So I'm thinking of having a new hull built. Currently i run a 1848 PD double tapered chine with a EVT stage 1 36. (Got a cam on the way.)

I have 2 problems. I run hard sandy bottom alot and I have 3 boys that are not gettin smaller. I need more room and I want to draft less water.

I'm thinking that a 1854 or 1860 square chine would draft less and carry a load better for the areas I run.

Don't get me wrong, I love my PD hull. But I wonder if there would be a better option with a smooth floor design. (no ankle breakers)

My Questions:

1. Will not having the above floor cross bracing sacrifice structural integrity of the hull?

2. I'm looking at Gator-Tail and Brother Breaux. Any others I should consider?

3. Anyone have contact info for Brother Breaux?

Thanks fellas......

I would not own a mud boat without the cross braces above the longitudinal runners. As far as getting in touch with brotha breaux his number is 337-592-0 2 0 0.

You can get a PD hull without the cross bracing also. You just have to have enough bracing in the boat. Mine has a gun box on the side and floatation down the sides so it doesn't need the extra cross braces.
Phowlers have cross braces, but they are even with the floor so you won't trip over them.

Here are some pics of how Phowler does it, scroll down the pics on the side bar then click on them to enlarge.
http://www.allmudmotors.com/products/phowler-boats

Heres some pics of how Geaux Custom does it
http://www.allmudmotors.com/products/ge ... tom-bateau

I wasnt aware that Phowler was doing that but will check into it.

I will say that Geaux Custom does not cut the longitudinal runners when putting in the cross braces or anywhere for that matter, they are 1/2" off of the bottom of the hull and not touching either.

I hear you on the bracing and trip hazards, but for some poeple it is a real hazard. Maybe not for the young guy who bought it, but for his dad or grampa with bad hips or knees or a young child. Can you live with it,, yea but for some they'd rather not and the option is there for them.

on these Geax customs... how do they do it? are the long runners in one piece all the way from the rake to the transom??

I looked at a Geaux last night at the N.O. Boat Show. As far as I can tell, they notch the cross braces to fit around the "long runners". The "runners" stopped short of the transom by a couple of inches.

I'm Northeast Texas... too many stumps around here for me to play around with a hull that flexes. others may argue...

BTW, Geaux will brace a hull any way you like. Also, the 48 wide that I order (the one in the link) with the "Sub Floor" Braceing has the 6th longitudinal stringer.

Yes Crews, If I ran some of the stump feilds you ran in Texas,,, like Deadbird has show'd me,,, Id ask for all the bracing I could get!

I will add that Ive run that same hull without any side braceing and only 5 stringers wide open through 1-2" ice without a ding. Ran it up and over almost everything without a problem. BUT at 300 lbs this dude dont jump shit! Someone else will have to do that testing for me.

I agree with Wilson.


I will say The side braceing realy helps when bouncing the gunnels off timber etc. something to think about depending one what you use your boat for and what type of terrain you run. From what Ive seen Phowler gets away without it because of the large/wide extruded gunnel.

call brother see what he can do for ya,

i was impressed with jon(cash) boat the other day, since he added the cross bracing it is a nice boat. and their quality of work has improved a good bit from what i seen,

Those 18' boats will definitely carry a load better. My hull has single tapers (something to consider) which are not quite the slider a square chine would be.

one other thing to consider... cross bracing is a necessity for me because I run open hulls with no seats. when ya'll are talking about hulls that don't have cross braces and don't need them, maybe they have some extra seats that are welded in place and serve the same purpose as a cross brace.

The Gator-tail boats have one small pod seat in the rear. I don't think it is structural. There are two cross braces welded to the sides just like in other boats but they do not go on top of the floor.

My 1748 Brother Breaux hull has 2x2 longitudinal braces up to the front deck with a 2x2 under the floor Uncut (meaning it is a solid cross brace in front of the 2x2 longitudinal braces) also on top of the 2x2 uncut cross brace He put a 1x2 cross brace aswell on top of the floor at base of the deck, 1x2 braces run up the bow from the front to the uncut cross brace. I have one cross brace in the middle Under the floor, but to my knowlege Brother Does not cut into the Longtidinal braces to place them. He cuts the cross brace and welds it in between the longitudinal stringers. For the back cross brace it is above the the longitudinal braces near the transom. I requested a flush floor with No gutters and i really cannot be anything but happy with my hull.

for the sake of healthy discussion... I still don't see how a piece of 1/8 c-channel could be as strong as 1/4"x2x2 square tubing could be... however, I guess it all depends on what you're priorities are. Some folks don't want to trip, and some folks want the strongest bracing possible. I'd rather have one that's over-engineered.

I am getting ready to get a Phowler and I am looking forward to the flush braciing.

That said, I have owned three GatorTrax boats and I have had young, old and sometimes buzzed people in the boat and I have never had anyone bust their butt on the cross bracing. It is a perceived issue (visually) that in all reality is no big deal at all.

I knew Phowler knotched the cross brace but didn't realize the longitudinal stringers were also cutt.
Guess I never looked that close and only assumed them not to be.

I also think the Phowler gets its side strength from its large extruded gunnel allowing them
To get away without any side brace of any kind. The crimp helps too.

i have a few "battle scars" but can do nothing about dents, but no hooks nothing, and like peahen said i dont like going around something

337-592-0200 heres brother breaux #

y'all have missed dis by a mile. da cross braces make a solid hull and stop flex and everything y'all said, but da most important reason for da cross braces on top da long. braces is to keep da long. braces from bending too.

Just cuz der's a long brace der don't mean it won't get bent along with all da other braces if der's nuthin' holdin' em down. da cross braces tied into da sides of da hull tie da long. braces down... keepin' da bottom, long. braces, and everything from bending over yrs. of abuse. If u say it won't without 'em then you'll probably be just fine without 'em because you don't run a boat hard enough to ever find out.

Flush floors are more important to some folks than strength, and dat's fine as long as dey understand dat. But der is not a long. braced hull out der without cross braces on top & tied to da sides dat is as strong as one with it... period.

As far as trippin' over a 2" cross brace...... how in da hell do y'all get over da threshold to get in y'all house every day?

With stumps explanation. it make me understand a boat better. If you read my post earlier in the thread. I only got one brace that isnt on top of the longitudinal stringers. I like my flush floor.

Don't get me wrong, without cross braces on top don't mean it's "weak". It's still far better off and stronger than any hull with cross braces as a primary structure and no long. braces. But don't let nobody fool you into thinkin it's just as strong as any other. Without da corss bracing on top being tied into da sides of da hull, constant abuse WILL bend da long. braces along with da bottom of da hull over time.

What are you gonna use the boat for? Jumping everything you can find, as fast as you can or is it going to be a hunting fishing boat you and your kids, elderly parents can move around in without tripping while hunting.............this will tell if you need the bracing......lets just say I'm seriously thinking about putting the bracing in my boat, cause like Mudd said he ain't jumping nothing, BUT I WILL!

Stump said it very well.

Id say 75% of the people I meet dont want the bracing above the floor nor do the need it. Now I dont see a ton of commercial craw fisherman etc in these parts for that matter but I do try to get a feel for what a fella wants. There are guys who want the strongest hull and should have one cause they run hard.

Then theres guys like Xgen ,,,,, bad shit just happens to that guy.I dont care how care full he is. He's just a wreck waiting to happen.

3/16 bottom with full 1/8 floor welded to the sides and stringers.