You fellas that run rigs with 46-48" widths are the boats fairly stable? I sold a 17x54 and am looking at a 19x48 (all 3/16) and I'm wondering if there will be a big difference in the stability. Will fish, frog, & hunt out of it with 2-3 peeps and a hound.

Will be perfectly fine. There's a difference, but adding 2ft of length, doubt you'll notice. I have a 1748 and it's fine with three of us hunting.

I hunt three and sometimes 4 out of my 1648. No one has fell out yet.

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

I'm gonna disagree. I had a 1648 then went to an 1852. Recently sold the 1852 and went back to the 1648 and I hate it. The difference is noticeable, IMO. Not so bad that anybody is falling out but it does "rock" when standing up to shoot and even two guys sitting a little off center when hunting causes the boat to tip a little so that when you go to shoot the boat lists back the other way throwing you slightly off balance for the shot. The 1852 also drafted quite a bit shallower. I'll never own another 48.

Length factors into stability as well. You're adding 2 ft of boat that's providing float. 4 inches of width isn't much on the same length boat, but add 18" of length in the water with that 4" and it will be noticeable. He's going from a 1754 to a 1948, plus it's heavier so it's likely to draft a tad more water.

My boat 1648 is 68 inches at the beam with a 48 inch bottom. It's stable enough I can stand on the bow and my buddy of similar size. 6'1 200 lbs, can be in the back of the boat and we can both drink beer all day long and bass fish standing up. Pissing included. Once we get to about 2:30-3pm range it is strictly our fault if we fall down. I'm not trying to say it's more stable than a 17 or 18fter at all. Just saying it's stable enough for what I do. And I don't hunt out of the boat. Atleast not with 3 or 4 people. Probably not stable enough for that. Never tried it for obvious safety concerns. But transporting 4 people isn't a problem. I've done that several times.

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

You can set the hook on a bass in a 25' long canoe and roll it over. Wider is better for stability no matter the length.

And you are correct. But comparing a canoe and a flat bottom aluminum boat doesn't apply to his question. Canoe hulls by design behave differently than a flat bottom. Make a 54" wide canoe and it'll roll too. Nature of the design. A longer flat bottom provides more counterweight on the opposite side, as well as more float under the weight to resist the wobbling tendency. Yes, wider is better. But 6" narrower but 2 ft more length will be more stable than only 6" narrower.