Okay, here is the hard data on the new Phowler Prowler Extreme 1744.

We ran this motor in controlled tests for two days using the same five men, same water and conditions.

We tested a 12hp, 18hp, an older 20 hp MB Hyperdrive and a 27 Pro-Drive.

Here are the basic details on the hull:

New Phowler Prowler Extreme Series:

Lenghts from 15-18' Test Boat 1744
Bottom Width 44"
Max Beam 60"
Cockpit Beam 44"
Cockpit Lenghts 116" (15') to 152" (18')
Cockpit Depth 22"
Available in low or high transom risers.

Hull Material - Subhull .100 5086
Stringers - Five
Full floor
Drop in Seats
Running lights
Full Floatation Standard

HP ratings - 25-40 hp depending on models This one can be rated for 40 hp, but we need to test it with a 36 PD to make sure it is safe for this large a motor. TESTING WITH 36 PD COMPLETED, RAN GREAT, SAFE AND PERFORMED WILL, THE 17'-18' MODELS WILL BE RATED FOR 35-35 CLASS SURFACE DRIVES.!!!!!! RESULTS BELOW!

Capacity Ratings 3-5 persons depending on model.

The 1744 is rated for 4 persons.

Full line of accessories and custom options to choose from.

We are now taking orders for September Delivery.

Testing Conditions:

Deep water - Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 13, in channel 10-20' water 2 mph current average.

Shallow Water - Same are off channel in 3"-18" water.

Wind Light to 5 mph.

Men weight - average 185-190 lbs with one 280 lbs.

Test Results:


UPDATED 36 PRO-DRIVE SHORT SHAFT WITH TRIM AND AUTO REVERSE
Test Results:


36 Pro-Drive Short Shaft with Power Trim and Auto Reverse:
1 Man 210 lbs - 30 mph average
2 Men 450 lbs - 28mph average
3 Men 660 lbs - 26.5 mph average
4 Mend 925 lbs - 24.5 mph average

Shallow water 1-2 feet
4 men 925lbs - 27.5mph top speed.


12 hp Copperhead:
1 man 20 mph average, max 21mph
2 men 18 mph average max 19.1
3 men 17.2 mph average max 18 mph
4 men 14.9 mph average max 15.4 mph
5 men 10 mph average max 12 mph
All deep water

18 hp Copperhead Vanguard/Briggs
1 man 25 mph average, max 26.5 mph
2 men 22 mph average max 22.7
3 men 20 mph average max 21 mph
4 men 17.5 mph average max 18 mph
5 men 13 mph average max 14 mph

Shallow Water 3 Men 23.5 mph max

2006 20hp Honda Mudbuddy Original Hyper drive (with worn out prop)
1 man 19 mph average, max 21 mph
2 men 17 mph average max 18.1
3 men 15 mph average max 16 mph
4 men 12 mph average max 13 mph

Please note the prop on this motor was roached, no cupping left, but it is what we had at the shop to test, you can be pretty sure that will a new prop this motor would have picked up 2-4 mph, it was slipping badly with the heavier loads.

27 Prodrive Shortshaft with reverse
1 man 26.5 mph average, max 27.8 mph
2 men 24 mph average max 25
3 men 22 mph average max 23.5 mph
4 men 19 mph average max 19.5 mph
5 men 15.5 mph average max 16.2 mph

Shallow water with 4 men max 24.2 mph

We were impressed with all the motors, even the little 12hp. Even with the larger loads at slower speeds the boat was fully on plane and handled great. This boat will turn on a dime. The ride is smooth.

We were very impressed with the 27 PD being over 100lbs heavier then the Copperheads, yet is carried the load very well. Both the 18hp Copperhead and the 27 PD will make a very good 3 man rig with gear and still run 17-20 mph.

These boats are 2-3 man hunting rigs, though you could hunt 4 out of an 18' version.

We will be able to rate this boat for a 36 hp surface drive, but we did not have a short shaft here to test, we should be doing this in the next few weeks and will post results.

As noted, our prototype performed just as we thought it would and we don't need to change anything on this hull to go into production. We have additional hull materials here and will have more coming soon, so we are taking orders now for fall delivery.

Here are two videos of the tests, one is the 18 Cooperhead with three the other the 27 PD with four

Click pictures to link to video





Thanks,

PW

I want to thank Paul his family and crew for thier hospitality and one hell of a 45min fireworks show, Paul you need some help my friend lol. I got to run this boat with all of the engines and cannot say enough, it does everything the little sneaks are capable of with double the load and handles big water very well, best of both worlds. Hats off to the guys at the shop for another home run! Cant wait to get my own!

