Took it out today for the first time with a new prop the one that we bought it with would only push the boat 8mph with two guys, to say the least it was a little worn.

Deep Water: 15 MPH
Load: Two men (400lbs), 11 gal. gas, two batteries and duck blind and half full cooler.

With a one man load it would get up to 17mph is that a pretty normal speed, it has a 9x6 prop, no mods.

Shallow water: pretty much the same we didn't see any decrease or increase is that normal?

Here are some things we are thinking about doing to her after the season, if anyone has any insight if they should help my speed bend my ear.
-move both gas tanks and battery to underneath front deck (currently 6 gal can in back with large cranking batt. I am thinking about going to a lawn mower battery for the motor only?

-Putting frog spit on the bottom and trying to smooth it out a little, currently it is pretty scratched up, 14 year old hull.

Thanks guys I would put a photo up but she's no beauty pageant winner!

All that stuff will help but the 25 is more or less a torque motor, they can carry a load like no other! Never really personally run one but i have ridden in one some years ago

i would try a px7 prop and see what it does. i have the same motor wit a 9x7 and i can run 22 all day wit just me, 20 wit two people

moving the tank to the front will be a pretty simple thing, if all you use the lawnmower battery for is crankin then it should be okay.

I would go ahead and do the gas tank, it might help gain a mph or 2

Autogateman, what size boat are you running and what manufacturer?

Have you checked to see how much water the internal floatation/foam is holding? You might have a weight problem if you are retaining water (in the boat that is) in your foam.

I am running a similar boat as you GD 16x48 w/ a 23GDLT w/ a 9x7 prop. Just had the prop redone and am only running 11mph loaded. This is better than the 9mph unloaded last season.

I am seriously thinking about converting the floatation boxes on the sides into storage boxes.

I was ruing a 1656 gd with a 25gdlt i had 2 back down to a 9x5 to push much of a load. Big difference from a 9x6 t0 9x5 that i switched 2.