I have a tough decision to make. I want a Go Devil 1644 with 27 kohler long tail complete rig. Manufact has really tried to help and thinks the 1838 with a 23 vangaurd will be a better choice? I have owned two GD's longtail 16 and 35 surface so this is not a hard choice on the longtail model. I have been cheap and put on regular welded jon boats and not had great performance. Both motors ran great and went through a ton of tough stuff IT'S the times when you have to stop or turn around etc when you really see just how much the right boat and little refinements count! Give me your opinions with this consideration: I live in south Louisiana so it will be brackish marshes and flooded river swamps, two full size hunters and gear possibly a third every now and then. The manufact says the 1838 is the fastest boat and the 23 is the best motor because it can run w/o batt and has recoil start if needed. Combined with the weight savings and dollar value the 1838 23 works out. However the cost associated with the blind, and trailer make the 2 ft longer 1838 23hp more expensive than the 1644 27hp rig. Just not sold on skinnier boat and less motor=more $ than a wider boat more motor = less $. Sold on what brand I am buying so thats not an issue. THANKS FOR THE HELP!

If I went woth the 1644 id go with a 35. A little more money but it'll run better. If your gonna spend 9-10k you might as well spend a lil more. Had a 27sd on my 1644 and as long as I was solo it was fine...add one more guy and gear and it just pissed me off. It ran ok I guess. I just wasn't pleased personally. Or put the 27 on the 1838. Whatever you think is enough hp, bump it up a motor size. Crews and some other guys tried to preach "you can't have enough hp" " don't buy a 27 you won't be happy with it". I didn't listen and they were 100% correct. If you're buying new buy all the motor you can afford. If you can't afford it then keep saving. I am now motorless and will be buying a 35/36.

It's a tough call
If only those two choices - I'd do the 1644 with the 27
Wider and a bit shorter with the 27 would perform well. But as the above mentioned - for 1200 more you can throw a 35 on.
If not a fan of the 35 - go for the 27 setup IMO.

Have you considered an 1844? I wish I'd have gotten than boat instead of the 1644 even with my 24 longtail.


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I'd get an 18x44 with a 27. Screw a 35 longtail.

In a 44 wide ---- go with the 1844 - it turns so much better and is faster
and just a better overall size hull...


Back to your original question --- absolutely the 1838 is the better
choice - for any size motor - it is a very capable hull and even runs
great with a 35 GDSD too....

I had a 1644. Loved it. But it was a rocky sum bitch!!! I dunno bout the 1844, but I would go as wide as possible.

Thank you guys for the help!! The manufact swears by his 1838 23 setup. I just think with the 38 in hull it will be tight for a large guy like me I am 6'3 240 without hunting clothes and boots etc. Also have some open water and swift moving rivers ie Pearl River and Lake Maurapas areas. I have to admitt I am just a little scared of swamping that 1838 boat. How can the 1844 and 1838 be so much better performers than the 16 foot boat? does 2 ft really make that big of a difference? (please don't say it...) I can't cry over .5 or 1 mph guys your lucky to 17 mph on a fast long tail anyway right? I also think in the event of resale a 1644 would be more practical. Really if the 1844 wasn't about 600 more than the 1644 I would lean towards that boat!! I am looking for a nice clean rig that is comfortable, can hunt out of if needed, carry a pirogue and something my 6yr old daughter and I can hunt together in safely. Im older and grown out of my "racing" days all I have to show for that is a prescription for celebrex and stiff bones!!

You'll have better luck selling the 18'er over the 16'

Its gonna float higher in the water, and carry a load better. There are no drawbacks.

Big as you are and planning on hunting other ppl out of it with possible open water running...id be sure before I went with the 1838. Byddy has a 1638 and it looks like a pirogue up against my 1644. One season and he already acts scared of it. Said he was planning on sellng and goin bigger

Ive got an 18x38 and have had 24 and 27 hp longtails on it as well as 31 Hyper and now 36 Prodrive.When I had the longtail on it I would run off and leave a 16x44 with the same engine whether the load was light or heavy. My cavitation plate was set well enough for me to sit and drive like with an outboard.You didnt say if you were hunting in a horsepower restricted area(we cant run anything over 25 horsepower) so the difference between 23 and 27 is negligible.If you dont run much open water get the 18x38 but if you do run open water the 16x44 is not a good choice either.If you run alot of open water get the longest and widest you can as when it gets bad its too late to be wishin for a bigger boat.

I'd save the extra 600 bucks up and get that longer wider boat. If you are like the 99 percent of us you will want a bigger motor later, and that 1844 is an optimum boat size for most motors.


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I have an 1844 and just sold a 31hp lt to get a 35 lt and i wouldnt go any smaller on the boat or motor. like it was already said up top once it gets bad in open water its too late to wish for a bigger rig. 1844 is stable enough to fish out of and still small enough to get yourself unstuck. the weight difference according to go devil is only 70 lbs. but the 44 is more stable for sure.

DO NOT get the 16 foot boat. Get the 1838 or 1844. Get the 27lt, pull start is over rated, keep your battery charged and your carb clean.

Yes, 2 ft of length makes a HUGE difference in performance with a longtail.
The ONLY advantage a shorter hull has is turning around in a small ditch, and the front of an 18 can usually be lifted around, or a push pole will get the job done.