Hopefully this advice helps me decide between the two hulls sizes and just commit.

My hunting areas/conditions- marsh of SELA, very shallow runs around December & January- sometimes the run will include 0" (mud flats/slick)-2" of water. Current run to blind is about 10-15 minutes of deep water at 35mph and then about 3-5 minutes of curvy bayou at 20 mph. Then maybe 400-800 yards of shallows by pirogue.

I will normally hunt from boat blind.

Loads- will vary throughout season, but will typically be 2 persons, sometimes 3 persons and rarely 4 persons (probably only 3-5 times per season)

Surface Drive Hulls up for decision; 18x40 or 18x48.

Motor-35 hp Surface Drive (stock- maybe exhaust in near future)

By what you've said I would recommend the 1848. If you do Start hauling 3 or 4 people I would recommend the 1854. The 1848 is a heat all around hull though

Like mentioned above 18'x48" would be your best choice unless all your buddys are big ole' boys.

The Wider the better!!

18x48, but your for damn sure not gonna be runnin 35 mph

I do not want to base my decision off of the fact that I may have 4 guys in the boat maybe 3-5 times per season.

If I make 35 hunts per season, 20-25 of those are only gonna have 2 guys.

I'm saying all this to maybe help justify the 18x40- but if you all say stay away b/c that is only a 1-2 man boat, well then so be it.

18x48 is the way to go..... You won't be disappointed.

The little bit a speed difference with your normal load is not going to be worth the amount you lose when you load it down with a heavy load. Go with the 48 and thanks us later.

My 1846 gt haul does good an really moves even in open water

Def 48" would be better of the 2!! I ran a 48" boat for years and said i would never go with any thing else but after having a 52 and now a 50 i wouldnt be scared to go even wider!! Just like lenth my next will be a 20 foooter!!

I vote 48 of your 2 choices, no skinnier, you'll be happy in the long run!

18'x40" is a great performin rig. It havin less drag enables it to go through thicker vegetation and more challenging mud flats. It will do well wit 3 people and huntin load once you add da 4th you are at a questionable limit. Also a 40" bottom makes for a very unstable boat, dat will tilt from one side to da other very easy especially wit 3-4 people in it. It is an awesome mudridin hull, but it's load carring abilities or limited more than others.