Thinking about a new boat and looking at either the Pro-Drive SBX or the Gatortrax, in the 17 or 18 foot range. I will be running it with a PD36.

I really like the huntdeck on the gatortrax, but also like the SBX concept since I have to run bigger water sometimes with a big chop to get to where I hunt. I have read some comments about how well the SBX performs, but also good things on the GatorTrax with the huntdeck. I have had an Excel F4 and it was OK, but looking for something a little more heavy duty.

Any comments or experience you have on the SBX vs Gatortrax would be appreciated.

If your getting a PD get a PD SBX... IMO the manufacturer has put a lot of time & energy into developing the best hull to run with their motor... ask PD about a hunt deck. If they are unwilling then check out some builders on the forum

Huntdeck + PD = No Bueno

Match the hull and motor, get a SBX

There are a few guys on here running prodrives on gator trax huntdecks. Hopefully they will post up. If you get a Gator Trax, go with the new hybrid (modified V) front end. It's a lot drier ride in big water.

I really like the idea of the sbx boats but have heard mixed reviews on them. Some guys said they ended up just standing in inch deep water all day in the back of the boat. I'd love to hear a few reviews of them.

I'm running a 1650 gator trax w/ huntdeck with a 36 PD. Love It. I'll agree there is something to matching boat with manufacturer. If PD offered more features on their boat I'd have looked harder at them.

If you go hunt deck and PD talk to KP about building you a tiller handle instead of the extension. This will allow you to do two things. One it will allow you to keep the control box on the tiller and two it will make the overall tiller stronger when you start clearing the prop in the lillies.

I started off with the extension and moved my control box to the grab bar and like were it is located even after redoing the tiller handle.

With this rig I'm getting 22mph gps in the deep water and 25-26 mph in the skinny water.
2-250 lbs guys 1-100 lb lab and hunting or fishing gear 9 gallons of fuel and 2 batteries.

If you go with the huntdeck also get the hyd reverse. You still have to step on back deck to activate it but you are not fighting with the ratchet. Since you have to flip the horsecollar on the trim anyway I left my reverse switch on the motor. Keeps me from forgetting to unlatch in forward

KP and Kent used to do business together and will work together with you to build the boat the way you need it.

BFC Marine (Gator Trax) actually built the earlier PD hulls. They can do just as good a job as whoever is building the PD boats today to match the hull & motor. An advantage to going with the GTrax is the round chines for turning. Just my .02

Like Careyb said, look at the hybrid for big water. Should help a lot w/ the chop. I do like my huntdeck.

I have owned three Gatortrax boats, the last being a 1650 with Hunt Deck. I love the GT Hunt Deck boats but when I re-powered out of a Hyperdrive and into a Prodrive wth FPR I did not like the way the two worked. The combo actually ran 1 mph faster than the Hyper but I had to use a tiller extension, separate the hydraulic trim pump from the motor mount / hydraulic piston and run hoses between them, and park my butt out on the hunt deck to reach the release on the reverse. So I sold the Gator Trax. I loved that boat...just not with the Prodrive motor.

Running a Phowler 1852 now which is very well matched for the PD motor.

1st, the HD is almost always faster than a PD.
2nd, running a PD on any boat with a hunt deck is asking for problems.

Round chine boats are good for turning sharp when you're going fast.......... And that's about it. I'm not saying that Gatortrax makes a bad boat, just don't agree with the design. Square/tapered chine boats go faster and carry a load better.

Really? I guess since my boat hauls 4 men & drinks @ 28-29 mph with round chines, we'd be going about what? 29-29.5 mph with square chines?

Is your motor stock?

Read his sig. Some people list the rig they own there...

I'm on my phone... but I'm assuming that means McFly isn't operating a stock horsepower motor. If he had the reading comprehension skills of a 3rd grader (which he may or may not...) he could scan the first paragraph of the original question and figure out the guy said he was going to use a PD36. With a STOCK motor, square chine boats run faster and carry a load better. Modded motors have enough horsepower to overcome deficiencies in boat design that inhibit performance. So to sum it all up..... try harder, dumbass.

Do you feel better now? I'm glad to see you are moving on with your life. Now that you have accepted the fact you don't have a mud rig anymore or anything left to sell, will you still be blessing this site with your presence?

Oh and, Mr. Third Grade English Champion, could you please point out exactly where in the first paragraph it specifies whether or not the motor will be stock? Did you see that in your crystal ball?

but he didnt say modded either

Why you getting all butthurt CB? I wasn't even talking to you! One sh!t at a time please!

I'm not butthurt. Just taking a cheap shot...

I would actually agree that it will probably be a stock motor and that a square chine boat carries a load and runs better than a round. I just felt like calling you a dick, because you're a dick.

Why is having a prodrive on a huntdeck "asking for Problems"? I run a 3 man gatorhide with a prodrive and haven't encountered any problems thus far. The boat is no speed demon but it'll get you where you want to go. Just curious about this problem with pd and huntdeck?

What I think is funny is the same round Chine boat with a modded motor got out run by a stock rig running 29 but carry 4 people at 28 ! Yes ok!!

It seems that most recommend the PD boat with the PD motor. I do like the hunt deck with Gator Trax, but what type of "asking for problems" are you referring to if I get the Gator Trax with the PD36?

1. The rigid tiller handle on a PD will smash the hunt-deck on a hard hit, breaking your thumb.

2. The manual reverse is a PITA to get to.

News Flash!!!
What makes this fun is we have choices and don't have the same boats and motors. Other Round chine guys w/ the slow ass rigs in my area, let me know when your available. I got a 250 on a bay boat if you wanna go fast across the water.
I'm sure someone has something faster but it ain't a square chined mudboat.

Ok, I've only got a second, so pay attention. MudGator & Wolfman, Woodie summed it up. The PD has a rigid , or fixed position, handle & when you hit something (& you will) the motor's gonna kick up & smash the shit outta ya hand & probably bend the tiller &/or the false transom on the boat.

Crews, my point wasn't so much about my speed as it was the FACT that we're only talking about .5-1 mph between the 2 styles. As far as my reading comprehension, how about yours, dumbass?

Terry, the boat you're talking about didn't "outrun" me by more than maybe .5 mph that day. How's your boat perform without any cup left in the prop? Maybe I'll get one like you run next if there's no drop in performance when the edge is flat. As for the day we were running 28-29 with 4 guys, we posted the pics of the GPS while we were running. Where were you then? Mine aint the baddest rig, by no means, but I've always been straight up about everything with it. Problems or bragging rights, either way, yall heard about it.

If I missed anyone, I apologize. I'll try to check in tomorrow & make it up to you.

I hit shit all the time and the motor pops up but never a smashed anything. In fact you can raise the motor to its forward most position and the clearance is fine with a tiller extension and even without the extension. Sooooooo, maybe on some boats thats an issue but has not been on the gatortrax gatorhide which has a huntdeck. Oh and in my opinion the manual reverse is very accessible with the huntdeck.

Camo how you know I was talking about you!! mine runs and performs like shit!!