Could you post a pic of this boat?

There are a few pics in the boats n blinds section and if you havent watched the video click on the picture, it will bring you to photobucket, he has a few more on there.

Good looking boat!!!!

Nice Copperhead reviews. Need to swith out my 1542 Tracker for one of them Phowlers for my Copperhead 12!

REVIEW HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH 36 PD TEST RESULTS!!!!!

The boat ran great, by myself ran a steady 30 mph in deep water, handled great and no safety issues. Even in reverse I did not have water over the 12" subtansom, fully loaded with 923 lbs of men we still only drafted 10" of water at deadrest. With four big man load still jumped right on plane in deep water in less then a boat lenght. I know we could have put five people in it and still been around 20 mph!!!!

Full speed results have been added to the main review at the start of this thread.

PW

What were the results with the 27 prodrive?

^^ that is a review

Good job with the new boat

27 PD Results are posted on the update. We also sold one with a 36 PD, it will run safe but really fast. Alone it runs 31-33 mph deep water, 35mph in shallow. With five full size men it still ran 23mph deep water. I would recommend the 1844 for the 36 PD, the 1744 drafted a bit more water with the 350+ lbs 36 PD on the back.

These are really nice boats to hunt out of, we took a 1744 with our new Superfly light blind on it to NE and hunted it for a week. Two men, averaging 220 each, dog and full gear and grassed blind it would run 18-20 mph deep water. Three men and same gear it ran 16-17 mph, but the boat could go just about anywhere in the marsh. The Superfly Light blind we designed for this boat and small Prowlers is a great little blind set-up, easy to use and very warm and comfortable to hunt and we could get is closed up tight to work the weary stale birds we had all week.

PW

PW, do you have any pics from the hunt that you took these boats on? Really intereseted to see interior pics and any of the blind that you have for them. Any timeline for when we may be seeing these new rigs on the Phowler website? Thanks for any addidtional updates and pics that you can put out on these rigs.

Nomad

My pictures from NE did not turn out very well, fog on the lens. I am working on getting some more. We are also in the process of building a new page for the website as I write this. The boats are in production now and we are selling one or two each week.

PW

Puddle jumper,

Great video as usual. I selling my custom hull in the next month or so and looking for something else to go with my 18hp copper head. Thanks for all the stats. Talk to you soon.

Jason

We have been sending these new boats all over the country this winter, guys are running them with Cooperheads, Dixies, PDs and GT motors, all are performing beyond expectations on these hulls. They really get the most out of your motor.

PW

I think you are confusing our regular Phowler Extreme Jon Boats (.125 5086) vs. the boat in the post, which is a new design, the Prowler Extreme, a larger version of our Prowler Sneak boats (.90 hull).

To be more specific, there is a couple of issues you have to consider when it comes to durablity, the thickness of the material and the weight of the hull. A heavy full size hull with a large heavy motor must have a very thick hull, you are hitting thinks with a great deal of stored energy in those hulls, likewise you must run much faster and carry more energy and momentum to go over ground, logs, etc. You hit harder.

Our little .90 Prowler sneak boats are not designed to run at 25mph in a stump feild, they don't have to, they will glide over stuff with little effort or stress to the hull at just over idle speed. Yes you can dent them easier, but so far we have run them in all same conditions we run the larger heavier boats and are not seeing more damage to them, they are lighter, thus they do not hit as hard, it is a trade off.

The Prowler Extreme 44 Sneak is right in between, it is a .100 5086 (not 5052) material. It holds up very well in relation to the weight of the hull. Again, we run these boats side by side in the same timber, stump fields, etc and we are not seeing more denting or wear on one then the other. Now, build a full 1860 with all the options etc our of .100 vs. .125 then you will start to see more issues with the .100 hull as you are putting about the same weight, force and energy into the hull when hitting stuff you would have with the thicker hull.

Our hull design on the smaller sneak boats and Prowler Extreme Sneaks is not something we are willing to get into on a public forum. There is a reason they perform and carry loads the way they do. It is a proprietary hull bend and rake design, one other mudboat companies have already attempted to copy, but it is protected with trademarks and copyrights and will most likely be patented before to long.

PW

Can you add a hunt deck?

It is already there, the back deck is just like a huntdeck from the rear cockpit back.

PW