My buddy is looking at getting a 23 mini mudbuddy used and getting a boat built for it. I know you cant expect a bunch of speed from these little motors but he is wanting to stick to the 23 so he can hunt horsepower restricted areas. What is the ideal boat size for for a 23? He is looking at getting a 1644 square chine built. The idea is to try to get a rig that can hunt timber and <25hp areas but still be large enough to hunt some open water when needed. The 1644 sounds like an ideal size for this but i have never run a 23 and wanted to hear yalls opinions.

15 X 38 Gator Trax Rogue W/HD or what you suggested...

I'd go with 1644 GT or GD round chines (or a custom) & turn that lil 23 into a Bandi with heads, cam, carb, exhaust.

Just me personally, after having round chine boats, I'll never have another square. The ability to stand it on it's side in a turn at WOT & do a 180 turn is one of the coolest feelings you get in these rigs.

If you're running tight timber, you won't be running WOT. Either style boat will turn at slower speeds, but the round chine seems to help slide off the underwater obstacles.

17x40 skiff, bad little timber rig.

Im bout to order a 15 44 gator trax with a huntdeck and priced a bad lil 23hp mudbuddy with a 40 in shaft from kieth down here at setx performance. Wish i could go bigger but the damn feds and their hp restrictions suck. Should run decent with my usual two man load. Hopefully pull the trigger on it in a week or two tops.