Need suggestions on boat lenght. Its looking like i will be able to order boat and motor right after the first of the year. I have decided to go with the 35 gtr but cant decide on boat. I like the look of gt extreme hull in a 54" bottom but would like input on 16 or 17 ft. Boat will mostly be used to bow fish and regular fish with just myself or one other person. Probably could do everything i do with a regular outboard but really like to fish Dam B and a mud motor seems like the ticket for veggies.

Also i am liking the videos of yal playing in the mud on youtube and thinking i need to get in on some of that. I have never had a bout over 14x36 this is gonna be a big step up lol.

Go with the 17ft...check out the rig in my signature...it's a 17x54 and is very stable.
Woody

Get the longer hull. You wont regret it. Its not any more weight really versus the gains a foot will make with room and load carrying.

If your gonna be fishing and bow fishing...go with a 18x54 you will want the extra room while bowfishing

What all of them said
If you will not be running in the woods go with a wider boat and you can never go to long.
I run a 20 x 48 and love it

Westendangler runs a 18x60 you can see his boat in alot of those videos we have on youtube. I have been very impressed by how well that boat will run. I was putting together a bowfishing boat that I am not running timber with I would go 60". Those wide boats are nice to bowfish out of.

x2 the 18x54 is the way to go i can bowfish 3 average size guys on the standard deck worked out fine without the extended deck plenty of room

If your thinking of 16-17ft go with a 18 footer. I jumped from a 15ft to a 18ft and dont see how i ever made it in the smaller boat. You wont regret it.

Thanks for all the replies i was thinking bout the 54 because of the backwater on the creek it can get tight. Next question is it a good idea to go ahead and let gt put arp studs and better crank case gasket in the motor right off the bat? I really dont like the idea of living with a leak if i dont have to.

If you will be fishing alot out of this rig I would go with the 60". I have the 54" extreme the bottom and it is actually 52". So correct me if i'm wrong but the 60" would be 58". Mines not too stable when it comes to gettin on and off the poleing platform and casting deck, I already fell off once.

i do a lot of bowfishing. Get the 18x60 its alot more stable then the 50s and handles the load grate