Is there anything in particular I should ask for in the hull specific to a Longtail? I'm wanting a 35hp, mid to high 20's mph setup. I would also like a hunt deck for versatility and storage under the deck.

My current rig does really well for what it is but it's a bit of a hodge-podge setup and is pretty damn heavy. I am happy to report that a buddy and myself with all of our gear ran off and left a pro drive albeit loaded down with way more ass than the little boat should have in it haha. The guy said, that thing rolls out! Left us standing still!! Lol. I'll probably keep this rig as it's good for certain things, I'm looking to build more of a "big boy" Longtail setup...

I'd just copy Woodiebuster's i think he's got it covered pretty well as far as a longtail hull goes! Give or take the elf shoe!

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Not matter what LT setup you have, you won't get high 20s with a load. I'm not talking any Thai shit either.

I don't expect that kinda speed loaded up but maybe with me, one other person and a cooler of adult beverages?? Lol
I'm running 18ish with two guys and a hunt load right now with this mismatched BS I've got now. I figure 22-23 should be do-able with 15 more hp and a better designed hull right??

And no, I have no real desire to go to a surface drive... It's damn near twice the money for reverse and 5-7 more mph?? No thanks. My Longtail has gotten me in and out of places that a surface drive had to turn around before he even got to. I run some flooded timber with exposed logs and such, basically the places a Longtail shines...

I may be wrong, but I don't believe you will really gain more top end. Throughout the hp ranges it seems that all you gain is torque. You can push bigger loads as the hp goes up.

I could probably live with that. I mainly want the tq to get the boat planed out from a dead stop anyway. My current rig takes about 3-4 boat lengths to get up... It's got some big float boxes that I believe help with that. I'm running right at 4K rpm on the top end. My prop is also pretty worn, I'm sure that's attributing to the RPM gain. Supposed to be a 9x5 and it's less than 8" across right now lol... Gonna rock it till the end of the season and put a fresh prop and seals in this frame.

I would think an 18 would be good for that hp

Looking at something in the 17x52 range if I can get what I need out of those dimensions. I'm not set against an 18' boat, just don't need it, and that extra foot would make it that much more difficult to turn in tighter runs. Pointed bow is obviously a must, recessed lighting, winch etc... The fewer snags on the leading edges the better off I'll be.

What's so funny about my SD comment F250??? Lol I think surface drives are pretty badass for their intended purpose but the places I go don't lend theirself to such. I feel like the Longtail design is a bit more utility and versatile.. Just my two pennies

Going to have to go with a longshaft if you are going 20" on the transom

I agree, SETx, I will probably have to go custom in the future...whereas you have tight areas and can't benefit from a longer hull, I want an 18'x48 open hull- benefits duck hunting and fishing- you put boxes and other things you lose the interior space and add weight which goes against the added planing surface.Where most need, say a .125 hull, I can get by with .100.I'd say if you can get mid 20's with two hunters and gear, that is heaven.
DuckHunter is probably right, in most marshes the SD is a better choice. Where you run and in my marsh that is typically real shallow hard bottom little mud, the LT is better. The economy of the LT over the SD is real- I've seen the costly repairs to my friend's 35 shorty and others- the replacement parts for the LT, even with recent increases, is a bargain in a market where all these glorified lawn mower motors are way overpriced. All these SD owners that whine about how hard the LT was to drive should see all those skinny southeast Asian kids running them and then get a good breakfast and some extra helpings and toughen up jack!

Believe it or not it sounds pretty comfortable turning those RPM even for extended periods of time. Full throttle out of the water it'll rev till it floats the valves, governor's out of adjustment but even with the prop how it is, it runs pretty damn good. I'm sure with a fresh prop it'll run quite well. I am just afraid to change it and become one of those guys who loses half their speed and can't figure out why.

Glades- yeah, I won't be closed minded and say that a surface drive doesn't have its place. It definitely does but for what I do, the long tail setup is better suited to both the terrain and ME. I have no problems handling it, I'm 6ft tall and 240. I'm not a slight fella. I'd honestly be lying if I said I didn't half enjoy coming home sweaty with sore shoulders every once in a while making some harder runs lol. I can choose to be as easy or as hard on it and myself as I want to be.

Well I've pretty well got it narrowed down to a 17x52 with hunt deck or a cut back transom. Battery/dry box for a driver seat and one gun box. Id like to do the fuel tank built in behind the front deck as well. 3/16 bottom and .100 sides. Short transom and sides as well. I'd like to keep it pretty low profile.

..... Now, to find a builder to talk to about it.

your waisting your time doing .100 sides, your not saving much weight over .125 and loosing strength.

Fair enough...

I'd also like a grab handle that can either pin in/out or fold away as not to interfere with the blind

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=45193

Check out my rig, a basic bare bones layout that is a stump and timber machine.
A huntdeck/longtail isn't a good combo, most longtails would hit the deck when it kicks up.
You also loose some turning room and have to lean out to start the motor.

And anyone who says a SD will stay hung up less/ go better in bad chit and stumps is clearly a crack head.... You too RJ

Thanks for posting, I've checked out your rig and it's damn nice!!

Main reason I want something extra in the back to help out with floating the engine and me is because I've had pretty decent luck with my big ugly float boxes on my hull now lol.

http://www.excelboats.net/home.htm

I like what excel did but for a Longtail setup I'd think it would be better to make the angle of the cut back steeper and mount the motor basically on the transom and have the two corners still behind the transom, right? I'm sure there's better pics of what I'm trying to explain but that's the best google could do lol.

A 18' hull with no Huntdeck will float the same as one with a Huntdeck.

I don't recommend one

I have a Gator Trax Rogue 16' with hunt deck so its a 17'6" hull with a 24 longtail on it. I got the hunt deck as a place to hunt my dog and keep all the water from her out of the boat. I had to bend the handle on the longtail a little to get the prop way out of the water but nothing 5 minutes with a press cant handle. It actually worked fine without bending the handle and the prop would come completely out of the water when I pushed down but Im 6'2" and I was way hunched over while driving so it worked out great for me. Maybe its my long arms too but I havent had any issues making sharp turns either. All in all Im very happy with the hunt deck. This is the only picture I have that shows the whole setup. This was also before I bent the handle so you can see that it would have been fine even without bending.

I know that the speed aspect has been discussed a few times above, but I run a 1542 with a 35 longtail and the fastest I have ever gotten alone and unloaded on glass for water has been 23.6.

An 1848 with a 35 sounds pretty solid. Low 20s should be easy