I have been in my new WC Custom for a few months. I have had a chance to run it in some very different conditions and think I have enough experience with it to make a good review. Here we go.
MM Brand: Mud Buddy HDR 44 w/ a BPS Cam and a
little extra love on the heads from Andy
@ The Boat Doctor.
Boat Brand: WC Custom Boat riding around on a
WC Custom tandem trailer
Boat Size: 20X54
3/16 bottom, 1/8 sides that are 24". Triple tapered chine. Hunt deck.
Boat Layout: True pointed bow. Hunt deck. Open floor.
6' extended deck. 8" flush catwalks.
Large bow storage box. Gunbox crossways
in the extended deck over the 10 gal fuel
tank. 2 small storage boxes in rear corners
extending under the hunt deck. Hydroturf
on all flat surfaces. Camo & Gator Glide
Done by WC Custom.
Speeds | Shallow Water: 1 -275# man = 31.8
3 -275#, 240#, 150# = 29.8
Speeds | Deep Water: 1 - 275# = 31.0
3 - 275-260-215. = 26.7 - 28.2
4 - 275-260-210-160 = 26.5
Total Boat Load With Gear Etc: 1 man load with 10 gal fuel, tools, 35 Yeti Full of cold beer, Avery blind, miscellaneous stuff in boxes.
3 man shallow load was same items.
3 man deep was in 20-100+ ft with 3-4 dz decoys, 3 pulsators, spinners, guns & gear, 2 labs and a boat full of green cane.
4 man load had 4 guns, 4dz decoys w/ same motion, 4 guns and gear. 1 lab. 6-10' deep.
Conditions Tested In: 1 man speeds were done in calm conditions. 3 man deep was a good chop. P
Comments: I am pleased with the performance of the boat and motor. I have hunted from Central TX to Venice, LA to MS. The size and hull design was great in the MS river. Very safe feel & a Very Dry ride across the jump. Some days with a 2o-25 knot wind. Coming from a round chine Gtrax I was concerned about the handling and turning when running the timber. With 2-3 people it handles fine. It will slide a little without a load if you don't get out of the throttle a little. I was also apprehensive about a 20 ' boat. We hunted in the cypress with 5 of us in the boat and w/ the blind up, birds didn't flare or even seem to notice.
The HDR seems to be running good. I'm coming from a MB 55 mag and I am not dissatisfied with the power this motor is making. I am enjoying the added benefit of now being able to back up which the HDR does well. I'm having a prop worked now to try and get a little more bite.
I'm looking forward to taking all this hunting stuff out/off and see what we get now that the motor is breaking in.
The trailer is an aluminum tandem built by WC Custom also. It's built stronger than the alum. trailer my 22' CC Bay boat is riding on.
The experience with Pete Willett at WC Custom & Andy the Boat Doctor was excellent. There's some great people in this game... these were the ones I went with and I'm certainly happy with the outcome so far. I am a tough customer that has a lot of questions and ideas. Both these guys listened to my thoughts and offered their opinions. Is it clear I like my new rig?