Hey guys im looking for some info on a 1872. I dont have much mud to run thru but lots of stumps and open water. I read a post way back about a 2072. I am looking for basically a 1872 or a 1972 with hunt deck. I like a lot of open space. I will also be using a stand up center console. Wide open other than that. Foam in the huntdeck and under bow with fuel tank up front. Thanks for any boat builders advice for what im looking for. OH, most of the time i run in wide open areas.

Budget ???

1860 is about the widest popular size for single engine....
You can go a lot bigger with twin engines....

What will you be doing that a traditional tunnel hull / outboard won't ???


Here is a linky...
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7810&hilit=2072

My budget is fair. I run the phuck out of a boat and are subject to jump logs stumps and other boats if I have too I had an 1860 with a 75hp merc a few years back and sold it. This boat will be my work, hunt, play barge. I will put some sort of a pop up type blind on it. It will have Natgear camo. I hunt reelfoot lake a lot in TN. Stumpfield!!!!!! I really like the width of the boat and from what i have read the width doesnt kill speed like length. ( I read the 2072 post on page 6 i think ) I want to put a GTR 35 on it. Reverse is important to me. Mind you I dont run thru solid mud. Recently the drought in Tn has rendered Reelfoot lake extremely low. So solid mud is close by. I have a 14 with a long tail beavertail. So, im planning on a new boat in the spring.

More info helps you to get better input....

You didn't mention loads like 3 man 4 man etc....

But your comment "width doesnt kill speed like length" is interesting - so let
me toss out something - on plane only the last 6 to 10 feet of a hull is in the
water so - in my opinion length is a non-factor on speed at WOT but plays
a big role in load carry & how the rig comes out of the hole getting on plane.... As
an example I run a 1648 and a buddy has the identical design 1848 - we run
almost the same solo or with two full size guys - but add a third guy and
he runs off and leaves me....

If it was me in a stumpfield I would want a narrower boat to be able to cut
between them and also to climb and crawl over them the narrower hulls
work better....


PS - Drake1 's father has a big CC GTR rig that sounds like what you are
thinking about with a single modded engine - you might PM him for input...

Most of the time i have me and 2 people and a dog. I was also considering an 1860. I really like the width. Either way i would like a huntdeck. I would go with a smaller boat but all of the mud hulled boats i have seen have a large front deck. I have a F&F 1752 that i love. It has a front deck 5 inches off of the bottom of the boat for floatation. This is where i put most of my decoys and stuff. It is deep enough in the front to fit like 6 dozen supermag decoys and blind bags and guns. But, I dont think it is really wide enough for a center console. My idea was a center console close to the back. No pods inside. Huntdeck for a total of 19 feet in length. On rare occasions i carry 3 guys and myself with dog.

The front deck im looking for is like this one. Low front deck.
I want a square bow, huntdeck, and center console. Other than that i want it wide open. I hunt total of 3 people and a dog (counting myself)

Is there a boat builder that builds mud hulls like this boat???

OK. You must be measurin your width at da beam. We all measure MM hual widths at da bottom. Dat looks bout a 54" bottom.

its a 1752. im wanting a 72" bottom

Well if you want a boat dat size you definately should get dual motors.

this about the closest and best looking duck platform I could find.

http://marshmonster.net/?page_id=238

I might just try and put a 35 GTR on my current boat. I really like the layout. I know a actual mud hull would be better but im not running thru straight mud. I would be happy if i could get 25mph out of it. Most of my runs are within a mile of where i launch. I really want the mud motor for the protection of the lower unit if you know what im talking about. I hit a submerged tree on the river and damn near thru myself out of the boat. I was running 36. My longtail would have bounced off and kept going but i cant hunt myself and 3 people and a dog out of a 14' with a 13hp beavertail. LOL

I run a 2060 phowler with 36 pd and my buddy runs 1872 phowler with 36 pd. they run very similar. Both run low to mid 20s. Main differences are he can carry a big load better, he does not feel the stumps nearly as much as I do, his boat will slide a little in tight corners ya just have to back off throttle to get it to bite with that wide of boat. My next one will be a 2072 or a 2066 with twin pd's. You can do fine with one pd. You will not set any speed records but we hunt out of or our boats with blinds on them and sacrifice speed for room and comfort and stability when we hunt. Good luck in your search, buy a mud boat you won't regret it. I ran a 1872 sea ark for several years and sold it and bought a mud boat and have shot twice as many ducks every year since.

get with uncle J custom boats on here shoot hem a pm. he can build whatever boat configuration u want !!

