Have narrowed down my boat to a gator trax 1644 or 1744 with hunt deck and no foam. I will be getting the higher sides. I will use this in flooded timber and occasionally bigger water. Will be transporting 2 to 3 hunters (counting myself). Is there a signsignificant difference in load carrying capability? Which boat would you go with and why? Thank you!

2 guys 1644 3 1744. The bigger boat will carry a load allot better. Also consider a 50 wide

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I have a Gtrax 1754 HD (19" sides) and it's perfect for three hunters. I would think you'll get much better performance (load carrying, smoother ride in rough water, no porpoising) than a 16' but I do not have experience with the 16' only my 17'. I have a pure stock GTR 35 on mine and am more than happy for hunting.

Things I'd do different:

leave wall between cockpit and hunt deck open and put bilge pump back in there. This is the one thing I don't like about my Gtrax design. The face is welded to the bottom of the boat which makes for a spot for hooks to form. Also, I had a situation where it poured overnight and my huntdeck was completely full of water (did not have an auto-bilge at the time) and the only way to get the water out was to trailer the boat and pull the plug. If it were open, I could have bilged it out.

I have a rear port 7.2 gal Al gas tank--I'd get one built inot the hunt deck on the port side

Go with the 17 footer. The more the better with boats and it will run better as well

I got the first 1744 that they built in 2001. 5 years ago I took the long tail off and put a 35 gtr on it. I use it for fishing and hunting all year and it does great. Plenty of floor space for whatever you want to do

Gator Trax Measurements do not include the hunt deck. With hunt deck adds 20" to the over all length of the boat. For instance a 16X44 W/HD is 17'8" long. That's plenty of boat for 3 hunters.

Get the Intimigator Rake. As Kent about it. Longer rake that allows the boat to get on plain quicker.