Alright, here goes nothing...

Am set on a hunt deck for my first rig, likely going to be a 1954 motor will be stage 2. My thoughts are a Pro Drive with auto reverse and then building a custom tiller that is extended to drive easy with the hunt deck and also floating to eliminate the hitting false transom or anything when the motor hits something. I know this will likely be a couple MPH slower than a GTR but the power of the reverse seems worth it. Have done as much research as possible and I think this would be a great setup but what do you guys think?

The huntdeck is fine you'll just have to relocate pump. Why not have the motor built with an extended tiller. As for floating tiller never heard of it being done. Give it a shot

Was definitely going to have the extended tiller built with the motor when Chad does the boat. Bayouboy made a floating one, heres a link

Seems like in theory that setup with auto reverse is the best of both worlds with a PD and GTR with the only exception being reverse is 3 seconds instead of instant. It's just a lot of money and with the transom angle being built specific for either motor I really want to make sure I make the righ decision and you all have hands on experience with these rigs where I really dont

I have sold a few Gator Trax with huntdeck and a PD with reverse, and the motor (and pump) work just fine. PD offers a longer tiller (I dont remember 100%, but think it is about $125) for use on boats with a huntdeck.

Butternut runs a pd on a gtb , not a huntdeck though

I had a 36 pd with a custom built hunt deck, with the standard short handle, and it was bad at all.

You will want to have PD put longer hydraulic lines for both pumps, kinda like the center console models.

i had to go buy hydraulic lines, and re run them, so i cna mount them to the transom. but at first i had them laying on there sides on the hunt deck for the time being.
It wasnt clean, but it was just for testing.

Get the longer handle, and the longer hydraulic lines, and roll with it.
You will be happy

have you considered a sport deck? As for the floating handle, i'm pretty sure i saw that bayouboy rigged up one. try giving him a pm

I'd do a sport deck or no hunt deck at all man.
The reason they came about is so the GTR boys would stop sinking their shit in reverse

Prodigy pro deck IMG_1206.JPG

^^^ pro deck is same as sport deck. Buddy has the same deck on an Extreme Metal Fab hull and they call it a sport deck. He has been running his with his 36pd for many years now with no issues. Plus makes it easier for dog to get in and out.

I have a PD on a 16x44HD. Love it. Would love it more with floating handle. You'll also want to collocate your trim and momentary. I put mine on the front of my half box seat.