New here so cut me a little slack.. I've searched and searched and haven't really found an answer to my question. I am in the market for a new gator tail boat and motor(35) and am trying to figure out what is the shallowest planing boat I can get. I usually haul anywhere between 2-4 people and a medium to light load(just shells, guns, and mojo's). I hunt on Catahoula on the north end and the water is usually a foot maybe 2 at the deepest in some of the holes but sometimes the water will dry up really fast if the wind is blowing so there's only mud left. I'm really trying to keep it in the 17 foot range, but I am wondering whether it's best to get the 1748 or the 1754? I am not too concerned about top speed but more quick planing ability. If I wanna go fast I have a 70+mph bass boat. So any help would be much appreciated. Also I don't hunt in the boat I have a blind so it would only be used for transportation if that makes a difference

Up in my neck of the woods. 1754. Which side of the river you on?


The lighter you can get on the boat, the happier you'll be. I have a 1748 prodigy I got this year. Shoot me a pm with your number and I'll meet you out there one day and let you see the two boats we run up there. My dad's is a lot heavier than mine and mine runs better shallow.

I would go 18x60 with 4 people

I have an 1854 and it gets on step fast, during teal season would run the mud flat out of French fork with 4 to 7 people and get on step. Issue on north end is the hard bottom with all the grass. With 4 to 5 people it Pulls so much grass that as soon as it starts to get up on step it blows out due to dragging so much grass, best thing is to dig you a rut at your blind to take off.

Also, there is a guide that hunts close to us that runs twin go devils carrying customers, I wouldn't get rid of my gtr but if I ran across a used setup that was a deal I definately would get one for that area

I hunt right back behind bird island point off the float road that goes back towards cowpen. And yeah that's the thing with all the grass I wanted to see if there was one that would get up in it. I might just have to dig a deep trench in front of the blind so I can get up on step. But I'll send you a pm Cause I'd sure like to ride in them to see the differences. I'm getting one this summer, I'm just getting real tired of riding a fourwheeler to the blind!

I have a 19x48 mad man and have not complaints