need some input on hull size. looking at gatortail 1854 or 1860 hull, motor-gatortail 40 tiller. Like we all do I'd like to maximize speed. Yes, I'll get the motor worked over heavy next season but, for now I'm trying to decide which hull size will run faster. I'm no expert on the displacement/size in the naval enginering world & that's why i need yall's input. Does the bigger displacement size of the 60" hull help it to run higher on the water and thus little bit faster? Maybe I have that all wrong? But, if that is true it seems like the natural progression is to go little bit bigger hull size and bigger, etc. There has to be a point of diminishing returns- when the boat gets too heavy and motor not powerful enough. Just not sure how to calculate or figure the optimal size/displacement hull i should get. Any help/thoughts much appreciated. If needed-we hunt 3 adults, dog, 2-4 dz decoys, one btty, gas tank, various other incidental crap. We hunt shallow water marsh, no timber. Thanks

The 60 will tote a load better, but both will tote that load fine. The 54 will be faster than the 60 unloaded (the 40 has plenty of power to run that boat and the 54 will have less wetted surface at top speed), but the 60 will catch up with a big load. Once lots of mods are added, the 54 will do better top speed with the load, but the 60 will still be better at lower speeds and planing shallower. If the rake is right on your prop, it'll become a toss up because the prop will make up for a loss in width. After you mod it, an 1848 or 1748 would be better for top speed than either of those options even with that load, but flat out top speed isn't important to some of us. We're only concerned with getting on plane as shallow as possible and running at least 20 with a big load.

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Tks Russ, Can i add something else for you- how about going with a 1754 instead of the 1854? little better speed with the 17?

Probably not, and less load carrying.

Dont do it. Not with that planned normal load. Stick with the 1854 or 60 or go 2048. I love my 1748, and itll fly as a byproduct of my mods, but most people dont tend to be as happy with the loss of that ft of length. I dont need the extra space or want the extra size due to where I hunt sometimes. Your need for speed won't be satisfied by dropping a foot considering you dont run alone.

#CFFITR
#GhostBoat
#Whoneedsphysicsihaveamudmotor

appreciate the info

I have a smaller size boat and it sucks on performance. Listen to these guys, they know what they're talkin about!