Anyone run pods on there boat with a PD36 w/ reverse? If so what size are your pods do you have any issues with clearance?

Pods don't do well on surface drives just fyi

I can build them. I too have a PD X36 with FPR and I'm in the beginning stages of designing and building a set of pods for my boat. Im new to the site. As a matter of fact, this is my first post I came here to do a little more research before I build the prototypes. I understand that pods should be mounted flush with the bottom of the transom and slope upwards toward the rear about 3/4"-1" and that the pods do not contact the water while on plane. Well that's great for taking off in shallow water but does absolutely nothing for performance or top speed.
I have a 1548 mod V......yeah, oops! K.P. at Pro Drive told me my boat sits too low in the water. That motor was designed for a 17' flatbottom (my boat is slow to take off and only tops out at 25 mph)
Sorry if this is a hijack, maybe I shouldve started my own thread but my theory is, if I build the pods flush with bottom of the boat it will act as if my hull was longer. Not only would the pods add buoyancy to the transom while floating stationary, they would also create more surface area contact with the water while on plane allowing the boat to ride shallower. If it rides shollwer, it should run faster right? Some may look at it as "drag", I look at it as "lift". Am I thinking about this right?

To the origanal poster- if I get this figured out and tested, I'd be glad to build you a set

Nope. You build them flat and the boat will run too flat. It is not an extension of the boat because the motor is in the middle. A huntdeck would be an extension. With pods, you probably wont be able to use the reverse, and you'll lose some of your turning radius if you aren't careful.

Overall its a bad idea for a surface drive boat. You are better off selling the boat and getting one that was designed for your motor. The pods wont do what you think they will, you'll waste money that you will never get back, and you will likely decrease the value of the hull you have by adding them.

Why do I feel like I've typed this before?

Same old song an dance CB lol

Forgot to add, its a bandaid on a bullet wound.

If you PM cb he will give you way more details.

Finally! Someone explained their point. Thank you. Now, since pods wont work, what are your thoughts on using jack plates toto get the boat up on plane quicker? Will THEY do anything to help the top speed?
BTW, I'm not really trying to start an arguement or hijack a thread (too late) I'm just looking for advise from guys who knowknow more about this stuff than i do. Which is the whole reason i joined this forum.

I know it isn't what you want to hear, but sell it and get the right boat. It will likely save you money in the long run.

Oops

Believe me, I looked long and hard for the right boat. Nobody makes it. The only one that came close was the Sea Ark Cast & Blast. Even then I tried to get it in a 16' and they couldn't. If I spent all my time in the marsh it would be easy, but I dont. I find myself in big open water, rivers, flooded timber, marshes, you name it. Not only do I bust ice with it chasing ducks into January, I use it spring and summer for fishing or just taking the wife out for cruise to the sandbar. If I made $80K/yr I'd have a hunting boat, a fishing boat, a party boat, & what the heck, a sail boat. I could only afford one boat and the one I have is PRETTY close to perfect. I would even be happy with the top speed as long as it jumped out of the water a little quicker.

You looked long and hard and what you settled with was probably the worst possible choice to run a 36 pd on? A short, mod v?

Maybe "the right boat" isn't the correct way to put it. Sell it and get a hull "designed" to work well with your motor. I promise you a flat bottom, square chine, tall side, tall transom 1848 built for your motor will do everything you do in that 15 footer and then some.

Couldn't find one with ice rails or an aeriated livewell that was made with a .100" hull. Do you know of one? Besides flatbottoms don't handle waves well, or slice through ice as well as a V, they tend to ride up on it. Which, I've heard, is a good way to tear the hull.

I wouldn't even consider a .100 hull, and don't have any earthly idea why that's what you'd want for breaking ice. As for the rails and livewell, I know they could be added. Most of these boats are built to order. Did you look at phowler?

You can even get away with a slight v if you really think its necessary, but you gave up an awful lot of planing surface on a boat that already didn't have enough with yours.

Id bet money my 18 foot flat handles big water as good or better than a 15' modv. It gets on step when I hit the throttle, is faster, and it'll do better with a load also.

Nevermind,add pods and a jackplate. You def bought the right boat. Soon as you get it "fixed" it'll be perfect.

Caddobrook, on the money...still trying to figure out why I responded to another thread about pods...

I'm not arguing with anyone, my way is not better but I keep reading "buy a different boat" "get a boat designed for your motor". Ok, I'm listening. What i want to know is WHY. What is it about a mod V that doesnt lend itself well to surface drives? I guess I dont understand what's goin on under the boat as I'm throttling up. Obviously I know the hull is too short but would a longer mod V help? Or does it absolutely HAVE to be a flat bottom? Again, I'm not arguing, I'm just trying to understand.

longer mod v would help

Only thing I don't do is break ice with mine but if the time ever comes I will

Thanks guys, for the advice......and criticism. I'm not gonna screw with trying to refab my boat. I've been looking for a new one. Couldn't find one I really liked. I looked at Sea Ark, which by the way, they have a new boat that they didnt have when I got mine. Its the Mud Runner 170. Also looked at Phowler, Excel, Xpress, GatorTrax, but I think I'm going to have it custom built. I really like that boat in the link duckducKboom posted. Now I've got to figure out how I'm going tell my wife that "dream boat" I special ordered from the factory a year ago isn't good enough. Its not even CLOSE to being payed for. Which at the time i oordered it, I had a 35hp Johnson. It wasnt until the Johnson crapped out that i decided to refinance and go with the biggest baddest motor on the planet (arguably). No one told me I was out of my fricken mind putting that thing on a 15 footer. That is, until I called K.P. at Pro Drive told him it was slow to get on step. He said "You put that thing on WHAT!?" That's when he told me to weld trim tabs to the transom. Anyway, thanks again guys.

Oh, and to the original poster. I CAN build those pods if you still want 'em.

im guessing they wouldnt work on a mud buddy eather even though my lower unit doesnt spin around like all the cool kids do

Cast&Blast, you nailed in on the head when you said "if I build the pods flush with bottom of the boat it will act as if my hull was longer. Not only would the pods add buoyancy to the transom while floating stationary, they would also create more surface area contact with the water while on plane allowing the boat to ride shallower." Soooooooooooo get a longer boat. Just my humble opinion. Duckdon