Don't buy a gator tail boat. I have a 1860 extreme and it sucks. I have had mutiple xpress, bass trackers, alumacraft, and just cheap old flat bottoms. None have dented like this boat. No I am not rough on it. I have not powered over any stumps or hit any stumps at even 1/4 throttle. I treat this boat like every other boat and baby it. I might have had 2 or 3 dents in a total of all boats. Piss poor design in the front rake. Will never buy a boat from them again. Stay away if you will be running stumps. I have a buddy who has a pro drive and he hits them 1/2 throttle and his boat is in 10 times better shape and he has had it alot longer than me.

Well this went to chit quick

Delta you haven't seen my boat or any of my past boats, so you can only say what you have. I don't lie and could care less what you think. The boats ride and performance are great, but the front rake is braced and built poorly. For that fact alone I wouldn't buy another one built like that. Someone has to be the first if there are problems. Someone who rags on his boat would blame it on himself, but I don't. Motor is great and would buy again, but I will let people know about the problems I have. All my buddies laugh because they beat the dog sh*t out of there boat and it looks better than mine. It probably won't hurt performance but if and when I get ready to sell it, the first thing they will think is dam he ragged on this boat. I will post pics of bracing and dents.

You do understand these boats are built out of aluminum and not stainless steel right. It don't matter how it is braced, if you have a strong enough impact aluminum will dent.

Get ready dabuckmaster24, here comes the whole phucking pom-pom squad!!!

Delta I gave my opinion with my boat, now you give yours and shut the phuck up. I don't call you a liar about what you say about a boat. You know why because i don't know you or how you run your crap. Also (Seams) in your context is spelled seems and your or was spelled are? That is what I do see wrong. Now,there has never been a boat builder that has not ran into problems. We are human we make mistakes. If yours has handled well and mine hasn't then mine has to have some problem because I know I have not abused or hit any stump at more than idle speed. I took your advice and contaced Kyle. I tried to get everyone elses input to see if any other issues have arose. Didn't get much back so I am taking the next step.

I'm pleased with my 1860. I've hunted 4 guys and a dog out of it. We never felt cramped and the boat handles the load great. I got 26mph last time I ran it with this load with a pretty much stock motor (MarshMellow exhaust and K&N air filter).

I know my post was jacked so im going to comment. I hunt reelfoot lake. Average depth 5 feet. There are cypress stumps all over the lake. I have had 3 different boats on this lake and only managed to put one dent in one boat. Its a 1985 polar kraft riveted. I have a longtail on it and i have beat the snot out of it. DAMN i dented my boat!! Big deal that is what they are for. USE!!!!!! Dont worry about the dents guys they will not help you put more birds in the freezer. Im planning on buying a 1960 with custom mods from Kyle. I have already talked to him about it. Now i think i would be upset if i got a huge dent on my first time out. But the fact of the matter is, Its a tool. You need to use it. Im sure if you are like me you have looked at different builders before you purchased your boat. Good luck with it, enjoy the boat!! I wish i could afford a 19K boat every 3 years. I wouldnt worry about the bottom looking like a pile of RIP RAP rock.

Appreciate your honest opinion about your experience with Gator-Tail's product, but i do have to say, you are the first and only person that has said anything about the bottom of the boat being messed up and that you will never buy another hull from them. That being said don't worry about the comments that are gong to be made, it comes to be expected when you post something like this about a product that alot of people on here run and have never heard the comments that you are making about them.

Two comments - both positive....

Duckhunter3635 --- If you bought decent insurance you should file a claim on
damage due to an underwater object.... If not at least get an estimate
from the mfg on a quality repair/upgraded bracing....