Hey guys, I'm new to this site and have been trying to read up on everything I can. I'm about to order my first mud rig and drop the hammer on an 18-54 Prodigy with the 37 GTR EFI. Just curious for some input on must haves for the boat build. I think I have all the basics covered but I don't want to leave out the little extras that really make a difference. I plan to use this boat year round for hunting, fishing, bowfishing, gigging.....anything and everything possible. Just curious if you have any input. Thanks.

What did you get included in your deal?

Catwalk tray on at lest one side. Built in cup holder, spud holes extended front deck and built in fuel tank with water/fuel separator. Hydro turf!

On board battery charger is nice to have.


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18x54 GTR Extreme CC

I thought about the charger. I'll probably end up going that route.

Smoke, I've got all that covered, thanks. I feel like I have most everything covered but then I thought about the transducer bracket and was curious about more little things I may be overlooking.

You can do all the misc crap like onboard chargers yourself, if you're interested in saving a few pennies.

Hydro turf, hunt deck

What exactly are you getting? Recessed switch panel is a good option along with others mentioned above. Never can have too many stringers. Vrake is sweet

I had mine built with a spot big enough to mount a radio above the switch panel. You may not want a radio but I did.


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Get the spud pole holes on the transom recessed through the top of the chines on the sides iv already broke both of mine off and have only had my boat a few months mine are the bracket type.

Okay this is the package:
18-54 Elite
21" Sides
Grab bar
Dual Drain Plugs
Rear Battery tray
Flat Front and Flat Bottom - No Rake
Deck Hatch with extended deck
Removable front bar with WAV LED Bar
Trolling Motor Bracket and plugs
Spud Pole Kit
12 Gallon permanent tank
Recessed Bracing with full floor
Hydro turf on all flat surfaces
8" Catwalks
Tray under catwalk on starboard only
2 Cup holders
6 switch panel
Drivers Half Box
Drop Deck (hunt deck)
Bilge Pump
Shark Eyes
LED Interior Lighting
12v accessory plug
Dual USB 12v plugs
Galv. Trailer
Prodigy Grass Camo
Gator Tail 37 EFI - Tall Transom
Seat bases - front, middle, and rear
Bow Fishing Rail
Wetsounds 10 speaker sound bar
Sliding transducer mount

I just made a note about the spud pole holes thru the transom, thanks.

Uhhmmm....kitchen sink maybe? Sounds like you're going to have a very nice and well equipped rig!

Wish I had a second half box and I love shelves on both sides under catwalks. Wish I had the transducer bracket added at time of build as well. I would focus on things that cannot be added without welding and fixing paint.

What about the bow rails? I had these on the boat that I just sold for pulling over rollers. I don't hunt public too much anymore so that's not an issue. But, are the bow rails a necessity? Only other thing I have used them for is to tie crab lines to.

I've gone back and forth on the v-rake. I can't make up my mind on it. I really like the flat bow and bottom. I know it will be rougher on choppy days but it shouldn't be any worse than the flat bottom jon I just sold.

I am aware of one guy that broke off both spud pole holders. One was where he literally snapped the holder in 2 due to taking off w the spud pole in place. Our spud poles are 6061 and DO NOT bend easily. I have built myself 3 boats now and use spuds every time out and have never had an issue. We have changed the way we do the spuds and this is a non issue even for the guys that want to drive off w the poles in the ground!! lol


Tks guys

def scrap the seat bases. spider seat bases are the bomb.

Boat blind? I didn't think I would need but guess what, I do

Man you got just about everything but a huntin partner going in that build. Let me know if you need one!!!!!


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Maybe I missed it, but I did not see any provision for either a regular winch mount, or spud pole winch holder. If you want it factory finished, you may want to get them to do the wiring/plugs for it too.

Also, I always wanted to add some sort of mounts to hold both my regular anchor and my winching anchor. I don't like them banging around in a storage box or in the floor of the boat.

Lastly, my next rig will have a built in swim ladder both for the children and for overall safety. Garelick makes a tube style ladder that can be installed in the transom/driver's box and deployed by a swimmer already in the water. http://www.garelick.com/EEz-In-II-Ladders

Congratulations on your new rig!

Get the 45 degree angles on all 4 corners of deck with catwalks. You will love it for fishing

I love the micro pole also

The extra half box is a solid place for dry storage not to sit on plus makes another spot to fish off from. There is just no place to put anything that you want to keep out of the way in these boats.

Do away with seat bases and add a 8' power pole for fishing sabine

I like the 45 corners. Gonna have to look into that.

Get em you will love em

My spud brackets broke because of a poor weld. You can clearly see where the welds were cold and didn bond at all because when they broke off my transom looked like nothing had ever been welded on! I'm no welder but I do know it's was due to bad welds. Not knocking prodigy in any way because I love my boat and chad will be building my next rig too!!!

Well, the boat is on order. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm pretty excited about it.