just wondering out of a 20x44, 18x44, or 16x44 with a 35 what would be the fastest hull. weight of largest boat is 100lbs heavier than smallest. a few friends have been telling me the 20 because it has more surface area in contact with the water. but in this case would a wider boat actually be faster than a long narrow hull?

Depends on the load you are wanting to carry. Bigger boat will carry a load faster than a smaller one.

its ass grass or gas no one rides for free

Much as I hate to... Gotta agree with Gatorpoint...

There is always a compromise with a boat hull - no perfect design...
That is why the better builders offer so many choices...
Also since your "spec" is a 35 - eliminate the 16x44 - 35 is too big...

Back to your question:
Light load - only one man - no difference - because only 6 to 8 feet of the hull will contact the water at full speed

Normal load - two men and gear - still not enough difference to talk about unless the water is very shallow - then the longer is slightly better

Heavy load - three men - now the 18x44 is over ideal capacity and sux - will have great trouble getting up in the shallows


But if you were running up narrow creeks at 5 to 10 mph and jumping stumps those longer boats are harder to "thread the needle" with...

If it was me buying - and I'm partial to GoDevil because of the 4 different hull designs - I'd go 18 foot or longer in the narrower versions and 18 or shorter in the wider versions.... Because of the terain where I run ! ! !

Good reply, gigafowl.

If you don't have to thread your way through timber you should be looking at a wider boat. I have owned 44, 50 and 54 wide Gatortrax boats, all 18 footers. 50 was my fave. 48-50 wide is good with big loads. I think I have heard great things about the 1660 Go Devil boat as well.

thanks guys, iv just been hearing alot of ' thats one fast hull" latley and wanted to determine how theyr coming to this conclusion. because on time i heard it it was on a 16 48 w/35 and another was on the new gator trax rogue i think 18 38 w/ 35. and both these boats are very different.

Just throw a 35/36 shortail on that 20x44 of yours and it will be fast enough for duck hunting.


And if not mods, mods, mods.

well i think you took that comment different than gig intended i dont think he was saying it sucked just stating a larger boat will handle loads a tad better. basically like comparing a 10 to a 12 guage. the 10 will shoot harder and further but the 12guage doesent "suck"

plus most of us have watched your 18ft in action and know it's no bitch.

an 18' boat is 2' of wasted aluminum dat coulda made a 20' boat.

still ain't figured out why a duck boat needs to be in a garage.....

Heck that ain't no garage, it's a duck boat apartment... Saw those pics of your sound box in yer boat house...

Robin - 3 men comment - was talking about "MY" hunting buddies who are all between 230 and 280 and bring a bunch of crap too... 250x3 + 250 = 1000 pounds -or- over capacity on a 18x44....

We overload a 18x48 w/35hp ---- and 4 to 5 inches ain't as shallow as I meant either ---- I meant so shallow the decoys are leaning over....


Data from GoDevil website:
16x44 - 30 hp - max
18x44 - 929 pounds max
20x44 - 1235 pounds max

44" means round chine, and I don't think a boat like that will ever be the "fastest", especially with a load.

1848 is a really good hull all the way around, fast, nibble and will carry a decent load. Go wider and you lose some top end lightly loaded, but gain top end with a heavy load. Now if you want fast, fast, I would say a skiff in that 42-44 width would be a good bet, 18-20 long. We do not see to many of them up here, but the ones I have seen down south really run well with load, would not want one up here in the cold and rough conditions we run all the time, but for the warmer more sheltered areas south, they seem to be really well suited.

Best advice, find folks with a rig similar to what you are considering and run it to see if it meets your expectation. That is your best way of knowing if you will be happy with a certain size rig.

PW

1844 should be just right.

Got an 18x48 but the pointed bow actually makes it come in closer to a 17'. I'll go 20' next time.

cant tell ya the fastest but can tell you my gator hide is NOT fast, its slowwwwwwww.

That would be the only benefit of putting my boat in the garage. When i least expect it there will be some snow in my boat, or we will run it all day and what we track in the boat freezes.

Oh well it will just stay outside anyways.

Darrel, I know one person currently running in the low thirties with a slightly modded (carb, exhaust, headwork) 36pd on a 1844 round chine.