I'm in the market for a complete new rig, looking to spend around 10-12K. I currently have a riveted 1436 with a 15 hp evinrude and I drag my pirouge around with me. I'm wanting to get a bigger more stable boat for hunting and fishing. My normal load would be 2 guys (180 lbs each), dog (80 lbs),and about two dozen decoys. I would like to be able to hunt with a 3rd guy every now an then. The boat would be used on pearl river, joyce, maurepas swamp and manchac wma. Would like to hunt biloxi wma and big branch nwr but there is no surface drives allowed. With that said I'm trying to deiced if I need to get another outboard so I can still access two of the places, or get a surface drive and just hunt/fish the places that allow the motors. I have been looking really hard at the 1648 phowler jon with either a 23 copperhead or outboard with a jack plate, just dont want to spend 12k on a rig and end up not being able to run it anywhere because of surface drive bans. It sure would be nice to not have to paddle that pirouge anymore an be able to hunt out of the boat.

I also run a shallow river that has a sandy/gravel bottom with alot of downed trees an logs in it. One of the main reasons of wanting a .125 hull.

I'm fixing to purchase (within a week or so) a 1544 custom venom hull w/ hunt deck and a 23 copperhead. Tapered chine Hull is a one piece (minus the transom) all .125. I'm gonna hunt about the same load 2 people and maybe 3 from time to time and a little gear. I don't know a lot of info about how it drives or speed. Its suppose to be low to mid 20s loaded. I'll have to put some stick time on it. But for what I do it'll work great. Coastal marshes and shallow water in the lakes.

Almost sounds like you could use a long tail if you want air cooled considering the gravel bottoms and logs in the river. I've been on the pearl once or twice cause my in laws live in picayune ms.

Or maybe a tunnel hull with an outboard. For shallow water situations. Logs and stumps are tough on everything. Maybe hull out a jet ski and put a jet on a jon boat. Jk

I'm wondering if the 1544 would be roomy enough, I just dont want to get one to small and wish i had went bigger because my 1436 feels tiny. I've thought about a long tail but in some places i have a 7-8 mile run one way from the launch, so i would like to be able to run in the 20's. The tunnel hull idea has crossed my mind a few times just everything i read on them says there hard to get dialed in just right, then i still have to worry about burning up the motor in the marsh. Im thinking i need to get a hull that I would be able to run either a surface drive or outboard on that way if theses surface drive bans keep growing i could just sell the motor an keep the hull an not have to start back over with getting a complete new rig. I know im trying to get a do it all boat and they dont make one thats good for every situation but im going to try. I like the cottonmouth boats but with the way the transom is made i dont think i would be able to put a outboard on there if one day it came down to getting rid of the surface drive.

My long tail rig I had wasn't that slow. It was a 24hp mud buddy on a 1548 sea ark with pods and with a bad wore prop (1 3/8" off) and 2 man hunt load it was 16. When I put the new prop on it was a lot faster. Did not get any numbers but it was getting somewhere.

If I had to buy a long tail it would be the 25hp backwater. Just because of how durable they look and their customer service. I ordered that new prop from them and they were extremely nice. Supposedly they are the fastest based on other people but that's all in the prop and maybe in people's head.

I have zero experience with tunnel hulls. I have only rode in one and i couldn't tell a difference. It was also a 2072. If a company is selling them as a package then they must have a reason for putting that motor with that hull so I would think tuning would be minimal. I could see buying separate and then trying to marry the 2 could be a problem depending on shaft length. But I'm just guessing.

I have seen a lot of videos of guys running outboards in the marsh and peeing straight mud. They say as long as it's peeing it's cooling. Makes since but not for me unless I'm in a bind.

I had a 1436 and they are small for sure but it's amazing how much bigger the 1544 feels. Its an open hull. Seats are moveable pyramids and have storage underneath. And that's 1544 plus a 10" hunt deck. So battery is hid underneath it and fuel tank is under the deck. But I'm organized when I hunt I don't just throw and go. I pack everything where I make room. So everything has a place, away from everybody's feet! A broken marsh stool is not a fun thing to hunt off of.

I appreciate the info on the long tails, but I'm still leaning towards the surface drive for the easier operation. The main problem i have with the outboard is it depends on the tide for where i can hunt and how long i can stay in there. Last year i parked my boat down a little cut and paddled into a spot to hunt, after i got done hunting went back to the boat an the tide had dropped out on me an i had to fight that thing to get it back into deep enough water to run the motor. I'm going to go look at a 1544 in person to compare the sizes. It would save me some money also going with the 1544 vs the 1648 if it will be comfortable with my normal load.

