Have a question about how Gatortails handle weight. I have a 18 x 48 Tim's custom flat, aluminum floor, and large casting deck. I recently had a 36 hp Prodrive on it and the best I could get was 28 mph, light load, and 24 - 26 with my two sons and a normal fishing load - both deep water. My question is would a 35 Gatortail do the same or would it do better. Also, would a GD SD do better as far as speed. Thanks for the help

If the transom angle and design does not cause an issue - then - performance
is pretty similar with all of them - MB PD GTR GDSD with stock 35 motors....

The PD and GDSD might have a slight heavy load advantage due to the gearing....

PD is 1.5 to 1
GDSD is 1.4 to 1
MB is 1.3 to 1
GTR is 1.2 to 1

Don't know your hull but my buddies GDSD 1848 with 35 GDSD gets closer
to 30 solo and 26 with 3 man loads as does my GDSD 1648...

i disagree i can get up with more of a load then a friends prodrive

with my motor stock i was turning 30 on the said boat in my sig, i would get around 25-26 with a load.... being 3 guys including me and hunting gear

Gator-Tail is faster than PD

I have friends with 35 gtr on 18ft gator tail hull and 17ft beaver tail hull and they can't even stay near me with the same load in our boats and mine does 29 in deep water.

Thanks for the info -

Just having a rough time deciding which one to get - 35 GDSD or 35 Gatortail

Wanted to make sure that the Gatortail will handle the weight and not drop off in speed.

Your boat is prolly the issue.

It won't drop off as much as you think it will, the GTR is a nice touch, gitcha one, you won't be disappointed and i think it'll meet your needs as you specify

Negative all stock. With 3 people 12 gal of gas and icechest.

1860 GTB (flotation) & 3 guys I could run 24-25 deep water down the ICW. Load balance is key with ALL of these boats & motors.

After mods same loads I am running 29-30 easy.

Good Morning Skipr and Gigafowl,

Skipr - I'm in the Houma area

Gigafowl - I agree with the "...rock solid reliability ... " of the GDSD, I just got rid of a 23 hp GDSD, it was very good for hunting, but now I am down to one boat and will be doing both with it. I like the "neutral" option, reverse is just extra. The reason I had a PD on it was of the availability, at the time could get the Gatortail for a while.

I like the neutral, but the reason I'm second guessing myself, and asked for some advice, is because I want to make sure that the Gatortail will keep at a good speed (26 to 27 mph) with a fishing load. I have never rode in a Gatortail, only seen them in action on videos.

Also, Gigafowl - I know what the GDSD will do, my cousin has a 35 hp GDSD on a 18 x 48 GDSD hull, and gets 30 to 31 on gps

Again, thanks to everyone for your help.

So do you know your transom angle - height is pretty simple to measure
but you will need some sort of tool to get the angle ???

My boat is a 18x50 gator tail boat!! With a bone stock motor

1 person 30.3
2 people 29.9
3 people 28.7

If you worried about speed the one motor you shouldn't worry about is the gator tail!! I live in Gibson if you want a demo give me a call!! My boat has a stage one one it but I have enough shit in it to show you how they carry loads. If you want I can set up a demo in a stock boat also!!

X2....Gator-Tail it all the way babe

he would be better off to put stage 1 on the motor he has.

he doest have a motor on it he recently had a PD i am assuming he sold it

That wasn't my boat !!

I just meant what size.

Thanks again to everyone for the responses. This is my first experience of posting on this website and I really appreciate all of the info.

Woodiebuster - I currently don't have a motor on the boat; I bought brand new 36 PD about two weeks ago- got a lemon - nothing against PD's - it had a defective cam and the motor was shot with only 8 hrs on it. That's why I am in the market for a new engine. Also, the motor had a lot of tiller torque, but I believe (as stated above) my hull just wasn't suited for the Prodrive.

Hopefully the GTR or the GDSD will do the trick!

Gigafowl - I don't know the transom angle, I'll have to check it.

Would is the optimal transom angle for GDSD and Gatortail?

The gt takes a 20 degree but it is easy to make it work with others just takes a shim to get it right!!

Call up gator tail and see if you can bring your hull there and slap a motor on it and test drive

If I'm off Friday, I'll be in Point Aux Chene fishing. If you want a ride, pm me.

Giga really !!