I should be getting a new boat this fall prior to season if everything stays as is now. I am not trying to turn this into pissing contest between brands.

I have one more SD i want to test but Of the motors Ive fooled with locally' none have been on the boats Im considering using so I don't have an idea of true performance. So far i am leaning towards a bigger LT and getting a true mud hull. Most of the rigs in our area , no matter the motor type, are round chines ...i don't know if its a popularity thing or if it is whats really "best", but they work great especially in the timber.

Boat wise I am thinking an 1844/48 (depending on motor). with an open floor

Load will be me 65-70% of time + dog, 1 dozen decoys so weight will be an issue when I am by myself in cases of malfunctions/ getting stuck but crap happens. ..
other times will range from one other person to 3 more and 2 dozen birds.

habitat 49% of hunts open areas lots of lilliepads and gumbo mud (my LT sucks here but I realize I am in an overweighted boat with an underpowered motor..it gets me by most of the time)..will performance get better with the bigger LT and round mudhull?
49% of other hunts tight timber trails fallen logs/beaver dams/stump fields with a pretty firm bottom (love the LT here esp when moving slow in the early am)
Remainder deep water divers

moderate distance with both

Any input?

With that big a boat and having three people in the boat sometimes, id go with a surface drive. Yes you might loose some performance in the shallow hard bottoms, but you sure will enjoy it in the tight timber and long runs.

Duckboy, the pictures I sent you are of my 16' x 36"Carolina Skiff "LilJon" with a 23 GDLT. Does around 20 - 21 MPH with Me (260Lb) 4 to 5 dozen decoys, the springer spaniel & 6 gallons gas. I have EATEN UP the Pearl River area with it since 97' and NEVER been stuck! A LONGER boat and a 23 motor will perform a BUNCH better then what you have now. A surface drive will be a lot faster than a LT and easier to drive if you have long runs to get to your area, thats the way to go. When I talked to Warren Coco at the Sportsman's Show in the Dome a few years back and told him where I hunted, he passed up a chance to sell me a new motor and said to keep the LT in the Pearl River area. If you'r digging a lot of mud in Bayou Caddy, stay with a 23 LT and AT LEAST a 16 foot boat. Mine is so narrow caus' it's easer to hide! (Cheeper too )

When the tide goes out in them Bayou Caddy ponds, the 23LT WILL dig you out! Build yourself a "Fast Grass" blind on it with some PVC pipe, and ya won't even have to put your boots on

(Why 4 to 5 dozen decoys??? CAUSE I LIKE TO SHOOT DUCKS!!!!) If you DON'T like to shoot ducks, a dozen is plenty )

Big spreads are a must in some ponds depending on what ya targeting for sure, small spreads like the ones i throw out alot attrack alot more mallards and black ducks from what i have seen? And bayou caddy does get really really shallow fast but the hp and larger surface area of the props can really help you dig out in some spots.

My hunting buddy ALSO carries 4 to 5 dozen deeks and we set them ALL out in the same blind. Two groups, with a clear landing area in the middle.
We started using big spreads in the Pearl River Management area. Public areas like that will usually have hunters 16 inches on center (And Game Wardens 24 inches on center)

With a lot of people in the area, 100 decoys will pull birds away from the guys with 12 or less. Especally the ones who wear yellow raincoats and stand up in the marsh all day! No $hit! I've seen them do it!

I'd go with a Pro Drive 36 w/ power reverse or a Gator Tail GTR 35. I like the instant reverse on the GTR for picking up decoys. As far as the boat, the round chine will corner better thru timber. If the areas your hunting are not to tight, I would go with a little wider boat to handle a heavier load.

A round chine doesnt track very well at idle, if your not runnin 30 mph in the trees then go square.

Id actually rather have a boat with some slide in it.

I have seen worse in the pearl management area two dudes standing on buckets yelling to each other while blowing on what sounded like a predator game call.