Ok, so this subject has been discussed before but there were few specifics and I figure it does not cost anything to dream big, so, how would you build your dream longtail hull?
Let me start, since 1986 have morphed from a leaky 1436 w/ 18 HP GD to a 1544 w/25 GD to a 1648 27 MB..I hunger for a 35/37 EFi!! 1848, .125 flat bottom pointed bow, .100 all else except floor can be .090 lighter and it works, I want the lightest hull possible, two small pods in back, some flotation is better than none IMO, no boxes of any kind, short front deck underneath space for gas tank and/or batter, trolling motor base front side, gunwale channel (like on my grizzly) for easy addition of accessories, 16" transom, no side plates under gunwale (unnecessary weight), steelflex undercoat, hydroturf on floor and deck. Is this feasible from a custom mfg.? Approximate cost and weight of hull empty? This is an open hull plan, no frills, I'd even do the floor myself and electrical to save cost. What say yea?
Like many here, my first boats were light riveted hulls so anything over say, 300# was a handful. The only complaint I've read before was some flotation foam that got waterlogged... when I removed the foam from one of my grizzly pods, it had some water in it but not much and the whole mess did not weigh much. When I make the hull move I will certainly look at that model; a good design is the one Paul Dixon of Bainbridge, Ga. (Airboats Unlimited) came up with for the LT in both a fiberglass/composite and aluminum. Did you have a slick undercoat on the GD hull? Steelflex (Fasco) is nearby so I've used that with success on a couple of hulls.