Ok so, this is my first surface drive rig..I got a very good deal on a brand new,out the box, 2012 GoDevil 35hp so that's what i'm running...I want at least 17-18 with 48+ width..Don't know what in bottom I should go with..is there THAT much of a difference in 1/8 and 3/16??? If not I think it would be better to go with 1/8 to take off about 80-lbs.? What are yalls opinons? PLEASE HELP..Also who is the best boat builder? I've heard Uncle-J's are really good! Hit me back! THANKS!

What type of terrain will you e running it in? Marsh, woods and or stumps?

Talk to dfou he's been building some really nice boats

Lots of good boat builders on here for sure, I have an uncle J and am very pleased. I went through this same thing last year, the size and thickness really all depends on you, the area you hunt and the load you usually will have in the boat. I hunt all kinda different areas from stump filled lakes, timber, and shallow bays. I like my 17x54 for what i do, It has plenty of room and it hauls a load well, gets a little tight in the timber but not a problem. I also like my 3/16th bottom to help take the beating when the trail gets a little rough.

From what I've been hearing if I go with 1/8th in. i'll be fine since the ribs run from front to back instead of side to side..??? But im clueless lol

If its a lot of stumps and cypress knees I would go with the 3/16 bottom

Go with the 3/16. The benefits out weigh the negatives.

Tapatalk 2

I'd go with a 1848 or 1850 3/16 bottom and probably add some catwalks so you can bounce through that flooded timber

I have a 1/8 & will have a 3/16 next time. Also, if you are hauling 3-4 guys & gear you want open space. Don't get carried away w/ a lot of storage boxes. You will fill these up w/ stuff & add more weight.
A wider boat will be better carrying the load you are talking about also. 17 or18' x 50 - 54" would be your best bet. Don't expect any speed records but it should be ok.

So since the braces run up and down instead of side to side..that doesn't make it stronger? I went to my boat dealer today and was blown away that the excel F4 is only .100.. but they tried to tell me it doesn't matter since the braces run up and down..I hear 30 different things from 30 different people lol

1. Excel boats are an overpriced stinky peice of dog shit and your dealer is retarded.

2. The longitudinal bracing makes it a little bit "stronger" but it prevents the short hooks you get infront of crossbraces because nothing touches the bottom of the boat going across, those hooks will kill your performance because they create drag, turbulence, and down force. The tunneling affect dents in a long. braced boat effect performance too, because it can still hook at the transom and a 3/16" bottom is alot harder to dent than a 1/8"

Don't worry quackhead, when I was looking at boats I stopped by an excel dealership and got the same line of shit as you did. Then when I got home I researched on them, and I became pisses when I found how they were feeding me a bunch of bullshit.

i have an 1848 uncle J with a 3/16 bottom. my last one was 1/8 and it was beat to hell in no time. This one looks like the day it was built on the bottom after some serious stump running. My advice is go with the 3/16 bottom and 1/8 sides. get a 17-18 foot boat with a 54 inch bottom. good mix of speed and load carrying ability

Thanks for everyones help! keep it coming..After doing more research..I see gator-tail,gator trax, prodrive, running .125 which is 1/8 in..why is that?...Using the info ive gathered..if you run 5 longitudinal braces instead of 3-4 there is no room for the bottom to bend..even if you were to hit a bad stump..supposedly it's VERY unlikely to bend the bracing so therefore, 1/8 is lighter..less weight=SPEED..5 braces= Strength.....not going against anyone's answers..that's just my theory..but im new to this..someone correct me if im wrong?? Thanks again for the help yall!

1/8 bottom can and will bend. Believe me and everyone who posted above

A 1/8th boat will hold together just fine. It is definitely the minimum though. 3/16 is a little extra insurance.

I've been told welding that many braces so close together will make the metal brittle.

1/8 is fine for most people, but it can and will dent when you run stumps any amount of time.

Owen I agree, but is your idea of stumpy the same as his?

Touché

Go 3/16! It only takes one stump at 30mph to put a big hook in your boat!

I think you should buy a paddle boat. It's extra wide and can be strapped to the top of your car.

3/16 bottom,big boats are hard to hide