I'm running a 1650 gator trax w/ huntdeck with a 36 PD. Love It. I'll agree there is something to matching boat with manufacturer. If PD offered more features on their boat I'd have looked harder at them.
If you go hunt deck and PD talk to KP about building you a tiller handle instead of the extension. This will allow you to do two things. One it will allow you to keep the control box on the tiller and two it will make the overall tiller stronger when you start clearing the prop in the lillies.
I started off with the extension and moved my control box to the grab bar and like were it is located even after redoing the tiller handle.
With this rig I'm getting 22mph gps in the deep water and 25-26 mph in the skinny water.
2-250 lbs guys 1-100 lb lab and hunting or fishing gear 9 gallons of fuel and 2 batteries.
If you go with the huntdeck also get the hyd reverse. You still have to step on back deck to activate it but you are not fighting with the ratchet. Since you have to flip the horsecollar on the trim anyway I left my reverse switch on the motor. Keeps me from forgetting to unlatch in forward
KP and Kent used to do business together and will work together with you to build the boat the way you need it.
As for the day we were running 28-29 with 4 guys, we posted the pics of the GPS while we were running. Where were you then? Mine aint the baddest rig, by no means, but I've always been straight up about everything with it. Problems or bragging rights, either way, yall heard about it.