I'm trying to decide between two boats to put my 23 hp gator tail with carb and exhaust. One is a 1740 built by a company here in Florida that makes airboats called alumitech. It comes with a flush front deck and under storage, long. ribbed hull, and false floor. The other is the 1840 GTB, which I would have to order. I test drove the 1740 today and it ran fairly well but took a minute to get on step. Once on step, it moved pretty well and planed out quite nicely and the motor ran great. I wouldn't have the chance to test out an 1840 GTB before putting down a deposit ($2000). I worry about putting down a deposit if the boat doesn't perform or is defective. The 1740 will be 3900 (used) and the GTB will be around 5600 (new). I'm not too terribly concerned with testing the GTB because it is the boat that the motor was designed to be on, so if it doesn't perform as advertised, the relief will be obvious. I'm wondering if the GTB will perform even better than the 1740 did, even if its just by a little it will be worth it. As far as aesthetics, I like the look of the GTB better. I certainly don't want to cheap out now if I will be happier with the GTB in the long run. Help me come to a conclusion.

both high

check transom hieght/angle, bottom condtion, hull thickness, and all the little nit pickys you may want.

Also, does one come with a trailer and the other not?
That is easily another 1000 dollars

Let Garrett build you a boat.

The GTB was priced as follows MSRP for boat, 1000 for a trailer, 400 shipping, and FL state tax @ 7%. Not sure of the pricing for the alumitech, but it does come with a 4 yr old trailer, which I drove today and is in great shape. Thickness on each is adequate, unsure if transom angle is correct on alumitech, but the height is correct.

I live in South Florida and Alumitech is building me a surface drive hull (aka Seminole Bateau a hull Alumitech builds for Paul Dixon). My buddy has one and the 35 mudbuddy performs well on it. I will have a 35GTR and it should be bad azz. If I lived in North or Northwest Florida I probably would have gone with a Louisianna builder. Garrett, Uncle J, Sko, Gator-Tail, etc. all build very nice looking/performing boats. Alumitech will build you a new one for @$600-700 more than the used one(minus trailer). With all of the options/customizations I wanted, a Gator-Tail boat was way out of my price range while Uncle J and Alumitech (the ony two I priced) were the same. Garrett, Kyle at Gator-Tail, and Uncle J have been very helpful answering questions about my boat build even though I am not purchasing their boat.

I have the alumitech hull in a 19.2x54'ish. I bought mine up here in Georgia from www.airboatsunlimited.com

Pushing it is a 35 GDSD with Mikuni, IM heads and MM exhaust and it absolutely JUMPS on plane in just few seconds. I don't know if you looking at the same design as mine or not. But go to www.photobucket.com and search for username bbbdale. You can see all the photos of my boat.

I absolutely love the design of the boat. Turns on a dime. Floats plenty shallow. Built with T6061 aluminum. 4 inch stringers and flotation in the floor.

Mine runs 28 with me and 100 pounds of gear.

I'll have 3 adults and 2 kids in the boat tomorrow night so I'll come back and post a loaded down speed.