar. I've always loved the flabottom's capability to clear these and turn if necessary in the process. I think I have decided on no runners, although I can see their usefulness. It's a matter of which attribute I would value more.

Thanks again.

So Phowler you're saying that "being a pain in the ass when hung on a stump..." isn't a hinderance.

I don't get hung on stumps with my smooth hull and no runners. Being hung on a stump when I can be hunting is a hinderance to me. So I took that variable out of the equation when I had my boat built.

Idabilly- I don't think you will regret your choice of no runners if contact with the bottom is likely, especially hard sand bottom.

I have missed many more stumps in the wee hours due to high speed tight turns than I have ever hung on.

I also don't consider being hung on a stump a performance issue, any boat can get hung on a stump regardless of runners or smooth bottom.

Idabilly, I'm sure you'll be happy with your decision.

Phathead, enjoy your smooth hull.

For me personally, the situations I run, I don't see the runners as a problem. I've never been in a smooth bottom hull with a hard side blind trying to turn in to a 30 mph wind so I have no facts,,,,,,,,,,,but it seems to me it would make for a very long sweeping turn. I could be wrong,,,,,,I was one other time.

I own a PD hull and it has no runners. Turning is an "art" at high speeds, you have to use "throttle management". As in get the boat to list to one side by backing of the throttle a little and then counter steer and then hammer the throttle all in about one to two seconds. I know guys with training wheels and they are a pain in the ass when you get stuck in the mud. It defeats the purpose of a true flat hull. Just my opiion