I'm looking to build a custom boat myself, and looking for recommendations.

The boat will be used for fishing, and bowfishing. Boat should seldom see stumps, but will frequently be in areas with oysters. Max load will be 3 people including myself, 90lb generator, and 65 lbs of lights. Fuel tank somewhere from 9-12 gallons, and 2 batteries. Well, and of course hopefully fish lol. A few things I plan to incorporate into the boat is 4 inch gunnels, longitudinal ribs, hunt deck, floor welded in, platform over engine for generator, 6-7 foot front deck with built in storage and possibly 2 built in aluminum coolers (Tired of people busting coolers with arrows). Rest of hull open. 20 in sides. 3/16 or 1/4 inch transom, with 1/2 inch engine mounting plate(probably overkill, but I already have it)

What I am looking for is recommendations on width, bottom thickness, and material. I'm planning on 1/8" sides, but debating whether to go with 1/8 or 3/16 on the bottom. Is 5086 worth the cost over 5052, especially if going with a 3/16 bottom? My initial idea was to go with an 18x48, to minimize material waste. I hear the narrower hulls are typically better for speed, but stability may not be the best for bow fishing.

My current rig is a tiny 16x42 weldbilt .080 hull, with a 2009 35 gtr. Can't keep the boat from bouncing solo, and I put the load I specified earlier in it for bowfishing. Have to watch the weather and be a little cautious jumping around in the boat, but I've pulled it off. Boat was actually used very little, due to the shortcomings of the small hull.

I intend to have either Gatortail or Delta Performance convert my engine from short to tall transom, and plan to get at least the stage 3 kit from Delta. Considering the pricing I may consider diving into Pistons also. Engine has under 60 hrs total, so makes no sense to replace the engine.

I won't be building this rig until early next year. After deer season, but still taking advantage of the cooler weather for the welding. Also tax return definitely won't hurt lol. Just trying to get an early start planning everything out.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone knows where I can get performance crimps(z crimps) bent in my side panels at a decent price please let me know. I'm in southeast LA, and anywhere from Franklin to New Orleans would be best, but willing to travel further if needed.

I would say go with atleast 60 wide ive got buddies that have them up to 72 wide for bowfishing, but I wld go with a minimum of 62 wide, the wider the boat is means the heavier but also means more stable, and the length is good at 18 feet

Where you at in south East La?

I would go with at least an 18x54, so you can carry a load.
Maybe 18x60

Montegut


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72 is definitely wide. We recently built a 19' semi v for my father for skimming that is 72" wide. Massive boat. But, you can stand on the gunnels and hardly notice it.


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For what you are wanting to do and haul, you need a bigger boat and an extra motor.

I did consider a twin rig back when I bought my engine. Missed my window on that option. Now I have a daughter starting to drive and needing a car, and she will be off to college in a year. Financing at rig any time soon is honestly out of the question. I'm pushing it with what I'm already planning. What stopped me from getting the large twin rig early on is the waters we fish. A lot of broken marsh and small ponds. The tight, quick turning of the tiller is more suitable. Console rigs struggle. A buddy is running a 1850 gator trax with a hunt deck, and a modded 35 gtr tiller. It does very well with 4 men, raised bow platform, and a similar light/generator setup. It's really amazing the load these rigs can handle, especially with engine mods.


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I believe I'm just gonna go 18' to 19' long and 52" to 54" wide. 20" to 21" sides. Should be stable enough (much more than I'm used to), and still run decent when light loaded. I'm trying to build one boat that does everything. Those widths should be a good balance. Long runs will be light loads while rod/reel fishing. Most of my bowfishing areas I can get to in 20 minutes or less going 17-18mph


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Honestly, if you are set on a single modded engine, a 18x60 or 19x60 will be a good boat.
If you are bowfishing, the 60" bottm will be great.
Don't go 54" and regret it later.

I second that. If you can do it with a 52/54 wide bottom, chances are you can do it better with a 60" bottom. I have zero regrets with my 1860 and it'll even be big enough if you do decide to drop that second engine on it later on. The 1960 sounds like your ticket honestly. That extra foot will help with a load and help later on if you do decide to go with dual engines. I myself have pipe dreams of a dual tiller steer setup on my current boat.

Definitely food for thought, considering on gator trax hulls that round chine isn't factored into the width. So it's probably a 60 inch wide boat in the end. I could possibly look into 57-58 wide, that way at least a 60" sheet works for the elevated floor


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Anyone have any idea where I can get my side panels crimped, besides a certain big name boat builder in Berwick. I doubt there are many 20 foot breaks around. I couldn't speak to the man himself there, but the secretary quoted me a price per bend that I found a little high, though I honestly don't know the going rate for that type of work.


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Pierce Aluminum

Thanks. I was actually looking at them online a few minutes ago. Will shoot them an email.


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Just wasn't sure if they sold to individuals, or only to companies


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Thanks for the link to Pierce. Price and their capabilities make them hard to pass up. Is the tall transom height for gatortail 20" or 21"?


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http://lmgtfy.com/?q=transom+height+and ... dmotortalk

Yeah I guess I should have searched a little lol. Thanks


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Or ask about what color to use on their boat blind cause they hunt every where in the world, and not just one color is good...

Lol hear ya there. 40mph. Wouldn't we all want that. And the best color for their boat is whatever color they like. Natural vegetation makes the best blind. Good enough blind the boat color doesn't really matter lol.


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