If trying to run a surface drive boat in a river with no water, stumps, rock, and logs be prepared to get new hull and motor(s).

It has been 5 years since I have had to repair this hull......guess its not a tank unless you have 1/4" sides as well. Who wants to build me a 1/4" boat?


Ah never mind 1/8 bottom/sides "built right" will last forever......lol....who remembers them long threads.......PS for you that don't know that's a dig at 100% of the people who said a few of us were just hard on our stuff and 1/8 is all anyone needs. You know present day almost everyone runs 3/16 or bigger...your welcome.

Carry on.

You must be running some tough terrain if its tearing your tank up. Thats crazy to even think about having to run an all 1/4" boat Glad I dont have worry bout that down here.

I have built myself 3 boats and it has taken me that many to figure out that I need 3/16 bottom and plenty of bracing.

I would much rather go slower and have a well built boat that will last than have a fast tin can boat the will be ruined in 50 hrs or so.


Sent from my beeper

No shit

Fast tin can boat $1600. How many can I buy for cost of Slow heavy 3/16 boat? Easier to cut up tin can boat for scrap Aluminum, bringing down cost of tin can boat even more. You can have two or three hulls in back yard as spares when tin can hull starts leaking and can't be fixed anymore. Been there done that. Nice to have Aluminum welder avalible also. IMO

It's not just fast vs slow...

Put a mud motor that will take you damn near anywhere on the back of a .125 or in some cases .100 or less hull and go run it in some of our East Tx minefields.... There's a point that it's not safe. Not saying you're going to rip your floor apart every trip but all it takes is one good shot to a healthy cypress knee to find yourself swimming. My next boat will be 3/16 for sure. One good season and a few fishing trips on my .100 Weldbilt and it's already showing all the signs... And that's with a 20mph Longtail. Add 50% to that speed and you're doing serious damage.

There was a fellow around here running a SD in Lake Seminole, they hit a stump head just under the water and ripped the bottom about 2 feet until the stump caught the transom and just about through them out of the boat. I think it was a light gauge alweld or weld built, something like that, riveted junk.

Must be nice.

Heavier boats ride like Cadillacs too compared to tin cans. I'll happily mod a motor to have the best of both worlds.

I'll get some pictures up soon so you can all see the new curves she has after yesterdays bowfishing on the Sabine in less than ideal water levels. Did load down the boat with some nice Buffs though.

Sabine at its low level can test the best. My buddy will not even look where I'm going cause you never know what you will hit next. Last time down there I was juggling my carburetor while it was pouring gas on my exhaust.

Yea that's scary, happened to me 2-3 times .

DeKalb????

You know where Hatchel Lake is Or the Martins? I have been leasing from them since 2007. You know anyone around that area with hog dogs? need to make the farmer happy and get some pigs off before the beans get high.