I'm exploring several options for my next boat. Among the considerations are an 18x60 GD hull and a 18x56 GD hull. I'd put the same motor on both, a 35 hp GDSD. I've read the forums and it seems the 18x56 turns better and has a bit higher sides, but drafts about a quarter inch more water. Is that the experience of anyone who has used these two hulls. I'm leaning towards the rounded side/bottom angle of the 18x56 over the squared side/bottom angle of the 18x60. I'll be running a mix of water, lake, pond, river, rocky bottom, soft bottom, some logs I'll need to get over. Any advice or impressions would be appreciated.

They say the 1856 having those tall sides gets it blown around in the wind.
I have a 1860 and it's not the easiest to drive on the hard chine but it's not too bad. Also carries a load really good.



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Either of those two boats will get the job done for you. If you fish or are stationary on open water much, you'll appreciate the low sides of the 60, that little bit does make a lot of difference in how the wind works on the boat. It does slide in turns deep or shallow if you just barrel off into them but with a little stick time you can make one go where you want. The added width and the tapered chine will carry weight slightly better than the round chine boat as well.

I've said it before... With my 37, the only thing I'd change about my setup is to make it a 20'er...

Where 'bouts are you located?

Thanks for the replies. I divide time between Montana and Arizona. Fishing and duck hunting both places. I hope to make a trip once a year to the gulf coast for red fishing too. I did have a GD 20x60 with a GDSD 35 when I lived in Alaska. Loved that boat! I won't be moose hunting with my new boat so don't need the ability to carry big loads. 90% of the time it's just my dog, light gear and me. The 20x60 would porpoise at cruising speeds with me and the dog. The 20x60 handled great on tight, skinny rivers as well as lakes. I've just heard the 18x60 slides a lot. If the 18x60 handles close to the way my 20x 60 handled, I'd get it without a second thought.

I can't imagine the 1860 slides any more than a 20' boat. I love my 1860 and it's good for the normal 3-4 man hunt load I'm hauling but if i was hunting solo or +1 most of the time, I'd be in an 1844. They're way more nimble and will run a good bit faster.

The double angle chine slides much easier than the rounded chine, but is very controllable with a little experience on the throttle. Both are very stable and will last a long time. I've run both and prefer the Hunting and Fishing boat with the rounded chines because at full throttle in narrow streams it carves a turn better.

Have you thought about getting the 1848? Since you aren't carrying much of a load, the 1848 would be plenty of boat and would get better speeds.

I hadn't thought about the 18x48. How much speed would I likely pick up? Would the draft be much more?

Empty I doubt you see an appreciable difference in speed between a 60 and a 48. put a load in them and the 1860 will shine. Not to mention you can put more load in the 60

The speed difference between any of the 18' hull designs is negligible. I've been on the water more than once with a carb'd 1848, a carb 1844, EFI 1844, as well as a 1660 (advertised as their fastest hull) with a carbureted 35. Keep in mind these engines were all stock. But my 1860 with 37EFI would inch away on the long straight runs. I don't think there's enough difference in speed to even mention with power being equal.

My 1860 with stock EFI motor is an extremely capable and well matched combo. As far as draft on the 48 vs the 60" bottom, I'd guess an inch give or take with the same load. You're losing a full foot of width.

Having parked my 1860 on hard bottom more than I'd care to admit, If it had a moderate load, you could push it across a parking lot with 2-3" of water over it.