I need some opinions.

I run a rig in Alaska. I swear the mud is different up here. It's not just mud but a mix of mud, bog, silt. I think a boat up here can get stuck easier. There are a few areas that I run and I won't stop if it's too shallow/muddy so I don't have to worry about getting stuck. When I designed my boat I didn't consider the need to lighten things up. With that in mind, I may be looking for a new design. Presently I am:

Prodrive 36 and custom boat with Pro-drive based design but built in Alaska

-1854, Marine grade .125 aluminum, (three piece) all welded, 20 inch transom and sides, squared front, longitudinal braces, sub-floor, center counsel. It's a very tough built boat, but it's heavy
- I get 23-26 mph depending on load.

I have many uses for this boat. In rivers, it is nice and stable. The cornering could be better with some of the rivers I run. It is a great fishing platform. As a duck boat, it's been great too with the exception of it's overall weight. I am not interested in speed as much as I am interested in torque out of the mud. I would think I am dealing with mostly a power to weight ratio but also would like to get opinions on the best boat design for that.

For those in the south running mud and not having "stuck" issues, how heavy are your boats? I am thinking of a semi-v for river running, how much will this compromise the mud issue?

Thanks in AK

Semi-V will kill mud perfomance.

The cake batter mud you see in videos isnt everywhere.

The mud in some of my area is alot like you described, really thick deep mud that sticks.

You can do heads, cam, and exhaust to your motor and you may see some gain.

Get a pirouge

The mud I seen when I was on a hunting trip looked thick. I showed the transporters my muddin' vids. THey loved them and wanted there boss to get them a boat to try up there. I can say, Kodiak Island is the s%&t... Awesome place.

It 's not just weight or hp or a combo of both. It boils down to how much prop you are turning. Duals will give you an advantage when you are talking about getting a load moveing. Two 23's are better at moveing a load than a single stage 3 35hp due to more torque and more prop surface area. they won't be a faster ,but will move a load better. If your prop is blowing out and you are not moving in a soft bottom that is what is happening, or you have hook in the boat.

Make sure your boat is dead flat, no hook , paint on some frogspit or steelflex.
That may help. I don't know how expoy coating will do in sub-zero weather.

If you find the motor bogging down, then it is a gearing or hp issue.

Spend your money on duals you will be much better off than trying the stage 3 route.

JD