Newbie is an understatement here. I am starting to research a boat that will take care of waterfowl hunting in the bay and sloughs here in Humboldt, Calif., as well as fishing in the inland lakes. Speed is not an issue for me. I have looked at GT, Pro Drive, Excel, G3, Lowe and maybe others I can't remember. I was thinking something like a 1652 for starters with a front hunt platform, smooth floor with no ribs exposed. We don't have any dealers close by except a G3. Any help you folks can give on things to consider, design of the boat/hull (benefits), etc. would be appreciated.

As far as motors, there is outboard vs. mud. Again, no mud dealers around here. I have looked at mud buddy, Gator Tail, Pro Drive, BackH2O, Go Devil. Again, I would want something reliable but not sure about which ones are good,better, best, surface drive vs. long tail and why you would want one vs. the other etc etc. I hear reverse is good..LOL

I turn to the experts here for advice. Thanks in advance.

Don't even consider a 16 foot hull on a 35 SD - or it will be for sale next year...

It takes an 18 foot or more to balance that heavy MM out...

18x48 is about the best starting point for all use an 18x60 is about
as big as you want to go on width....

A 23 LT will do amazing things - but a long ride through twisting bayous
is a workout when compared with an easy stroll in a SD at 5 mph faster....

Personally - I'd rule out everything that is not R & D'ed as a "matched set"
like a Phowler with a PD --- or a pure GD hull and GDSD --- or a pure PD
hull and PD --- or a Gator Trax and MB or Excel and MB....

Not every good MM works well on every good hull ! ! !

Personally - I rule out any hull that does not have USCG approved floatation ! ! !



USCG - U S Coast Guard
PD - Pro Drive
GD - Go Devil
GDSD - Go Devil Surface Drive
MB - Mud Buddy
GT - Gator Tail (sometimes Gator Trax)
GTR - Gator Tail Reverse (model)
LT - Long Tail
SD - Surface Drive

Learn from my mistake. I did not by a matched hall and I'm on this site asking for advice on how to fix up what I have. Matched boats or custom made boats to fit are the only way to go.

Thank you for the input so far. Being a newbie...I figured out LT and SD but the other ones I am not sure about, PD, GD, GDSD, PD, MB etc. Sorry

open water on the lakes and local lagoons, bay has shallow water and mud (deep sticky type), if you misread the tide tables you are screwed here. No weeds to speak of. I would like to venture up to Tule lake and all I know is the water is shallow there, not sure about weeds, etc. but by the name of the lake I would assume there are tule's...

Op
I wouldn't listen to half of what gigadouche tells u. U want to research? Research who u take advice from

Giga, what's a pure hull?

I can tell this thread has potential to get heated...not my intent. But its just like other forums I am on for motorcycles or trap shooting...lol In the end, take advice from many and apply to your particular situation. I am in a learning phase here. I want to learn about the different types and brands of boats, pros and cons. The same goes for motors and applications such as LT or SD.

One poster was correct, I don't have MM dealers here. So keeping one stock and serviced is my goal. From my experience with other things, the more you mod something, the time you spend tinkering rather than doing what you enjoy.

I may have access to a 1648 Lowe Roughneck. Not a true flat bottom but it may work for my situation with the right motor. The current owner has a Mud Buddy 35 SD on it but he wants to keep the motor for a new Excel F4.

Knowing some of you suggest keeping things pure, would there be a motor that would work well on this boat? Is this even a good boat to start with?

No, ur just gonna replace it

Thanks...sounds like SD will fit my current situation the best. Now, manufacturer.... I am leaning so far to Pro Drive or Gator Tail.

Can't go wrong either company

this is what you need

Such a flurry of activity last night and nothing new this morning...

Go with the gator tail package #3. All the work is done for you.

I went with a custom builder and got great results. Boat is a beast and with a stock 35 Gator tail motor it runs 30 mph.

Don't worry about distance. I had my boat/motor shipped for $ 700 a distance of 900 miles.

Shipped it with usapilot29@yahoo.com

Best of luck !

I am in Texas and the closest Gator Tail dealer to you.
We can build you a custom boat package with a Gator Tail motor or order you a Gator-Tail Rig however you want to help save some miles. I don't have a reason to come that far west right now but how far are you from Napa Valley? I will be taking vacation for 1-2 weeks in Mid August and at the rate we are going could have you a boat built by then and maybe work out some kind of deal for shipping or meeting up halfway or something.

Willett....I am only 5 hours north of Napa valley