i have only been in a 1648 war eagle with a 25 outboard so im limited in knowing what different boat/motor combos will do.
looking for a gtb-35gtr combination that will carry a big 3 men duck hunting load around 28 in the river, give or take a little, and not have any problem getting on step in the process.
i hear the wider and longer the boat the easier it gets on step. i will be crossing logs and hitting knees so i want as thick a flat bottom as i can stand. im looking at a 1860 gtb extreme and a 35 gtr with a stage one or two, or even a three if needed.
am im heading in the right direction with this combination?

Check with Blaze on here he has a GT 18x54,he can give you some numbers on what she ran stock and modded I believe.

If you want an 18'x60" extreame and want dat kind of performance wit a heavy load go wit dual factory engines instead of mods.

Got a 18/46GT w/35 gtr stock. Three guys and one kid with boat blind,70qt. ice chest, two battery's, two 25# anchors, fishing poles and tackle and all our hunting gear ran 24-25 mph in deep water. Maxxis is running a Brotha Bro 17/48 with a stock 35gtr that rig is fast and handles a load pretty good, may have to PM him for some speeds.

with dual motors i would need to have a console wouldnt i ? i would rather keep to just a single motor with an open floor plan, even if it means going with a smaller 1754.

i felt like i might be pushing the limits with an 1860/single 35, but i wasnt sure so i had to ask.

you want room in the boat for everyone but you still want to be able to get around in the timber. you want an indestructable boat bottom but you dont want the boat so heavy you have trouble getting on step and no speed for getting back and forth to the ramp. the more power you have the more boat you can get but reliabilty takes a hit. two stock motors are out so how much reliabilty do i want to sacrifice for single motor power and more boat? you want a flat bottom for crossing stuff and shallow water running but want to be able to turn at speed without sliding sideways. im just trying to find a happy meidum in all this, i really glad yall are here to help me out.

if your going to be hitting alot of stumps, you might want to look into a custom boat with a 3/16ths bottom...just a suggestion

personally, I would talk to kyle at GT and let him know what you are looking to do and let him give you some options so that you are not disappointed.

thanks for the numbers. looks like a 1754 is going to be the size for me. now if i can decide on how thick the floor needs to be ......


i will talk to kyle but i want to have money in hand and be looking at him when i do.

do you know/remember how you hooked your 3/16? what did it take to dent it?

most of the time this boat will be hitting stumps, cypress knees and logs running flooded timber with a huntting load. the rest of the time in the river going back and forth from the ramp or camp. if hitting stumps, knees, and logs will hook a 3/16 bottom then it looks like i need 1/4"....

sounds like you know what i need. i want to be able to GO without having to tip toe around and then worry when i do hit something. knowing i can cross stuff without hooking the bottom means more that zipping up and down the river. i can always hop up the motor later on if im not happy with the power.

I'm not racing anyone. But thats alot of money to have a hull forked up in less than a season because its not stout enough. And there are alot of folks cussin "someone" due to the fact that their new hull is hooked to hell in no time when they run it hard in stumps with the heavy loads we all carry during hunting season. The bottom takes alot of punishment. Next would be a reinforced bow because I don't like to go around things either.

Check out binkleydogs boat in the for sale section. That thing is a beast!!! Sounds like what you are looking for.

yep, brinkleydog has a tank of a boat. i think 20' of boat would give me trouble in the timber though.
im talking with the oceapoly guy in MI. about his poly. looks like the 3/8" uhmw will let me run a lighter hull, just how light is still being looked at. i told him i wanted it hook proof, so when he calls me back monday ill have a better idea of how thick the bottom of the hull needs to be and if i can afford the poly or not.

oceapoly is alittle higher than i though it would be. $3000 to cover a 1754 with 3/8". $2650 for 1/8".

I'm in NE Texas. If it makes any difference, you're more than welcome to make the trip down and check out some different rigs. I'm sure we can get you a Gatortail on a 18x46 to look at/drive. You can see some different boat sizes and stuff too... lemme know if I can help. You maybe trying to overkill a little bit with some of this stuff.