Have been wanting to get a surface drive for some time now, and have been back and forth between Pro Drive and GT. My latest thinking has me leaning towards the PD because of the full power reverse and EFI technology. How do you guys feel the 36 EFI Pro Drive would perform on a 2054 PD hull? I would be getting a CC model and would be using the boat mostly for duck/deer hunting in the marshes with lots of vegetation and mud flats. I would be carrying quite a load most of the time back and forth to the camp and just trying to figure out if this setup would work for me??? Throw me some feedback here guys!!

Just fine.

Duals

I would not consider a single engine for that boat and load from any manufacturer.

Why do you need a 20' boat. I suggest you down size to 17'. Or get dual PDs.

North LA hunter has a 2048 with a stock gtr and it runs just fine. I would consider the basic mods (carb exhaust and heads), but wouldn't be scared of it pushing that size boat.

So far there's a split consensus....if I don't go 2054, I will go 1854. I just figured that the added 2' of length may help me when carrying a load, and am under the impression that longer narrower boats will run better due to the length to width ratio and I may be totally off base here, but wouldn't a shorter wider boat be tougher to maneuver and get on plane vs a boat that you add a little length too, it just seems like it would "spread" out the surface running area if you can understand what I'm getting at??? I know there are limits here and 20' may just be getting too big for that motor to push?? Help me out here guys I am somewhat new to this and and using what limited knowledge I have on the subject.

Yes, duals isn't an option for me. 2054 is what I'm really wanting, but 1854 is my second option if the 2054 doesn't seem like it will perform. Other than the CC it is going to be a bare boat, I want something wide open, no gun boxes, etc.

The 20 with 1 engine will be fine. A lot of perspective I see on this site is based off the opinion if it won't hit 30+, it ain't running woth a crap. If on plane and over 20 with a good load is enough for you, a single engine will be fine, mods aren't required. Youll be mid 20s unloaded and wont notice much difference til you add the third or maybe even the 4th person. Get the leaky valves cleaned up and my be deck the heads a little while they're off the engine after 50hrs and gut the exhaust whenever, and you'll be more than fine. I've hunted 3 out of a 1654 boat that weighs a shade over 850 lbs with a 27 on the back and it would do 16. With two I was at 20. A 35 on that same boat pushes 4 at 16ish and 3 over 20. Add 4 ft of length, and probably be about the same weight, and you'll hold over 20 with 4 and still plane with 5 I would bet.

All I know is I run a 18x54 center console with one little box, and I know for a fact it wouldn't step a 4 man, dog, and gear load with a stock engine.

If I could step a 3 man load and gear without any issues then I would be more than happy with it! I am not looking for a speed demon, but a good all around boat that has plenty of room and can plane and run at a decent speed with a pretty good load. I do not want a slug but not looking for a rocket ship either.

your gonna be disappointed with a 2054 and a single stock motor.

23 empty 19 with 3 guys

Which is slow i agree...but in the grand scheme of things not too bad. I'm also hoping the new EFI engines will give it a bit of a boost...KP @ Pro Drive seems to think it will run fine. Like I said earlier I know it won't be a rocket ship!

EFI, heads, and exhaust you might see 26. I would go 18 54 though. My 18 48 and stock PD will push 4 190 pound fellers, 85 pound dog, 4 dozen decoys, and every misc. Stuff about 23

Mine is a Gen 2 also

I don't know where you're located, but talk to North LA Hunter and try to ride in his before you decide. His GTR is stock, on a cc 2048. Those that say it won't push well with a stock engine haven't seen it. A 2054 would run as well if not a little better under load. I don't think disappointment will result.

Where you position the console is going to have more effect than the extra 2 ft fwiw.

1854 will carry any normal or slightly above load you might want to carry. I have had five "healthy" men on plane in mine with coolers etc. and I cannot imagine needing to carry any more than that on a regular basis.

I have planed out 4 guys, dog, and gear and was surprised to do it in my 1854.

Mine is an 1854, plain Jane rig from Gatortail.

2054 seems big, remember that it's only a 35 horse going on the back.

Not the same hull but length is close. Take the info with a grain of salt.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1470

http://mudmotortalk.com/mmt_v2/viewtopi ... =4&t=18977

http://www.iawaterfowlers.com/40529/pho ... hard-blind

Just throwing this out there, despite it adding 8 ft^2 of running surface to the boat, it only adds 35lbs to the boat (assuming 5 stringers). I don't think that increase in running surface is all that dramatic, considering he's not comparing it to an 1848. I think the biggest changes you see are increasing the width of the boat and increasing draft because you're increasing the profile to flow past. The added length isn't really producing that much friction (waiting on Deadbird to come in here and settle the score on that one), but it helping lift more of the boat out of the water.

I see it as a benefit, gets more of the boat out of the water with any given load, would most certainly run faster with a heavier load, and would give you the smallest change between loaded and unloaded, like you're asking for.

You're best bet would be to call Pro-Drive and talk to KP and see how he feels that combo will do. I know he believes the new EFI Briggs coupled with the gen3 lower and new 2 blade will be a pretty strong performer. Give him a shout and talk boats.

Not a prodrive but something to go off of..... viewtopic.php?t=12739

This boat is wider, has a bit more weight due to the bowfishing deck, and still has decent numbers in my opinion. I know im not getting a speed demon, but am pretty optimistic about the 2054, and after all the researching and different opinions I think it's what I'm going to go with.

This is a 20 x 54, I think he had a single and twins......


viewtopic.php?t=10153

My gen 3 pd stock with a 18/48 boat runs 25 with 4 people and a dog

One of the members here runs a 2060 phowler with stock 35gtr and it does just fine.