right now I have that motor on a modified V and I'm experiencing a little difficulty. the boat runs good but it doesn't run flat enough. I'm going to start keeping my eye out for a good used rig but I don't know what to look for. I figured you guys would know what the best setup might be.it's going to be used for duck hunting 90 percent of the time but the rest of the time fishing for Reds in the marsh.

any help would be greatly appreciated

18' X 48" Sportsman Fab.

My main problem with my current rig is that I can't run it just above idle or the bow lifts too high and the rear seems to dig even with a heavy dude in the front. where we hunt there are so many cypress trees that it has to be manuverable. would a 17ft work or would I run into the same problem.

You didnt mention Cypress Trees in first post. 18' X 44" Skiff would do you good for hunting timer and fishing.

I wouldn't go shorter than 18'

I thought I had made a mistake when I saw my boat the first time, but now I wouldn't go an inch shorter!
A 18x48 with a pointed bow should be all you need, I would probly get a 3/16 bottom also

Still learning so please excuse my ignorance. Why 18ft? Where I hunt that length will be pretty hard to hide. I am assuming the length is for weight distribution, but I'm guessing.

Also, what kind of speed should I expect from a boat like that. Currently I can get 25-27 out of mine, but unless it's on plane it really seems to dig.

Wight distribution and load carrying is reason most of us have 18'. Seems easier to plane a 18' then a 16'. With having to trim these MM's up so much the shorter boats seem to porpoise some. Put gas tank up front and some gear in front deck hatch and you are good to go.


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I really like the 54 wide. The only Reason I went with a 17 ft boat is I couldn't fit a 18 in my Garage.

How compatibal is Gator Trax with a prodrive? I have read you need a different transom angle than the usual mud buddy that these boats usually come with.