I'm looking at buying either a:

Gator-tail 1860 extreme hull with drop deck and custom 24" sides. Wide open floor plan.(1860 boat is only 17' L and the drop deck is what makes it 18', is what I have been told)

OR

Gator Trax 1862 Big Water edition with 24" sides, in .125 thickness, 1 small seat in the back corner, hunt deck(18' L boat + the hunt deck = 19' L something)

I'm mainly wanting this size of hull for bow fishing in WI. But I'll also use the rig for fishing and hunting as well. There aren't to many mud flats that I come across.

Which is the better boat?

Does anyone have a rig like this or have seen both of these in action? If so, what size mm and how fast?

Search feature. There was a topic between the two not even a month ago.

I read that and I was hoping to find ppl with 1860 GTB extreme hulls and ppl with 1862 Gator trax Big water rigs

That Gaotr-trax boat will be huge, and hard to push with a single unmodified motor when you have a load in the boat. I would go 1860 Gatortail w/ 35GTR

If I go with:
Gator Trax boat, I was hoping to start out with one 45 mag

or

GTB- I was thinking 35 GT with stage 1 mods

I'd get an outboard to put on it for bowfishing. Then get you a used MM for chasing ducks.

GTrax closest size to 1860 will prob be the 1754 w/ Huntdeck

I sold my other rig- 1652 crestliner mod v, 35hp mb. I want to go bigger, a mud hull and mm combo, a stable boat, and go faster under a load.

thinkn of going with 1862 Gator trax w/hunt deck, 24" sides, .125 thick, 5500 mag mb. What do u think?

I hear ya, that's y I'm going bigger! 2 carry the load better, go faster with load, b more stable

Just remember to compare apples to apples. The Gator Trax hunt decks add 20" to the overall length, so my 1754 is actually 18'8" (almost 19')

Also, Gator Trax measures their width where the rounded chines start, so my 54" is actually more like a 60" or so.

Your 1862 Gator Trax, with hunt deck would be almost 20' and probably ~68" I'm not saying that's bad, but just remember that when comparing to other manufacturers (call Kent Saxon at Gator Trax for exact specifics and recommendations--he's awesome to work with!)

I know and I did

Thats a huge boat for a single motor.

Chalk one more post up for the FUCKED UP REVIEWS FORUM!!!!!!

Someone make me a mod for a day and I'll clean that shit. Retards just don't understand there is a boats and blinds forum for asking these questions.

I honestly tried to look through the reviews section the other day to finalize some ideas I had for my new boat, and to look at others and compare, and it was impossible.

I understand that the GTB 1860 w/drop deck is 18' long total and 60" wide total - The 1862 GT w/hunt deck hull is 19' 6" L and the 62" wide part is only the flat part of the floor, not adding in the rounded chime.

I did call Kent yesterday and we talked. He said for as much bowfishing that I do I should go with the 1862 w/24" sides, hunt deck, and the 5500 mag will push it good.

Kent doesn't like Gator Tail, but he builds Gator Trax, so I would think he has favoritism. That's why I asked the ? at the top of this post. He said that Gator Traxs hunt deck top stays above the water even with 2 mm on it and Gator Tails drop deck spends most of its life under water. A rounded chimed hull won't slide out in 10" of water or less when turning. He also said that mb warranties their factory modified mm.

I want the best 1 boat for a combo of bowfishing, hunting, and fishing.

Calen warranties his modified GTR's as well. He is wrong about Gator-Tails huntdecks, and is just spewing bullshit to you so he can make a sale.

I was told that Gator Trax puts Flotation in their drop deck, floor, and front deck. Gator Tail doesn't have any

I was told by a guy that has an 1862 GT w/24" sides, hunt deck, and 7000 mb he's running: SPEEDS
1 in the boat 28-30 MPH
Loaded with a dog, 80 decoys, three men 250 lb man, 260lb man and a 185lb man all our gear 24-25MPH.
Dog and four men decoys and gear about 22-23 MPH

Foam in the hunt deck does not make it float any higher.

I understand that

Floatation foam is nice to have in a boat when u r hauling a load while running in waves. 2 guys just died while bowfishing this past wkend.

Gator-Tail will build a boat with flotation, all you have to do is ask, but it sounds like you already have your mind made up.

idk. I want the best 1 mud hull/mm combo of bowfishing, hunting, and fishing.

I like 24" sides min. and I know gator tail can build 1 for me as well

If you want the best boat get a go devil with reverse

I have a gator trax dealer 15 miles away and a gator tail dealer 20 minutes away, but neither 1 of them stock the boats I'm looking for. I wish I could take a ride in or at least look @ in person both boats!

Coloma, WI = central WI

If you want to take a ride in a 1860 extreme and are willing to travel a couple hours let me know. I have one with stage 2, and another one that will be here by memorial day that is starting out with just carb and exhaust.. if you have any questions regarding performance just pm me, my stage 2 was just carb and exhaust last year... so i can give numbers with loads etc.

thanks WIpool7, will do

I spent over 3 hrs yesterday reading posts. OMG. I watch a video on gator tail and OwenDickeson, u r right the gator tail drop deck does stay above water all the time(unlike what kent said). Most of the gator trax 1862 or bigger run 2 mm. Now I'm leaning more toward the gator tail, plus that is the rig that I have wanted for yrs.

What do u guys think of custom 24" sides on a gator tail extreme hull??

Can't wait to hear what WIpool7 has to say, finally found some1 in WI that has a boat like the 1 I'm looking at getting

24" inch sides are tall. I have them on my dual but we put 6 people on the front deck also. I don't think it will hurt performance much and you will have more than enough side height. I know they have been making the last few boats with the sides at a trough 21" and they are very tall sides and would work in any condition

so what r u saying deltaduckmaster, stock sides or custom 24"? I'm going to have 3 ppl total in the boat for WIBFA sanctioned tournaments with gear and fish

I just ordered a new Gator Tail Extreme rig

Thanks guys, I went with the stock sides

Congrats on the new rig John, I know you'll be happy with it! The only thing better then 1 gatortail rig is 2:) Hopefully they'll get here earlier then expected.. we'll have to get together and go riding once they're come in!