A few years back I bought a new GT rig, 1854 powered by a 35. Really liked the boat. I fished out of it comfortably, but it was slow when loaded. I started hunting timber, and still do 12-15 times a year. Wrecked that boat, replaced it with an 1846 SouthFork mud hull powered by a 37EFI GT. MAN! That thing scoots. I like the speed I gained, but didn't like how unsteady it was. It's an .080 boat and didn't last long. I had to idle a cypress slough to get to a piece of woods we were hunting, and took it very easy going over the stumps. It put hooks in the bottom like I've never seen before. Totaled the boat. So....I'm back to buying a new hull. Pretty set on another Gator Tail.9 months out of the year I'm bowfishing and fishing, the rest chasing ducks. Here's the dilemma...in a few years this won't be my primary fishing rig, it will be used mostly for bowfishing and duckhunting. I figure if I can bowfish out of it comfortably, I should be able to fish no problem. Initially my plans were to order a new boat from GatorTail...an 1848 extreme and have a removable bowfishing deck built. Now, I'm considering the 48 may be too narrow for a few big boys up on it. 1754x1848 powered by a 37 EFI. Any firsthand experience will be great!

Since you will be bowfishing, it seems like you should go wider than 54". I guess Gatortail doesn't list that option, but I'd go for a different manufacturer if you can't get a 60" wide.

I had a 1648, then went to an 1852. Then, like a fool, went back to a 1648 and HATED it. I never realized how unstable it was when it was my first boat. After having the stability and room of the wider beam and reminding myself the hard way how nice that extra room and stability was, I'll never own another 48. I also don't believe that a 48 is significantly faster than 54. I'd love to race one fully loaded sometime. The planing surface area and draft are better in a wider hull. The 48 sits deeper in the water with a similar load and "plows" more. Your best advice will come from guys who have owned BOTH, not just the ones who own one or the other and think their chit is the best just cuz they own it.

Had a 18x54 went back to a 16x60 man it scoots haul pretty good load


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What about a 1751 or 1851? Kind of a happy medium between the two. More stable than a 48 but little narrower to help get through those tight spots in the timber. I think that's what my next one is gonna be.