First post cool site. Looking at upgrading from 17' Jon with outboard to a 20' to 24' 72" wide phowler with. 36 hp prodrive. Just gonna do alot of bowfishing and some duck hunting. Wondering if anyone has this size setup and how it performs. Want to stick with single prodrive with mod kit to save some money but wanna be happy not looking to break any speed records obviously. Just want a solid stable platform and reliable motor. Thanks

Question, would you put a 25 outboard on that boat?

Sorry 36 HP with probably a mod kit unless stock would move it

Duals, or smaller boat.

Thanks for the ideas. I really want at least a 2072 cuz I'm tired of being cramped and want a stable boat wanna shoot 4-5 guys and not lean when a couple guys are all on one side of the boat. I was afraid 24' would need duals. keep the ideas and thought coming. I have no experience with these setups and don't wanna be disappointed.

big outboard and a fan

What kind of areas are you running? Do u really need a mm? As said above an outboard an fan may suite your needs better

I have a 75 hp hanging on a nother boat right now that I may put on the boat until I can swing dual mud motors if that's what I have to have

Back waters on the rivers around me. No I don't need a mud motor but there are some places it would be nice get to some new areas that I can only see from wading

I hear ya just asking cause alot of folks think they need a mm but really could do with an outboard

I upgraded from a Lowe 1848 with a 35 Merc. outboard to a 2066 Phowler with a single L1 Mod 36 PD. It doesn't break any speed records, but I am very pleased with it.

When/if I do it all over again I will go for twins, not for the sake of speed, but for reliability. In my first season I learned that a mud motor will take you places that no one can get you out of. If you break down in the muck, in a big boat, you better have a tent and food, because only a flood tide can get you out! I also learned that, in spite of the flaming I'm about to get, modified motors are temperamental and prone to failure. With these two things in mind, I believe a second motor is the only way to go on a big boat.

By the way, I've been very pleased with my Phowler/ProDrive combination in general. The attention before the sale and service after the sale have been excellent from both.

X2 petrel that's was disscussed the other day 2 motors are gonna work less hard then 1 modded motor and last longer from the less abuse..the initial cost maybe more but in the end you'll proly come out ahead with duals pushing such a large load all the time

Petrel I hear ya about twins over single and less wear and tear. Its just alot to swallow money wise, but it would suck to have to a have engine issues when in a back water. " I don't know anybody around here with a mud motor/boat to help get out" glad to hear from more people that they are happy phowler. I'm 99%in sure that will be my next boat I want this to be the last boat. One more reason I want a mud motor is when duck goose hunting here we run into the motor quits "peeing" because its frozen sometimes the old piece of wire works and sometimes you just gotta go and hope she thaws. schmitt ill have to check into fan cost, because ill need a new troller as well mine won't be near big enough and the fan would be slick

Count them


Here you go everything you just explained you wanted!!

Delta I like ALOT your just trying to get me going, IT WORKED FOR SURE. Nice setup how does that run both empty and loaded, and how stable is it.

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Gdevil that boat looks massive what size is it?

1772 3/16 bottom 1/8 every where else , 1/4 poly , gil bracket ,125 optimax , 35hp fan with a 1.69 redution.

Also goes from bowfishing boat to rod & real boat in less than 5 minutes

mine to all i do is pick up a rod. lol

We fish in really shallow water that is infested with stumps I clime over the all night long

long as they aint completely out of the water i do to plus i drive from the front deck and shot at the same time. only thing i don't do in this boat is duck hunt to shinny lol i aint competing with u ddm just showing him options this is just the way i do it.

Right now I have a 1748 mod v procraft boat with the 75 outboard. A few years ago I really started bowfishing, so I gutted the boat and replaced the wet wood and removed the water soaked flotation foam and carpet. Removed alot of weight because the boat sat so low in the water. Well must just be the nature of the boat (aluminum bass boat) because with two guys on the rethe boat is almost under water still. I built a raised platform for the front and moved my batteries trying to get it riding more level with no luck. It is just heavy in the rear and not very stable. It is to the point that I can only shoot one guy with me with gear, and I like to shoot Asian carp silvers jumping behind the boat and while the boatis.living and me on the deck 195# the boat is about and inch above the water.

Sorry I'm working off my phone and having a hard time posting. Basically I want to go big I want wide for stability and deep sides so I don't have to worry about turning my boat into fish structure. I figure get the mud boat now maybe mud motor later at least that way ill have the boat allready. I liked the idea of lifetime warranty of the phowler and as far as price for what your getting they aren't that much more than a tracker grizzly of the same size. Not knocking grizzly but build comparison its apples and oranges. Like I said I just don't wanna regret my purchase so I wanna do as much research as possible to and hear everyone's .02

Trying to post a picture of my current boat before I remounted the lights. It sits good empty and not moving just gets ugly with a couple people and little gear then throw it in gear and she's a low rider, scary. Hope the pic worked.

go to bowfishing country and look at the boats before u by a mm rig,

Yeah I live on bowfishing country I had a couple people pm me and was told to check this sight out for some advice

Yea I agree the genny can b a pain , but I like the 400watt hps lights . I waiting for the led tech to get better before I swap to them . Thinking about putting a alternator own the fan to keep he batts charged when I switch to them . How u got yours hooked up?