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=60437

Take a look. I usually hunt three people and a kayak and it's a comfortable ride loaded at about 35mph. Boat will run in 6 inches mud on plane and can still moves slowly or push pole with a large load through that shallow once plane is lost. The engine is a beast and boat is fast and versatile. If interested or have any question let me know. Feel free to text

I hear ya. Ive had the tide fall out on me where we it's started laying decoys over. Luckily I had just enough water to get going. But only like 2 inches. The guys I passed that were picking up decoys were not as lucky. At the mouth of the cut it was silted up so I made it through on plane. Theye were pushing there 20hp merc a few hundred yards trying to find water. Thats the main reason I don't hunt with an outboard.

I really like how simple and light the copperhead is. Plus the performance I've been seeing is unmatched. Only reason I'm going with the 23 vs the 18 is the option to hunt one more guy from time to time. Dealer said I'd be pushing it with the 18 with 3 and a hunt load. Plus he said all the guys that buy smaller and up coming back and trading up. He had 2 used 18s and a 12 for sale backing his story.

But then your gonna run in restrictions with that. Idk if I know any place hear that has a ban. I know it's 25hp max in spots and 9" prop rule.

Hope this helps

I hear ya. Ive had the tide fall out on me where we it's started laying decoys over. Luckily I had just enough water to get going. But only like 2 inches. The guys I passed that were picking up decoys were not as lucky. At the mouth of the cut it was silted up so I made it through on plane. Theye were pushing there 20hp merc a few hundred yards trying to find water. Thats the main reason I don't hunt with an outboard.

I really like how simple and light the copperhead is. Plus the performance I've been seeing is unmatched. Only reason I'm going with the 23 vs the 18 is the option to hunt one more guy from time to time. Dealer said I'd be pushing it with the 18 with 3 and a hunt load. Plus he said all the guys that buy smaller and up coming back and trading up. He had 2 used 18s and a 12 for sale backing his story.

But then your gonna run in restrictions with that. Idk if I know any place hear that has a ban. I know it's 25hp max in spots and 9" prop rule.

Hope this helps

I've been the guy pushing the boat to try and find enough water for it to run in not the funnest part of duck hunting for sure. I have made up my mind and the 23 copperhead is going to be the motor. Now i just have to make up my mind on the hull. Currently between 1544 - 1648. If i go with Phowler I noticed there 1544 hull is .100 while the 1648 is .125. Do i need the thicker hull? I tend to go pretty easy on my stuff, but i would like to buy a boat that will last 10+ years.

Definitely .125 ! Better safe then sorry. Just me but I wouldn't put a mud motor on a .100 hull.

..025 of aluminum is nothing in the weight department. I know some Florida guys that don't need .125 because they run zero stumps or trees. Its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. From what I've read if you start getting dents on the bottom of the hull it can drastically affect performance.

On the pearl river I would definitely recommend the .125. Idk about stumps but the Logs would be my concern. I'm sure cypress stumps wouldn't be a good suprise at wot.

I might be getting my rig this weekend. It depends on how work goes Thursday and Friday. If so I'll let you know how that 23 runs.

.125 it is, definitely let me know how you like it.

Well change of plans, I got a quote from Uncle J and I believe that is going to be the way i go.

1648 with 3/16 bottom
removable pirogue rack
spud pole setup
removable operator grab bar
full floor
trolling motor bracket
front deck with seat base
3 removable seat bases (pyramid style)

Anybody recommend anything they wish they had or didnt have? I feel like should get some type of storage area, but i would think i need to stay light as possible and keep a open floor plan.

Adding storage space will not add weight . Just me but I'd go a lil longer of your going with a 48" that's just me though .

Do you think there would be enough room in the front deck to store all the required stuff like life jackets and a few other things to keep them out the way or do i need to think about having rear pod/gun box added. Im wanting to have the battery and gas tank mounted under the front deck. I wouldnt think that storage area wouldn't be able to hold much.

I have a 16/50 But I run a big block, wouldn't trade BB power for a smaller boat with a Small Block. Had a riveted 15/44 with a 23hp put more than 2 guys in it and wouldn't run for shit. Go Big Block or Stay Home IMO

Yes you should be good. Just my opinion. I would add a back deck and make it open under the deck. It's your rig make the way you want it. Just put good thought into it before you have it built. Good luck !!!

Got it ordered went with a 16x44 with the 3/16 bottom, spud pole setup, removable pirogue rack, removable grab bar with switch panel, trolling motor bracket, storage hatch on front deck with a seat base, 3 removable pyramid style seat bases, and a full floor.

Tossing around the idea of a 25 gator tail over the 23 copperhead. EFI, power trim, and reverse would be real nice to have

You went all out. It ought to last a while.

You shouldn't be far from copperhead headquarters. Might see if they have a demo you can through on your boat for a test run. Think some gator tail dealers might do the same if it's a small dealer.

yea things escalated pretty quick.

I'm about 30 minutes from copperheads shop, that was one of the main reasons i was looking at their motors because they are local and all the good things I've read about them. I didn't even think about asking if they could put a demo on my boat. Thanks for the idea

I'm a little late posting a pic but here's the new boat. there's a couple more with details in the review section.

new boat.jpg