Figured I might as well do a review for the guys on a budget. To start off I didn't have a ton of money and I had to change the way I lived for awhile to be able to afford a welded rig. So I shopped around and found a weldbilt 1648 in Fort smith, ar for cheaper than I found alot of 14 ft boats locally. I pulled the trigger. After hunting the boat in water as shallow as skim water, I have to say I am impressed with the way the hull performs being a modified v hull and not a true flat bottom. I powered the boat with a homemade 22hp longtail. I can't a tress enough as to how well this thing has performed given the kind of hull it is. The 22hp engine pushes it through mud and grass really welll. Haven't had to walk at all. The conditions in the marsh I hunt are as follows: the bottom has a hardish layer of mud and 4-5 inches under that it's soft. I could get the boat through next to nil water but obviously i had to work on the tiller handle. On all occasions i was hunting 3 or 4 guys and my dog + gear, so not a light load. Even with said load the boat was surprising very stable. I accidently ran it up a couple of trees on the river and about shit my pants. Banged into a couple of rocks as well. No dents!!! I can honestly say so far it's made me happy. Any of you guys on a budget I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. Just make sure you have enough ponies to push it. Oh yeah. 15mph loaded or unloaded, doesn't matter. 22hp 72" longtail with a 9x5 prop. It could definitely turn a 9x6 no problem. Hits the governor even when loaded down. Any questions just ask ]
It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Wats the rpms? Nice rig!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like it

Looks good,and sounds like it will get you there

Thanks man. Put alotta time in it

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

How much does that boat weight roughly? Looks like there's hardly any floatation but sounds like it floats pretty good from what your sayin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Normal boat operation is dependant on displacement (length and width of the boat) and weight. A boat doesn't need any flotation inside to actually float unless something goes wrong and you submerge it/flip it/etc.

Depending on what I read the boat weighs between 310 and 396. Somewhere in there. It floats empty with just the motor and 12 gal of gas in 4 inches of water. When it's loaded with all the people and gear it's about double that to float it. Where I've been hunting this year the boat was on mud the whole trip. The water is mid shin deep at the highest. Glad I didn't use a smaller motor cuz the 22hp pushes it through the mud pretty good
It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Jakehawk, sent you a PM yesterday

You sure that's a modified V and not a V nose? Looks like a typical flat bottom with the runners on the bottom.

Congratulations! I bet some of the big rig owners are smiling but who gives a chit? I love my 27 LT on my 1648 and it gets the damn ducking duty done divinely. I have a thin wallet too, so I know. Your 22 approximates my 27 so you did very well. Open floor plan it the best! Long live longtails!