I am looking to get a new boat built for me after the season ends and i can sell my current hull. I have narrowed it down between an 1848 or a 1854. A 35 mb (with exhaust) will be pushing it. Is the load carrying difference that much more with a 54 over a 48 inch bottom. Is it enough difference to be able to haul another hunter? Also what kind of speeds could i expect to get out of either ore of these? Im wanting 21 inch sides and a 3/16 bottom if that makes a difference.

the 54 will be a lil more stable,

Its gunna be a tad slower empty than a 48 but a little faster with a heavy load.

What kind of conditions are you runnin in?

Mainly open shallow water with 3 ppl and 100+ decoys. I do run some tighter areas and rivers so i want to limit myself to a 54 max. Will a 35 without mods push a 1854 good enough with 3ppl?

yes, define good?

if you get you a custom builder to build it, from my experience, if you go with a 48 bottom, or a 54 bottom it wont cost you any more or any less, its all out of the same sheet. at least thats what i was told when mine was built, uncle j talked me into the 54 bottom and im glad he did b/c the boat i had before he built mine was a 48 and i much rather the one i have now. it may be a step slower than the 48 unloaded but it handles much better when i load her down like previously stated. i have a stage 1, i can put 3 people, a dog, hunting gear, and around about 100-150 dekes depending on the day and what hole im hunting and still run about 26-27, also gets on step like nothing's in it with that stage 1. you wont regret the 54 bottom.

A 35 horse will push that load early 20's. We do it all the time in Radikkle's 1854 PD rig, and 2 of us ain't exactly small. Often have 60-80 decoys w/ 20 oz. weights on them.

Sounds good. I'm pretty much set on a 1854 now. Is it worth spending the extra money an adding extra weight for a 3/16 bottom. I do run alot of stumps and some nasty crap but I see a lot of people just running 1/8 and they seem to do ok.