Started much sooner than expected. Just put my deposit down a week ago.

Sportsman Fab hull
1844 all 1/8 double taper chine z crimp side
2" catwalk
.090 floor with gutters
Extended deck
Built it aluminum gas tank
Trolling motor bracket
Grab bar console with cup holder
Gator tail transom cut down for longtail
Winch mount under front deck coming out front bumper
3" half pipe front bumper
Spud holes in front and back
Hanging a 35 SWOMP from Backwater Inc on the back

I think that's it. If I remember anything else I'll add it. Was surprised to go in today and he had it up on the rack already.

Will it be ready for this season?

What is the cost on something like that?

Boat will probably be built for the season or at some point during it. Doubt I'll have it rigged out, painted and gator glided for this season though.

Wow, I am jealous. That's where I am going, or a 1848. I wonder how much that puppy will weigh? Can they build it in .100? I will forgo everything except flotation and a floor, don't need a seat or extras, want open floor plan. A gunwale track would be good for accessories. Short transom please! I am most interested when you take it out for the maiden voyage to hear a concise report. All the best!

I'm sure it could be built in .100. A lot of people don't like messing with it because it's harder to weld on or so I'm told. I'm sure I could get an estimate on hull weight. I think the transom will be 17" when cut down but I will be saving the cut out and will be able to just weld it back on and it will be ready for a gator tail if I ever decide to go that route. The swomp will be sticking around a while though! Love the motor so far!

Good to hear about the swomp 35! Your positive review and Frank's and many others convince me that will be my next motor also! I guess you have long runs (built in alum tank, 12 gallon?)? I still use a 6 gallon plastic- typically use 2.5 gallons for a 12 mile round trip, in the back, and I have relocated the battery to the front- for weight distribution and bow mount trolling motor hookup (I've had the trolling motor a long time just have not had time to get the mounting base fabbed up). I'm sure the .125 hull will last more than a lifetime- my 1648 grizzly weighs close to #400 ( I added a .090 floor too) and that is plenty when you get hung up, and the .100 is plenty....my previous boat was an alumaweld 1544 in .090 that was great and lightweight and an 1844 in that gauge, minus the crimped bottom and with a true flat bottom would be great. Honestly, all those reports of washboarding I've never seen here since we don't have the obstacles like you have in your bayous. There are plenty of riveted hulls here with both LT's and SD's that do fine. If you could get one right now, would the GT25 be enough for that hull or would you go 35 HP? Those shorties are dang expensive....the few friends that have surface drives have had numerous repairs and a lot more maintenance costs than our LT's over the years. I just can't justify a SD any time soon, that may be a must when my left arm wears out!

I do have relatively long runs. Close to 20 miles one way then we tipically stay the weekend at the camp and may run up to 30 mins to a hunting spot from the camp. The built in tank will be 10 gallons. I was burning at least 10 gallons a weekend with my 25 go devil. If I ever do get a gtr it would be the 35. Need the extra power carry crap and people to and from the camp. They are extremely expensive. I got my boat and motor for the price just a new gtr 35 cost.

Progress!

More

Looks good! saw the winch mount photo on Facebook, pretty awesome...

Solid looking boat, keep em' coming.


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Going to be a tough sob! Sorry to be an ignoramus, but how do you use the spud holes exactly? What do you use to stabilize the hull? I just realized this might be essential for shallow water fishing too, don't cuss at me too much. Any flotation? I know that debate has been beaten to death here and elsewhere, but I would opt for some than none at all. Believe me, I am just salivating, waiting to hear the maiden voyage report with the 35 swomp on that critter.
I like the fact the floor will apparently be flush all the way with no raised ribs like on those factory hulls- I know they are for bracing but are big trip hazards, I would rather have a full "dance" floor.
I know you are still hunting- what are you using presently with the 35? I missed the ride with Stu the other day, hoping there will be another opportunity. I am doing better than my mentor in Delaware who is in a wheelchair and will miss duck season, poor guy, but his friends toted him last weekend to the hunting site so he could at least see some of the action. Good scouting!

There will be a hole straight through the hull in the front right corner and a bracket of sorts on the rear left corner closer to the engine. You shove the spud pole through the hull down into the mud. It doesn't really stabilize the hull I guess. Just holds the boat in place. Great for fishing if your trying to hold the boat in place over shallow water. No need to throw out a big anchor and spook fish. Putting two out will also keep the boat from turning regardless of which way the wind is blowing. Good for hunting out of the boat too if you have a boat blind. You can just spud down anywhere and pop up your blind and you don't have to worry about drifting. I'm running my 35 on a 14' crawfish skiff presently. It's badly hooked and not the ideal boat for the motor and I'm getting 24-25 at 4000-4100 rpms. Haven't tried putting any kind of load in the boat to see what it will do but I know the longer boat will tote a load 10x better than the short skiff.

Thanks, Delta, for that excellent reply. If I can get a custom boat, I will most likely add those spud holes for sure. Keep those build pics coming! I wish I was up in your area, you have a bunch of builders.

The spud poles definitely help stabilize the boat as long as you have both of them in. I can spud my 38" Gator Trax down in 2 foot of water and walk all around the boat with hardly sending out a ripple. Almost no rocking at all. Definitely a must have if you are hunting out of the boat or for fishing. Just be careful if its rough and don't use the spuds. You will bend them and they will be a major pain in the ass to get out of the collars.

Getting close. Said it may be done by the end of next week. Ordered the winch today.

what winch you puttin on it ?

Superwinch terra 35 sr

cable or rope ?

Synthetic rope

Floor and extended deck are in. He was starting on the grab bar. He put the plate in for the winch yesterday while I was there.

Looking good.


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Almost done!

Coming home today!

What camo?

Not sure if ima camo it or stay with a solid color. I have some camo stencils at home that I bought but I've never done it before.

What is ima? get a air brush.

Bare ass aluminum can be beautiful sometimes. I would opt for a solid color, looks classic, camo is so ubiquitious, every joker out there has some, better for parking lots than real world hunting. I know you can't wait to slap that swomp motor on there!

Very nice rig. I believe the performance will be impressive with the 35 on it. Congrats!! I have an hour on my 35ss but that is getting ready to change in 2 weeks as I will be on a 4 week hunting hiatus. Good luck keep us posted !!


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Starting to rig her out. Got the winch in. Gotta extend some wires to reach my grab bar console but it's gonna work out nice.

Got some stuff done

Gator glide on

How fast is that rig?

Took it out yesterday after putting on a fresh prop and adjusting the engine on the motor mount it ran 21-22 consistently with a half tank of gas , around 6-7 gallons, two batteries, one in the front one in the back, winch in the bow which weighs around 20 lbs and a bunch of miscellaneous crap in the hatch and in the boat and my three year old.