What's up guys! I'm new to the mud boat world and I bought a 2012 PD 1854 center console with 36 hp PD engine. Ran the boat on a few trips so far this duck season and the boat seems very slow. I usually run 3 average size guys, dog, decoys, gear,etc. In open water I'm only running 12-13 mph. Is this typical for that boat and load? I feel like the boat can never get on plane? In shallow water the boat will run 16-17 mph. But as soon as I hit big water the speed drops back down 12-13mph. I see many other boats running with similar loads and they are leaving me in the dust. I'm turning about 3900 rpm. I did change the prop(stock from PD) and gained a few mph. With the old prop I was running 10-11 mph. Has anyone else experienced this? If so any suggestions on how I can get better performance in open water and mud??


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How many hours on the motor?
Possible leaking valves.
You also, have a big boat and a big load.
You cant take what others say seriously about speeds all the time.

Need to trim up , I was running light hunting load ( me 275 dog65 ) running 24, three big boys 15-17 only mods where mm muffler, and Hopkins 13 pt prop think it was second generation lower unit, same boat
18x54 cc all bells


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My gen 4 PD 1854 cc when it was stock would pull about 28mph average light load and 30 at highest. With a couple guys and a good load I was about 22-23mph. With the level 3 I'm anywhere from 31-35mph right now unloaded and with a couple guys still pulling 30 or better. With over 1,000lbs. of deck boards, full fishing load, and 3 guys in the boat 26mph.