Hello, Im new to the mud motor scene. I just purchased a GTR 35 tall. Im looking at 2 boats. Grizzly tracker 1648 and 1754. Worried the weight on the 1648 will make it draft too much and sit too low in the water. Worried that GTR 35 will not push the 1754 fast enough. Please tell me what I can expect as far as speeds and enough transom stickin out of da water. What boat should I go with in your opinion? Thanks yall.

I had an 18x54 runing 30 by myself and 27 with a load. Dogwalker could chime in hes running a 17x54. You shouldn't have a problem with speed with a bigger boat.

I would go with the Gatortail boat!They are built for their motors and build a great boat!I went with the 17/52!Hope this helps

Looks like you posted this twice but,
Are you runnin stumps or mud? Isn't that boat your lookin at ribbed? I would look into a smooth bottom and heavier hull. Also lengthways support bracing rather than horizontal like the tracker. I've got a legendcraft with the horizontal bracing that is hooked all to shit, and a prodrive with the lengthways run under same conditions with hardly a dent. I would def look into a boat built for a surface drive motor if you have not purchased a boat yet. And as giga mentioned the bigger boat is gonna run better with a hunting load. Both of ours are 16 and get bogged down once you get three people and a load in em. Two people run great though.

Joining this site is the best one i have ever joined.
You guys are awesome. Some awesome advise. I have not
bought the boat yet and will consider a GT boat, just dont know if I can afford it. If not I will be gettin the 1754. Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks again Guys

I'm new to the site too. I'm likin' it. Been learnin lots about mud motors and boats over the last few years. Wish I had some help before I bought both ours. The prodrive package turned out real well, but the legendcraft package really sucks. Prolly lookin into get a poly sheet put on or a new hull for that one its getting bad. The stumps catch on the cross braces and make huge dents. The lengthways braces kinda just roll off without tearin everything up. You should look around though. Looks like there's a few guys on here buildin boats and their prices aren't too bad. Duck season is bout over anyway, it'll be worth the wait to get what you want. And somethin that will last.

Just remember if you buy the ribbed cheaper boat - it will be trashed
in three years - if you use that thing to do what it is capable of !!!

Find a good used mudhull or buy the more expensive new one on
a tote the note basis - also get insurance for about 200 per year....

It will be cheaper in the long haul - trust us on that one...

you are going to want an all welded boat. also is flotation a concern? thoes grizzlys are heavy (not really made to utilize that motor you got). if i were you id go with a 1846 gator tail (match up best with that motor with out having one built), or find a cheap alweld used somewhere if price is an issue. good luck!

The trackers are welded. But believe they are .080 or .100 hulls with horizontal bracing. And they do seem to be heavy. Guess its all the decking and stuff they got in em. Hell an empty boat with a small deck, a driving seat, and a .125 hull would be bout all you need, oh and lengthways bracing. Non boat owners can ride in the floor.

On your other post you said your gonna do a lot of fishing. If so save your money and get the 17x54. More stable and more room when fishing. I have an 18x54 with a center console and still have plenty of room for fishing. I wish I would have went bigger and got the 60. Unless your running timber get a wide boat. Thats just my .02.

Since 08 the griz's have longitudinal braces. My 1860 and it's .125

Cool, did not know that. I was lookin at the specs for the 1648 a minute ago and looks like they are still .100 hulls, but with the long bracing is prolly fine, dependin on where you run it. They still aren't makin a smooth bottom though are they?

you could go with one of the Gator Trax knock offs that is made by Tracker---a Marsh Hunter I believe it is. I have seen several of these at BPS in Shreveport and they are a pretty good imitation of the real thing and definitely better than a Grizzly when combined with a mm. Do't know about the price but it is probably cheaper than a Gator Trax hull.

I just want to thank each of your for taking the time to reply. This has helped me more than yall will ever know, and saved me alot of money. Thank you all again and look foward to iparticipating in this sport and website. Thanks Vince Smith

All that being said...

I will be sellin my GDSD 1648 soon - 2 years old extended deck
and poling platform - gettin a GDSD 1660 soon...

PM if interested....

you're going to loose alot more money in the long run going with a production type crimped boat. eventually, you won't like it, but by that time, it'll be so torn up you'll take a big hickie when you try to sell it. spend the extra money up front, and get something designed for a Gatortail motor. there are other options aside from a GTB, if they're too rich for your blood.

I would also recommend looking into one of the custom builders...I bought my boat from gatortail and I love my boat but after becoming a member here I have realized I could have gotten more for my money with one of them, also if your doing alot of fishing I wouldnt go under 52" for the comfort and stability

Were are you located i have 2 differant boats that you might can get pretty cheap.. One is a 16x60 gator-Tail boat and the other is one i built for a friend in Fl.. its a 16X48 pm me if interrested.. The 16x48 is a pretty nice boat and priced to sell!!

When I was running my weld shop I made alot of money off the grizzly boats. Had alot of welds letting go and a couple transom issues. They all had outboards on them. Imo with a mud motor the problems will be much worse. At least check out a few of your other options: Aucoin, Brother, phowler, gt, gd.......the list goes on and on! I have had 1848, 2060, and 1866 and think 60 is the way to go for me. To each his own, but if you want to haul a sizeable load go wide. Call all these guys and see if they have a demo rig for sale and watch the classifieds!!

We have alot of guys running our Phowler Hulls with GT motors and the performance is great, as good, if not better then the GT hulls themselves in some models. Depending on where you are located you might want to check out a Phowler and the price is generally a bit lower then any of the the other MM hulls on the market. If you want good performance, get a MM hull that will get the most out of your new motor, yes it might cost a bit more then a Tracker or other production hull upfront, but the performance and durablity will pay for itself in short order.

PW

I had my motor on a 16x48 Rockwell flat(custom made) for the first year and it was fine never had a problem with the stern digging. I went with the 17x54GTB and couldn't be happier. It carries a load well,its very stable and it does not draft much.

When my motor had the more aggressive cam it would run 34 empty and 30 with a 3 man hunting load. With this less aggressive cam it runs 32 empty and 28-29 with a hunting load. While my motor was being worked on I had a stock motor on it and it would run 29 empty and 26 with a load. I do not know about the tracker hulls.

I want to thank you all agian. Very helpfull and money savin advice.
I live in South Texas and if anyone ever gets down this way look me up. Got some damn fine deer huntin on my place. Also Im thinkin bout just gettin a used hull. One yall can testify to. Let me know if ya know any one.
Vince Smith 361-449-5320 vsmith@guardian-ems.com
Three Rivers Texas

Hey man i have some family from that parts. Anyways. I have a Go Devil 1848 boat, and it is a very well built boat and perfect for my 35GD. I can't speak for any of the other competitors boats, as I have not been in one, but mine is about six years old and sturdy as a rock and still has at least 10 years to go on her.

I'm with the other guys saying you want to get a Mud Motor boat. The boat and motor compliment well with each other.

I Know someone who got a MM and it was on some old riveted john boat. It worked, but nothing like a MM boat would!!!

Check out Go Devil