Thinking about buying a new Lowe or Alumacraft 1648. Can't decide between mod-v and regular jon. I run the Mississippi and it's backwaters. How much performance do you lose in a mod-v? Do those of you who run them have any problems with them? I will be strapping a 27hp Pro Drive on it. Thanks for any help.

Do yourself a favor and get a mud boat.

A flat bottom, all welded hull in .125, 5086 alum.

I would love to if it weren't for the price. Just can't afford one now.

I have a friend who runs a 17' Polar alum hull. Semi-v side console steering
,decked with a 27 Kohler. It's not a race winner, he runs about 22 ish, but he gets around good. Can't run quite as shallow, but only by a few inches. It does real good in the lily pads. I'd rather be in his boat though if we were running the Miss. river.

I ran a 32 pd on 1648 alumnicaft for close to a year. Boat ran good but couldnt hold up to the abuse. all the welds at the transom broke and half the rivits worked there way out. If you gunna run a rivited jon, BRACE the sh-t out of the back or it will brake. Best bet is to get a mud boat or all weld jon, mud boat prefferable. Talk to PW at Illowa Prodive or Mike Pettit, he works for paul. They will set you up nice.

Has anyone ran a PD on an Express 1650 mod-v? Not the duck boat edition, just the regular jon. The dealer told me they have a lifetime warranty. I want to search the old site, but I can't find it. Would it be better on a 17 footer?

Hawkeye...

I believe LaBirdman does... or a similar model...

However - he was unhappy with three man performance so he sold me his 27 GDSD.... I think he is about to strap on the 35 GDSD.... Both he and his son are some pretty big cajuns though....

So if your running a 27 you may want to PM him for input...

BTW - the 27 does just fine on a 17x42 Weldbilt - slick bottom, square chine, rolled rear 15" transom - with the 3 man load plus crap for tha day at play... Soon as tha damn tide comes in today - gonna take her out to demo some duck blinds....

Xpress boats suk with a MM. Have you looked for a used hull and compared prices between buying a new outboard hull and a used MM hull.

There has been some good deals lately.

If you use the MM for what it was intended to do, it will turn most non MM hulls into a pop can in 2-3 seasons if ran hard.

Mitch - thats sum strong talk - theres a lot of Express boats down here and some pretty satisfied owners....

Me myself and I - likes the slick bottomed type gal - waves me right arm over me head like a dang bull rider when I turns her sharp and hopes I don't hit da bank too hard or too often in dem crazy slider turns....

But if ya just gotta have ribs an a V - Express is a pretty tough boat...

There was a nice 20x44 GDSD boat - on this site...
What is yer budget ??? Maybe some extra MMT eye can help you find one ! ! !

pasted...

20' x 44" GoDevil heavy-duty aluminum boat (green) with pirogue racks, poling platform, plenty of dry storage and seat brackets, 9 gallon gas tank, extended front deck, Mud buddy fast grass blind, front spotlights, and trolling motor mount. Used for duck hunting - formerly paired with mud buddy surface drive motor. No dents or leaks. Also, comes with galvanized McLain trailer and spare. Just add motor -ready to hunt or fish. $3750. Located in Metairie - Thx for looking.

Also - here in Texas there are a lot of boats being sold as salvage - due to hurricane Ike - I could probly get you a decent hull with sum dents at a local salvage sale....

I gotta decent allweld last week - she is gettin her welds redone this weekend - ain't pretty but won't leak a drop when done... Only 500 invested so far including repair welding...

Was gonna use her at tha camp - but can always sell for a buck or two of profit....

Have you got a trailer ???

Just called my salvage buddy...

He's still got several boats you might like...

Yeah, I just picked up a trailer friday. Could you send me a PM with more info. I really appreciate the help.

OK - I'll take the camera an run by his yard - If you don't mind ugly cheep hulls - I can probly help out...

How old/beat up are they?

Condition varies - they all got a$$ raped by a class 3 hurricane...
I lost 4 boats to Ike - gave up fining them and started buying from salavage guys who found em all and got paid to haul em off - most have a 200 to 300 salvors fee to pay....

Some look like GoZilla tossed em - and - some look fine...

However the legit salvage guys supply a clean salvor's title and all needed paperwork to register....

Gigafowl, yes the Xpress hulls will work for a while, but after watching a local dealer push them with a MB mounted on the back and seeing the issues they have when loaded down, along with transom cracks and overall performance issues. One would be better off buying a used hull designed for a MM if they can afford to do so.

Now the HD duck series does have longitudinal bracing and if that is what he is looking at it is a better choice than the standard DB or Jon series.

by the time you buy a boat like that, you can get a used MudMotor hull. trust me... you will be a lot happier. you're just throwing your money away unless you're a boatlane runner.

Hawkey,
Get in touch with Muddoctor/ Paul W. at Illowa Prodive. He is in Clinton Iowa. He is the owner of Phowler Boats and a ProDrive boat and motor salesman. I know he has a 1648 pd with tall sides and transom at his shop and i believe it is used. If not I KNOW he can find you something in your price range and he is in your state!!!!

There is a southfork w/trailer for 2300.00 that GatorGuy has in classifieds.

Build the transom up. Im sure it wouldnt cost that much. Look what deltaduckmaster did to his boat.