Looking at getting a rig. Thinking about going with the weldbilt crawdad 1648. Do any of y'all have any experience or knowledge about these boats? I talked to a guy that said for best results with that boat to go with a motor that weighs around 110#. What do y'all think?

The less weight you have over the transom, the less it's going to squat, thus floating flatter. You may be looking for a copperhead

Right. I understand that, but I don't know much about the copperheads other than they're cheap. I guess I'm wanting to know if a belt or chain drive is the way to go. I know reverse is a great thing to have but for me it's not a necessity. Also the durability of the weldbilt boats. I've never really heard much about them.

Belts are very reliable. Most of the belts you hear of popping are due to improper alignment. Most of it is caused by people working in their garage.

You can put more on it than that but it'd gonna squat bad. What motor are you looking at putting on it?

I don't have the boat yet, just comparing prices and trying to do my research before hand. I'm thinking of going with either MB, GT, PD, or boss. Not exactly sure and will have to do some more research on boss. I'm Leary of the boat I'm looking at because it only has .80 aluminum. It's designed well for running the timber in my opinion. I may just bite the bullet and have one built. It's cheaper than an excel and I can get exactly what I want.

If you're putting a mud motor on it go with the .100 you'll tear up the .080 fast. If you're going with prodrive or boss you will want to get bigger than 1648 the shear weight will sink you on the rear. As for mud buddy and gatortail they will go on with ease but you will want to make sure it's tall transom or else you'll be looking at a few inches before you take on water in the rear. My opinion on weldbilt is not so good tho. I ordered mine last October and didn't get the boat until December 20th and the grab bar wasn't in the boat when the dealer got it. I had ordered a smooth bottom and didn't find out that they couldn't make a smooth bottom on the boat I wanted until after it was built. In my honest opinion I'd spend more and go with another brand. Havoc makes a great boat for running the timber and they have one set up for a mud motor.

Thanks man I haven't looked at Havoc yet. I do like the prodigy hull design as well. If it's going to cost me 8grand for a hull, I may as well have one built exactly how I want it.

What I don't understand is guys that are trying to go cheaper and not looking at GoDevil. You can get a full size .125 boat built like a tank at a very fair price WITH a 35 or 37 SD. Sure they don't have the "cool factor" but neither do weldbilt crawdads....['


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Get you a GatorTail rig and be done!

Do your jaws ever get sore??

My weldbilt is .100 and I got it for 1950 from ft. Smith arkansas. They sell em cheaper than backwoods landing in alabama

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Why are you looking at that boat is it a $$ factor a design you like or something else. I see the guys talking about running timber I didn't read that anywhere did I miss something are you wanting a good timber boat

It's a bit of both. The money is a factor, but I also want something reliable. I do like the dual gun box design that the crawdad has. I am looking for a timber boat yes. I mainly hunt timber and want to be able to get anywhere the ducks want to be.

What's the price on a crawdad

3G on a crawdad GD 1648 is only about 4 and you can hang a 35 on it at 110# on that CD you won't have much engine I think the 23 Copperhead is still 160

Not to mention backwoods landing will apparently sell you one and then tell you it wasn't designed to plane if you have problems with it .


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They're tards

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Ya after reading y'alls opinions and doing some research I've pretty much thrown out the crawdad. I want to have a boat with a little ass behind it. I don't want to worry about a cypress knee punching through on me. My next question is with a true flat bottom boat like a GD how well will it turn at speed? Those boat runs get a little twisty

A round chine godevil is gonna be hard to beat turning at speed. look for one used or a used gatortrax and you'll Prolly be cheaper than the crawdad

Maybe people will read this thread that have the same question as you did . If you run places that have lots of water hazards Don't get a "cheap" welded boat like a weldbilt. Godevil is the best bargain boat for real "Swamp" conditions.

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

Know where I can find a used one that hasn't been beaten to death lol....ya when I was told they were .80 I was pretty much out at that point. The GD site recommends only a 27hp max for the 16' boats. I'm guessing that boat being as light as it is, would run around 30? Correct me if I'm wrong

Lots of folks have and continue to run 35's on the 16' GoDevils. They don't carry a big load as well as the 18' version but a 1644 round chine boat would be a hell of a weapon with a good operator and a big block surface drive. Don't let anybody calling a GoDevil "cheap", "bargain", or "inexpensive" deter you from looking at or buying one, mine has stood up to whatever I've thrown at it and come thru to the other side unscathed minus maybe a little paint. Coming from the world of 15-17' production aluminum boats (.080-.090") this is by far the toughest and most well built boat I've ever owned. It's not flashy, it doesn't have the cool options, but if you're buying a boat to use as a tool, you will not be disappointed.

I'm not looking for flashy at all. I'm looking for a workhorse that I can run fast and through whatever I have to, to get to the ducks first. The smallest boat I would get would be a 1648. I'd like to have a motor with reverse on it though. I'm thinking at this point either a 37efi or a 37 HDR

I can see wanting reverse if you've never been without it and it would be more convenient at times in the thick timber getting in and out of those tightest spots but I've never had it and don't miss it with my GDSD. It's instinctual to set the boat up when you stop or shut down in a way you don't need to back out. Second nature after running a Longtail for some time.

Don't ask which is better GTR or HDR lol

He needs to buy a GTHDPDGDSDVHR... Nothing like it on the market.

Holy mudmotor Batman we gotta get one of those

i just put my 1650 lakesport and 35 gtr up for sale if ur interested

Mines the same way. I thought about adding a hunt deck so that it would have more length but I'm not sure it would help.