Looking for a 17-20' mud boat to put a 35hp MB on. I am getting a tall transom with 23" sides. The boat will mostly be used in swamp, shallow water situations, but I may need to cross some open water with possible wind chop, nothing too major. Do I need to look at something with a semi V front end, or will a flat bottom, flat front boat be OK? Will I notice a huge difference in performance with a semi V?

Thanks.

Stick wit a flat bottom.

what about a flat bottom with a pointed nose and a V down to the flat bottom...will I notice a difference or is it too small to worry about?

flat bottom and get ya a good set of slickers

I run a 1860 GoDevil SD boat. We've had 4 guys running across Sabine Lake in rolling swells that turned into white caps in the shallow water. We got a little wet, but the boat handled it way better than I ever expected. I've been out a few times when the wind picked up and I've never had a problem. The boat rides real good over all. If you are in Southeast Texas, I'd be glad to take you for a ride.

I run my 1860 across West Bay and its very stable & can handle chop... I'm the one usually getting wet or if we take a wave the spray can soak everyone

My boat doesn't go fast enough to wet anybody, it just kinda lulls through the waves. But when it had a 75 evinrude on it, you had ta wear a got dam snorkel.

Flatbottoms are fine in big water. Of the five boats I have owned with mudmotors attached, the one I liked the least was a modified V...useless in the really shallow stuff.

I have been on some big water in the Gatortrax boats I have owned, with pretty low sides. Never felt in danger, but as others have said, a good set of raingear helps keep the spray off.

I have learned that the higher the sides and even the angle at which they kick out can have effect in deflecting the sray you create running big water. And a semi-V front on a flatbottom boat can also dry out the ride somewhat. That said, I am a flat front boat guy.

i run a 1542 flat bottom and when the waves get to bouncing you better strap on your seat belt. Its like a ride from Disney world. But i have laughed my little heart out watching the guy on the front seat bound so hard that the 4 inch seat insert came out of the seat mount and he landed smooth on the floor of the boat. I dont know if it was the waves or the tears but i was soaked..

go with a flat and just hold on and wear a snorkle once done grab a hand full of throttle ang go!
my only suggestion is put some type of poit on the front for goin through trees cuz hitin a tree = e-brake and then ur buddy goes off the front cuz he thought it would be ok to stand up to scratch his ass lol

Hammer down and dry out at the truck. I think you will find that if you approach the wave at the right angle and speed you MAY knock the wave down and away more than up and into your face. I've had my flat bottom boats (MM and Jets) in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries which get nasty. Main thing is keep an eye on the wind and/or tide. When they work against each other, things get rough. If you're a good boat driver, you can exceed your boat's ability in rough water by 10%. 11% and you sink or flip

I got a 1542 war eagle and really like the hull design. Its a complete flat bottom with a V in the front so its the best of both worlds to me. Flat bottom works well in the shallow stuff and the pointed nose in the front helps out in the timber

As others state you are going to get wet. The driver in the back takes the most water in the face. You just need to manage it and always know what the wind is going to do. Get the flat bottom as getting a little wet will be worth the performance in the shallows.