Hey guys Ive been looking at a new boat once I graduate and can afford a sure nuff nice rig. A long tail will be my best choice as the majority of our spots are swamps with alot of knees and the only "flats" are lilly pad choked.

The motor Im going to go with will be the 24 honda due to I can get a back up pull start.
boat is going to be the 44" wide model

What speeds and how limited will my abilities be of obstacle jumping and ablility to plane will I have between the two different sized boats.
Loads will generally be me +1 to me +2 (dog always on board)

Thanks guys

By yourself I am guessing you can do bout 20ish mph. The length is jus gonna be what you prefer. If you hunt outta the boat I would go with the larger boat for more room. I hunt three outta my 16' no problem, especially if u get the split seat. The he 18' will carry a load better.

That 24 Honda is not the ballsiest motor out there. The vanguards perform better in the torque department, and torque translates into planing off a boat under load. I know the notion of pull start is a nice one, but you will be sacrificing boat performance with that Honda on it.

As far as 16' vs. 18', bandit is right...the 18 footer will carry a load better and will most likely plane off faster.

anybody have any pics of some go-devils set up for hunting?

Duckhunter,

Last year I ran a 23 GDLTw/pull start w/9x6 on a GDSD 16x48 - Solo 21mph Two (@200) 18mph - would not plane off with three (35 GDSD this year)

That tapered hull worked great - more lift than the round chined GD
But if your going round go 38 wide not 44

For the motor you are considering the 18x38 or the 16x48 would be my best two suggestions for speed and load with that size motor - both will also take any of the GDSD's later on too

18x38 - best in timber and veggies
16x48 - best in harder bottoms runs shallower

That is my opinion anyway...

PS - Bart from GoDevil will tell you that the 18x38 is his favorite and he wants Coco to make him a "one of a kind" 20x38

FYI - I bought a GD 16x44 for my 23 GDLT or 27 GDSD - then sold it because that hull needed more power to perform. The 23LT only ran 15mph solo and 13 with 2 men. My GDSD 27 also under performed. The 16x44 needs at least 31 to 35 hp to come to life and perform. The 18x38 was originally designed when 20 hp was about the max hp to give the best speed and load capacity with that size motor.

Giga thanks for the input! How stable is that 18x38? when having to deal with the aftermath of passing barges?

It's really a toss up between the 16x48 and 18x38 in my opinion
for that size longtail motor - both are well provisioned with floatation and
will take rough water pretty well and haul/hunt 2 and dog well

A tapered chine like the 16x48 is more stable at rest - floats shallower
The round chine 18x38 "cuts" through stuff like a knife - haul more weight
Two completely different designs - with task specific assets to each

Test drive them and see which you like best - from your first post
the 18x38 sounds like the one you will want - if sloppy mud, veggies,
and cypress knees are the challenges in your area. If rocky or hard
bottoms are involved then the 16x48 might be the one.

Where are you located ?
Maybe if you are in Texas I can help you setup a test ride

get at least a 18' boat you will regret getting the 16' if you want to get a surface drive later on.

Thanks Giga but im a long ways away im in Alabama