Most of where I hunt is in the rivers, shallow water and I've been looking to get my own boat and not rely on buddies when going out.
I live on the Carolina coast and would want to get into the divers too. We have a lot of marsh land that a flat bottom SD would be great in, but you have to run through the IC waterway deep water, could be 2-4' waves and in the summer fishing would be full of out of towners boating and fishing.

I would want a 17-18ft 48"minimum. I just want to see if anyone has any real experience running through the IntraCoastal or similar larger bays, inlets to get to your spot. Some runs could be 20min long depending on the birds so any advise would be great.

I've got an 1854 prodigy we have some IC bays I run clamming and crab in in the summer little diver action in the winter. My advice get tall sides, mod-V, and a good bilge pimp and you'll be good to go. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1420377709.741522.jpg
Only pic I got I've got a video on my old phone runnin 2-3 chop you'll get wet but I've also got a flat front. Good luck

Is that ^^^^ your 2' chop?

I run a cottonmouth hybrid, and it cuts the chop great. I run in the Bay a good bit and it gets rough. My advice is get a pointed bow, high sides, and a hybrid rake.

Ok great. I know most don't like SD motors on semi-v boats like a Tracker Grizzly.. but in this case would it be beneficial sinse ill be in shallows, weeds and deep sometimes rough water? Or just get a pointed bow with flat bottom. I'm worried about the pounding of the waves on long runs.
And mainly would you say 48" wide is enough And how tall sides would you say minimum?

Mine dont bounce much, and mine is a true mud hull.I wouldnt go with a semi-v. I run a 1748, but if you run bigger water, it might be best to get a 1756 with 21in sides.

I run an Excel F86 1851. It has 25" sides and v bow. Handles rough water very well. And still gets through the shallow places where we hunt. It doesnt beat you to death like some of the flat bottoms Ive hunted out of before.

That's good to know. I'd love to find someone around me to test drive with but that helps.


With some rougher water would you say 25hp is enough on a 17'-18', 48"-56"

You would have a hard time finding my ass in a 4' chop in any flat bottomed boat but that is just me. Definitely would suggest a v-rake, it won't take away much if any on your ability to get through trash when on plane, as well as the 20" sides. I would think an 1854 would be the right choice for the rougher conditions

Ha, I remember my first time shooting in rough water

Gatortrax hybrid 18x54 with 35sd


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I get in some rough waters on the Tennessee River, I suggest a v rake. Tall sides are a must 21 or higher.

I run the IC here in Texas and it probably has more barge traffic than any other state ..

My 1744 handles all conditions. Just fine just gotta know your surroundings and proper boating

I would also strongly suggest that you get full flotation.

Floatation is for the birds .... Just get an exempt hull from gator tail or a custom build ... But yea a bilge is nice but have a hand bilge ready when the electronic craps out from salt water corrosion

It helped save the day ....

Thanks. Anyone else run around the Carolina Coasts??

Yep, McClellanville up to Little River

Nice! What are you running?

Academy sells em

I take the Intracoastal Canal all the time and travel along a ship channel. Neither have been really bad honestly. Even on windy days. I've had worse rides on a small(relatively) inland lake that has an average depth of 4-5'. It gets just downright scary on that lake.

Whoops

What size you runnin Bacon?

16-54 GTB.

I wish I knew someone around here I could test em with.
Do you lack performance going from a 48" wide to a 54" with a Surface Drive? I know you would with a long tail, just not sure about a SD?

I dunno. All that goes beyond my knowledge. Mine does just fine for me. 24-25 in deep water with 2 adults and fishing or hunting gear. 27 or so in shallow. Have hit 29 on a flat before that was about 12" give or take. It'll carry 3 adults and hunting load pretty well too. Takes a minute to plane, but once it does goes along just fine. No engine work at all either. It's completely stock 35GTR with the new lower unit and a 3 blade.

U only going to run at 10 mph in a 2' chop in a 18' tin can. If the chop is 3',which is ridiculous, u not running in it for 20 minutes. U may cross it to hit the bank on the other side, but u not running against true 3 footers in a mud boat for any amount of time without breaking the boat r sinking it.

The longer boat handles the chop much better.
High sides are a bonus in rough conditions also.

In 2 ft rollers I usually turn around and go home
3 ft rollers I dont leave the ramp

If you are going out in a true 4 ' sea in a surface drive you mo fos are crazy

I have a dual rig and got cought in some nasty waves once. Had 5 guys hunting with me and a big mallarf spread. We were hunting back in a cove off a large lake. Wind picked up as the day went on but ducks were flying and in the protected cove it didnt seem like much. We picked up decoys and I looked out to the lake I could see it was rolling pretty good. I decided to take the two lightest guys with me and the other two walked about a.mile were I could pick them up with the truck. I got out into it and the waves were tall enough I couldn't see past them standing up. The boat would not stay anywhere near on step and started plowing thru them. I have a hard blind on so it kept a lot of the water but it was still coming up through the blind somewhere and splashing my hand running the throttles. We were in it less than 20 min. but we all were so soaked we looked like we jumped in the lake by the time we got back. I'm a lot more carefull to watch the winds now. Not only are we responsible for our lifes but everyone in the boat.

I ran the intercourse today in 20 mph winds.

Seas less than one foot

i was telling y'all how much the boat was rocking lol


intercostal***

When the boat is a rockin....