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 Hunt Deck Effect on Performance 
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Post Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I am wondering how hunt decks effect performance with a surface drive, positively or negatively? Thoughts?


Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:13 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
0 difference

As far as the motor knows it's sitting on the back of the transom.


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Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:59 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance


Thu Aug 24, 2017 8:22 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Only difference is you wasted 2 ft of inside space in exchange for an expensive step for you and dog to get into the boat.

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Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:06 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance

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Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:06 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
If you have a motor with reverse it is not a waste of money in my opinion. Keeps the mud and water on the deck and out of your boat.

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Tue Aug 29, 2017 11:49 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I don't consider it a waste. That space is still usable. To me, it's a compartment to keep things out from under my feet, and keep the battery and gas out of the weather and getting covered in mud and water. The stuff under the hunt deck isn't degrading from the sun, and it's freeing up floor space that isn't cluttered with junk. Having that extra 20" of open boat vs hunt deck doesn't use any space that I could stand in because of fuel and juice or put another person, but it does keep me from stepping on that stuff and make it nice to get in and out of the boat, or work on my engine, etc. I also find that having 15.5 ft of open boat (after the huntdeck) is more than plenty to hunt 4, ride 5, and carry more gear than we need. Maybe if it was shut off, but that's not the case with my boat.

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Tue Aug 29, 2017 11:56 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Thanks for you feedback and opinions for and against.


Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:03 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I used to say it was only a waste of space until I actually owned a hunt deck. It's a nice dry storage place for your battery and it covers your bilge pump from getting stepped on. You can put a sound system under it. It doesn't really take up any useable boat space. It's a great place to urinate off of. My kids like to jump off of it in the water and get back in the boat. I use it for sight fishing in shallow water. It is really nice when in reverse because it helps prevent back splash.

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Tue Aug 29, 2017 9:13 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I have 2 batteries and 2 bilge pumps under my hunt deck as well.

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Wed Aug 30, 2017 11:19 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Don't know how it could be a waste of space in your boat when it is behind the original transom. I have a 17'x54" that measures out to be 18'8". My motor is 20" behind the original transom so I actually have more room in my because I dont have to move up in boat to drive. My wife and daughter love it to pee. They pee and grab a 1 gal bucket and wash it and boots off and good to go again. Needless to say but we love ours.

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Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:44 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance


Wed Aug 30, 2017 8:13 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Exactly. Boat length is the length of the bottom of the hull for flotation and planing surface. Inside space is a result of the hull size minus whatever interior mods(seats, etc). You don't have a 17x54. You have a 18.5x54 and you paid for it. Only difference is that extra 20" you bought isn't usable floor space unless you consider a fancy pee deck for your wife and daughter "usable."

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Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:27 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I have a 17x48 and that includes the hunt deck. For all the reasons listed, it's usable space. I paid for a cover for my fuel tank, bilge pump, and battery. An extra compartment for junk. A mud shield. And yes, a fancy pee deck. Not real sure why that's such an offensive concept to you that it's actually usable beyond just being a step. The things that go in that space would be in the floor of the boat regardless. This way just means my clumsy family or friends aren't able to kick and step on those items that provide fuel, electricity, and empty the boat of unwanted water, and can put wet life jackets there for the trip home instead of inside the front hatch or gun box. That keeps those areas dry. The ability to hunt 5 or 6 people in my boat isn't a requirement I seek, so having more floor space than what I have now doesn't help. Having a longer boat would only help performance with heavier loads, not give me more space I need to fill with my current use. So, what usable space do I lose by having a hunt deck? Seems to me like it just transitions all those things that are out of the way right now to being in the way when I need to work on the engine, climb out the back of the boat, etc. They aren't for everyone, and that's fine, but to blanket say they're a waste of money and space suggests you just haven't gotten creative enough with one yet to realize the potential.

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Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:41 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Does anyone find it sort of an extra reach if your motor is turned all the way right or left and you have to reach that extra length of the hunt deck ? Where as if I didn't have the hunt deck I could be standing literally right next to the motor with the handle easily in reach if the motor was turned as far as possible?

I don't have a huntdeck but when looking at pics of people reversing with hunt decks it looks like an uncomfortable position to be in when reversing all the way sideways


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Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:30 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Maybe a bit. It's not terrible, but when you are grinding in reverse you do have to reach.


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Tue Sep 05, 2017 5:25 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Dont notice it being uncomfortable when reversing.

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Tue Sep 05, 2017 7:02 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I never minded driving a hunt deck with a GTR. I had a sport deck with a short transom motor and liked it also. Other than reversing because water would come over the transom.

I would think a tall transom with a sport deck would be perfect. Still have the ability to get in the boat without that much wasted space.


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Tue Sep 05, 2017 7:29 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance

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Thu Sep 07, 2017 5:55 pm
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Thu Sep 07, 2017 6:01 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Hunt deck with a center console no reaching. Except mine with that ghetto freaking hand lever hydraulic reverse bull crap. Have to get an extra person, reach way back with engine reved a little to use my short leg and fat toes to operate reverse. :shock:

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Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:25 am
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Sat Sep 09, 2017 3:58 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I tuck the life jackets and mojos down there. Everything I don’t want to ask a guest to dig out of another compartment while hunting essentially


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Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:50 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
That I don't have a hunt deck on my boat has kept me from hunting alone on very cold days where if I were to fall overboard I probably could not get myself back in the boat. My next boat will have a hunt deck.


Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:37 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I love the hunt deck on my boat. It is a lot easier getting into and slowly out of the boat. My dog launches off it when he makes a retrieve. I bring him up on it and let him shake off before he gets in the boat. Makes for a lot less water in the boat. Also is great to pee off of. Space is used up by battery, storage box, and bilge. Stuff that would be in my way.


Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:15 pm
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Sat Jan 27, 2018 1:31 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I do not have a hunt deck nor does my motor have reverse. I am a believer in having flotation. The main reason that I would like a hunt deck would be to fill it with foam and keep from having the flotation pods in the cabin area. With that though, the battery and bilge would still be at my feet. Does anyone have a hunt deck filled with foam (I know Gatortrax can do this)? How do you like it?


Sun Jan 28, 2018 12:32 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Its a good place to urinate off of, just don't fall off in deep water!

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Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:35 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
:lol:


Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:46 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
My hunt deck allows me to perform at optimal performance, especially after eating a breakfast burrito, having a thermos full of coffee, and a dip. Very convenient for those deep water hunts...never worry about having to find dry land. Squat over the back and remember to pull your wader straps in front of you!

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Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:53 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
Guys who put stuff in their hunt decks. How do you access the huntdeck do you just have it open on the inside


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Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:49 pm
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
I keep my gas tank on mine. Keeps it out of the boat in case of a leak. It also gives me a spot to lay my tools when I work on the motor. Which as it turns out is about every 10 hours by my recent calculation....lol


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Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:41 am
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Post Re: Hunt Deck Effect on Performance
It doesn’t effect performance. It does help with back flow when reversing. It helps keep your battery dry, great piss deck, dog spot, spot to push pole from when sight fishing and it really doesn’t take up much if any useable Boat space. I had my drivers seat built to go under hunt deck so I have a huge back storage area that can also work as a live well. I have one of my batteries under it, my wiring, bilge pump and wet sound bar. It is very useful for me.

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