I have been running a 14x36 for years, it did everything I needed. Now I live on the coast and need something more stable. I don't mind going up to 17/18' but really don't need more than 16'. I need more width for stability on the big waters. Would a 16x54 be the same stability as a 17x54 or 18x54? Am I getting the stability from the width or from both length and width? Sometimes its only me and gear so 18' is huge, so if I can get away with the smaller length I'd be fine. Haven't decided on the motor but SD of some kind

if running big waters i would also go with high sides 21" with a hybrid/modified v to help when it gets rough.

Oh yea ill be running v rake and 20" sides. Just can't decide on length and width. If I'm by myself on an 17/18footer I'm also worried about being able to plane out.

I run my 1748 v-rake by my self a lot and it's gets up on plane very easy. I ran a 1444 polar kraft for years and I'm glad I went 17ft. Boat is just right I can handle by myself.

Hybrid V sounds good but in real world conditions the front of my 18'x54" boat never plows through waves. I run in pretty angry waters and once u get to 18' in a boat running a slow 30mph u really don't need to worry about a pounding boat.

It ain't V'd to stop it from pounding (it's still a flat bottom boat), it's to keep the water/spray from rolling up into the boat at the front. The V just pushes the water out to the sides a bit to give you a drier ride.

Yea Im.not counting on the v rake for stability, just trying to get the best size for 1-3guys without going too big if it was just me out hunting or fishing in it. 48" is all I would need, but I'm trying to understand if I'm in sometimes rough water would I be better of with 54" and if 16' is too small for larger lake / coastal deep water runs

18' is perfect. I run a 18x44 and so does my hunting buddy. We both love our boats.... Handles well. Now my buddy had a flat bottom all the way to squared bow..... Doesn't like waves/wakes.... Last wake he hit from a supply boat, the boat nose dived under the wake.... Not my story to tell, but I'm luck my buddy didn't lose his boat or him self.... At least with my GD I have a semi point on bow to at least to try to break wave/wakes if I hit them head on


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Get u a17 r 18 foot boat. 48" bottom would be fine. 54" is more stable, but u r getting to a size that will b a turd with a stock motor. 23" sides would b another suggestion.
If someone was to stuff the bow in my flat bottom boat it would be due the operator not having a clue as to what they were doing. I also have a boat with a hull designed for open water rather than a hull built to run up and down a pond. It makes a difference.

If getting 48" bottom get 18'. If 54" get 17'

I suppose I need to mention that I am considering a 27-35hp SD. Does that change the size options? 3people, dog and light hunt load max. Mainly me and a dog and very minimal gear.
I was considering a 17' x 51' or 17x54

1654 will be fine with that load and a stock 35. The 27 will push that load ok, but not nearly as well as the 35. From experience in a way too heavy 1652 with both a 27 and a stock 35. Go with the 21 or higher sides, you'll stay drier.

Say I go with a 17ft, am I loosing speed by going from a 48" to a 54" width ? If so, 1mph, or 5mph loss?

i got a 1660 w a 35gdsd and its extremely stable. i have run across 3 foot chop in it and it wasnt comfortable but wasnt scary at all. i thought it handled it well. the width is awesome when youre hunting out of the boat. its a tapered chine which helps w stability as well vs a round

3 foot chop?

Who makes tapered vs round

Loads are not always equal, so ask the right questions and get the right answers. You can get by with a 1756 if you load is just three men, average 180 lbs, a few decoys and very light blind. If you are heavier then that, say three 200-230 lbs guys, four or more dozen decoys, blind bags, grassed blind, dog (70 lbs or more) you will not be happy with a 17 with a 35-37 class SD (Stock). We always carry more then we think. Go 1856 or 1860. It will be 1-2 mph slower when it is just you over a 1748, but it will be 2-4 mph faster fully loaded. It will plane easier then the smaller boat with heavy loads and draft less water over hard bottom at idle. The 18' will ride smoother and dry in rough water as well.

The number on reason folks trade in or sell a mudboat (16-17 foot) is to get an 18 or 19' to better carry load. They want to believe the smaller boat will do fine and go against the advise of the folks who ACTUALLY MAKE these boat (and who test them with loads everyday) only to find out they should have gone with the manufacturers recommendation the first time. Do more research, ask the right questions, really figure your real load and then ask for an honest recommendation from the builder. The ones who oversell their performance are easy to figure out, just look at what boats are being sold after just a year or two (most are 16-17 footers) they most likely did not do what the buyer hoped or were told they would do. Or they went against the recommendation of the builder so they end up taking the hit after only a few years to get something that will do better.

Do your homework the first time and you will get the right boat for you.

PW

Your exactly correct and I appreciate that. I'm in no rush at all so ill keep learning until then

18' boat will straddle bad chop much better than a 16'- you will go across more of the crests than taking the waves over the bow.

I went from a 16' 50" 21" sides with 16hp GDLT to a 18' 46" 18" sides with 35GTR besides the obvious speed and power gain the 18' get on plane at slower speeds and bow stays lower thru speed range. Run on river thru timber stumps and veggies with mud, both performed well but narrower boat gets thru timber 10x better(duh!). My only regret is that it needs to be a V hull or nose so to be able to bounce and glance off of trees and stumps better!

IF YOU AIN'T JUMPIN' STUMPS, BUMPIN' TREES, MAKIN' SALAD,AND SLINGIN' MUD THEN YOU AIN'T PLAYIN'.