I found a deal on a Gator Trax GT15X44 Hunt Deck w/ a Mud Buddy 23 Sport. Is this an underpowered rig? With the hunt deck, this hull is 16' 7". Would this size boat be capable of handling a GTR 37 EFI, or PD 37 EFI w/auto FPR, or a MB 37 EFI HDR? I'd kinda like to have reverse. Or, do I need a bigger hull, say a 15X50 hunt deck? Any advice would be much appreciated. I have never owned a SD mud motor, nor a true mud hull.

under powered. The way gator trax measures there bottoms, that hull is really more like a 48/50"

I would have a 37 gtr on it.

Actually almost all aluminum boat manufacturer's list their boat sizes by length(feet) x bottom width(inches), 24x72 will be 24ft. long, 72 inches wide across bottom, making the top rail wider unless the boat has straight side. I have one that is 72 inches(bottom) the tops of sides outside to outside is 96 inches, the height of the sides are 28 inches. The only exception I know of is those with hunt decks some include them with the length and some don't. TPWD measures the front most part to the rear most part(excluding engine) as the length.

It depends on how fast you want to go. That setup is fine if you don't want to go faster than about 22 or 23 mph when you are solo. Maybe 18mph when you have another guy and a dog with you. In some ways that lighter 23hp motor is a better match than a heavier 35hp. You'll draft less, which is a pretty good trade off if you don't have to go long distances and don't need the speed.

Mod the motor and you'll be high 20s I'm looking for a 23 hp gdsd to put on my 1836 skiff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a 1644 gator trax, no huntdeck, and a 35 hdr. I top out at 29 with no load. Mid 20s with a hunt load. Like others have said, it is a little wider then a true 44 wide bottom and it will hold any of the big blocks safely. I have 21" sides and 21" transom

Thanks to all for your advice. I'm going to have to pass on this deal. I don't want to buy this rig, new, with zero hours on it, only to find it is seriously underpowered. And then have to find a new home for this motor, after having replaced it with the big block it ought to have had on it from the start.

That would be a good boat if you had HP restrictions but if you don't a 1744 or 1750 gator trax with the 35 are great boats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My 14X38 Gatortrax Rogue w/ stock 23 barely gets to 21 mph