Just saying hello. New to this forum, but I have been reading it for a while. This site seems to have a lot knowledge lurking around....and opinions!

I run:

1750 Gator Trax "Intmigator"
36 PD Remote, Hydraulic FPR, Power Tilt and Trim
Modded by Gecker- Carb, Heads, Muffler, Valves, Cam, Air filter/ Adapter and stainiess valves

Top end speed about 29.5-30.6 @ 4150-4370 RPM's shallow water/hydrilla 1 person
Top end speed about 28.5-29.5 @ 4150-4370 RPM's deep water, 1 person
Top End Speed about 26.6-28.2 with 2 hunter's 3 doz decoys, two batteries, 9 gal tank, 80 lb lab deep water, mud buddy shaggy blind, Hydro Turf through out, tool chest, 6 boxes of shells, 2 guns, gun box, 4 fast grass panels in the bow, 6 full palm fronds.

My regular load is everything above minus hunting load. I have never tested the speeds with out the blind, two batteries etc. I am playing with the weight distribution. I have the 9 gallon tank, two batteries, and four panels of fast grass in the bow, and I have noticed the more weight I move to the back the faster I go (by about 1 mph not included int he #'s above). Thinking of moving the batteries to the back, but moving all of the wiring for he CC, charging system etc is not a small project!

The Gator Trax drives like a tank, but the rounded chines turn on a dime. Where I used to slide through the corners I now dig n. I can't get this thing to slide, but I run in deep water primarily. I think you lose a little on the top end, but the handling of this boat is surprisingly good.

which carb are you runing? Stock or Mikuni? I am running Coondik customs heads decked .55, EVT exhaust, stock intake ported and polished w/ stock carb. Rod bent the stock throttle linkage so that the rpm would come up to 4500 and still run on the gov. WOT my engine runs smooth and has more power, but it doesn't idle worth a SH!T. Are you having this problem?

Similar set up. I running Gecker's modified Stock Carb though. The heads are ported, seats bored, stainless steel valves installed, deck is cut, dual springs are added. This would be the equiv. of Gecker's level 2 heads without the large size valves. Stock intake and air filter. I haven't gone to his new air filter yet, b/c I am waiting for him to come out with a cover for the filter. My next step is to either replace the carb, or just go with the Mikuni. Interesting idea on bending the throttel linkage, I have not done this. Idle is fine. I have not had a problem at idle. If anything it idles a little hot 1100-1200.

I have updated the numbers b/c I worked on the motor today with Sheldon. Picked up a solid 2-3 mph based on the work today. I think the tweaking is complete! I am still running the stock prop but I have Cleaver 12x13 that I am going to put on. Sheldon thinks it should be running 32, but frankly I am thrilled where we are. I have picked up a total of 4-6 mph light, and 6-7 loaded. Plus the whole shot is night and day!

Dude- I don't know you, but I don't talk shit. You should try the same thing. BTW- Did I say just by tweaking, I said the tweaking is complete.

I have done all the mods that I mentioned above, but they weren't dialed in yet, and I wasn't getting the benefit of the mods. I dialed in the governor over the weekend, and while wrking on the governor I noticed the throttle linkage was not opening all the way, fixed this, and then Sheldon replaced the Gecker Cam already installed with a new one. He wasn't sure if it was even off, but this is the kind of guy Sheldon is. Replaced it, b/c there was a chance free of charge.

BTW- I didn't need to spend 3 grand for 2-3 MPH, I paid <2 grand for 5-6 MPH pick up, and those are the real gains. Maybe you should rethink who is doing your work! I picked up a solid 2-3 MPH today form the work above.

Did I say I was running 35 MPH...NO. 29.6 Deep water. Before today I was running 26-27. YOU DO THE MATH. I was actually being conservative! Oh BTW this was at 4050-4170 RPM's...exactly where I want it.

I updated the numbers today. I put on the Hopkins Cleaver 12 x 13 this morning. I picked up another 1 MPH, and I hit 30 MPH for the first time! Actually 30.6. My RPM's did go up though with the Hopkins. With the stock prop I was running 29.6 MPH at 4050-4150 RPM. With the Hopkins I ran 30.6 MPH at 4150-4370. I would much rather run at around 4100 or less. I am probably going to send it back to Glen and make it a 14 pitch. Very happy though how this is coming together! A little steel flex in the off season, and I will be there!!

SP, what kind of blind material is that on your boat?

It is a mud buddy shaggy blind. I use the fast grass on the top railing to break up the straight line. I am also going to add the Mojo leafy sheets, to provide a little more green to the blind. I usually use 5 or 6 pawn fronds as well, and throw a panel of fast grass on the bow and one over the motor. This has been a really good combination for FL. The birds come right into it. If they flare, it's b/c I moved! LOL.

nice rig man!

Just out of curiosity you said you mainly run deep water. Why did you go with a PD? Seems to me if you ran deep water all the time you'd get an outboard. Or is it those 5-10 days out of the year where you need the surface drive to get through areas?

Very nice looking rig and numbers are impressive. I wish I lived close to FL so I could drop my rig off with Sheldon and have him hook me up with those numbers too.

Thx man. This boat is purely used for duck hunting, and is designed for this alone, not speed. The Mods were really for load carrying purposes. I hunt mostly deep water, but in really thick vegetation. Lots of Hydrilla etc. i burned up my old outboard trying to run these areas, and replaced it with the PD. I haven't looked back. As you know you can get to twice as many places in a duck marsh with a Mud motor over an outboard. For a duck boat IMO there is just no comparison.

I agree. I made the switch and haven't looked back!