Hey, just lookign for opinions before I pull the trigger on my purchase. First, I hunt/fish 50% of the time by myself and probably the other 49% with one other person. My hunting load normally consists of 3-4 doz deeks, dog, gun, etc. I live in Washington state and we don't have mud. Mostly sand bottoms and rocks in rivers. We do deal with vegetation.

I understand from reading here and talking with a dealer that an 18 footer provides the best performance. I am close to pulling the trigger on the excel 1851 SWf4 (.125 5086) with a 5500 mag but am very worried I am spending more than I need to and the boat will just be to hard to handle by myself. Getting this tank stuck and then unstuck is not something that brings happy thoughts by myself. I also rarely have a true boat launch. With two guys getting the boat back on the trailer is probably not too bad but when I am solo and can't get the bunks down to the water line...Again, not happy feelings. I can afford the 18 but just because you can afford soemthing is not justification to spend more than you need to. Would a 1645 f4 with a smaller motor meet my needs?

Thanks

a 1748 sized boat with a stock motor would probably fit your needs just fine. Maybe one without a bunch of boxes and extra junk in it to lighten it up a bit for when your by yourself. But even if you are alone and cant get the trailer bunks under the water, the winch on the trailer should be able to pull the boat up, granted your strap is long enough.

Why would you even consider an engine without reverse?

How much is that boat/motor/trailer combo you are looking at?

The total package with that motor depending on what I decide for options is around 20k. I can basically save 2k if I go down to a BD4500 and I am considering that as well. I want whatever I get to do 30 or nearly 30 solo. Just thinking that this is a very big boat to be hunting solo out of and when I get stuck on sand bars, and I WILL I need to be able to negotiate the situation by myself preferably without killing my back.

As for reverse, I don't feel like I need it. I run an outboard currently and sure reverse is handy but I still prefer the trolling motor when picking up decoys and such either way.

I should add that I probably only hunt out of my boat 50% of the time as well.

Holy shit 20k dollars!! are you out of your fucking mind? lol

a 1748 with a stock motor will run 30 solo or right at it.

with your hunting load you will prolly run 27 or so.

And for the record, Ive pushed my 1848 with 3/16ths bottom off of dry ground before by myself

Prodrive combo 1748 with tall sides and transom & gun box, 36 PD with reverse, and trailer 13,500

Gator Tail combo 1746 with tall sides and transom & gun box, 35 GTR, and trailer 13,625

You dont NEED a modded motor for what your gonna do, but it all depends if WANT it.

I priced multiple manufacturers and did not find that much difference in price at the same levels. Like I said going down to a BD4500 would put me under 20k. Going even further down on the motor would save even more. How does a 35 gtr compare to a 5500 mag or a 4500bd? When I looked online I found most setups priced similar to this so I am kinda shocked by this not being the expected price. Thanks for the input guys. I am totally new to this and want to make sure I don't get screwed. Pricing info is actually kind of hard to find without talking to dealers and then I take everything with a grain of salt.

You can put the same mods on a gtr to make it a 5500 or whatever you want. Stock 35 will be comparable to a stock 35...

you can get all the pricing info you need at

prodriveoutboards.com

gator-tail.com

mudbuddy.com

Like Owen said, way to much boat and motor for what you're doing. 1748 with 35 or the 4500 sounds like the perfect combo. The only reason to step up and get the bigger motor, would be load carrying. I don't think you will have much trouble stock with the loads you described. Try looking into phowler boats also.

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Find as many different dealers of as many different brands of mud motors in your area as you can. Take plenty of test rides. You will never get this right the first time around if you do not get some experience under your belt. I would know...I was a dealer and I am on my 5th mud boat...this one is finally what I consider to be the absolute perfect boat and motor combo for what I do.

Here is what I'd do:

1. You mentioned you will be hunting a hard sand bottom, a wide boat will draft shallower and give a little better performance on that bottom.

2. A slick bottom coating like frog-spit or steel flex and a winch! You can load and unload it no problem like that.

3. Don't go overboard with dumb ass boxes and all that, it's unneeded weight especially running solo. A drivers box is all you need.

4. Don't let MB sucker you in with the factoy mods, you can put those parts on any brand of your choice.

5. Reverse! You will be glad you did!

So, if I were to get a rig to use like you describe it'd be a 17x52-54 with a lightly modded PD or GTR, wide open layout, frogspit, winch, and spud poles.