I have a 23 GD SD right now. My boat will have storage in the bow and a hunt deck, but other than that it will be open hull. Is a 17X48 too big for my 23? I would like to get a boat around that size so I can upgrade my motor in 2015. I would also love people's accessories opinions. I hunt in Southeast Louisiana. I do not have to deal with hard bottoms or trees. I deal with at worst conditions 100 yard mud flats. On average the water depth by me is around 2-6 inches with soupy soft mud below. I also do not hunt out of my boat. I have my own stationary blind. I would love to see other rigs and get some ideas. Thanks

Again, use the search engine, you can really find out everything you want to know by just searching. Don't want to come across as an ass but if you keep asking these guys similiar questions in different threads, there gonna either ignore you, or rip you apart. Now if you do your homework and can't find it, you will have no problem getting all the info you need. Just a little food for thought. So, This is a link to those who entered boat data with speeds, boat length and width and all sorts of stuff.[/quote]

I am sorry I understand I will not post anymore. I'll just try to figure out who is the best welder out there that y'all already know for myself. I tried using the search bar, but I do not know what to type in it, but I'll figure it out I guess. Sorry to bother all of you.

Use google instead of the search feature on here. Itll bring up more stuff and some good older topics.

This is my 20x42 pushed by a 25 with 7 people, 3 dogs and 4 ice chests full of beer . I think your 23 will be fine on a 17' boat.

How do I know who are builders? I am new to this website, everyone keeps telling me about sponsored builders and stuff like that. How do i determine or search or builders? That is where I am confused. And if you do not mind can you send me pics of your rig that you built? 9852013463. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd appreciate it.

Need four more threads in each forum and then we will tell u the secrets!

All bs aside I will give my opinion. I think a 23hp anything would run best all around on a 1648 and a 35/36 on a 1848. First length is important, MM's of all kinds like to run flat. If u put a 23 hp (which has an average weight of 160-200) on a 16' hull it will have a central COG (center of gravity). Central COG helps the hull run flat on the water witch will help the motor perform its best and run faster. If you take the same 16' boat and put the 35/36(which has an average weight 100 pound heavier than the 23) the COG moves closer to the transom. So with the cog closer to the transom the stern of the hull will run deeper in the water causing more drag.

Now width. A narrow hull 40-46" Will out run a wider hull anyday. But put a load in a narrow hull and it may never plane out. Length and width have to work together. If you go 54" on the bottom you generally want to go a little shorter in length and if the hull is narrow go long. Its all about making the hull with a full load run as flat as possible and as high out of the water as possible.


Hope this helps I'm not always a PRICK

Do you have a boat currently? If so what is it? If I was running a 23 I planned on dumping in a couple years for a bigger motor, I'd be running a cheap ribbed bottom boat that I found on Craigslist for $500.

Then I'd go figure out where the "review" section of this website is located and do some reading while I waited on 2015 to get here.

Your motor will push a 1748. I would keep the boat empty or stripped of options until u get a 35. Basically an empty boat to keep the weight down. You will be surprised of how well that 23 will push the bigger hull.

If I were in your shoes I would build a 1748 no hunt deck and front storage under the deck only. I would Build the transom to be cut away at a later date to add the hunt deck. HUNT DECK TO BE CUT OUT OF ORIGINAL HULL NOT ADDED. And run that until u get the bigger motor. You will see better speeds and load carrying with a 1748 mud hull then a cheap jon boat because of the drag created by the ribs and the cog will not be correct.

He's trying to save you every ounce of weight possible.....I think. It will run pretty good with one or two guys.

However, you put four guys and a hunting load in any boat with that motor and it's gonna be a slow trip.

Wait on huntdeck because of running a manual trim motor.

Ever try and reach back 18 or so inches to make a slight adjustment while running? I put 200 hours on my 23 and sometimes a slight adjustment was needed. Do what u want just seems like a pain to me.

If you're getting a GTR get a huntdeck.

Decide what motor you're getting. Or at least what motor you're not getting. PD and GD are not best suited for a huntdeck. GTR needs one in my opinion and MB can go either way

1746 or 1844
Wouldn't be too long?
I was thinking 16X48 with the hunt deck so it would be 17.5X48
I would like a hunt deck on the back, so what size boat would you suggest if you started the tape measure at the back of the hunt deck and went to the front of the bow?

I'm talking about length including the huntdeck. same length with or without the huntdeck