Looking to upgrade boats this spring from a 1754 to something like an 1860 or 2060... is a 2060 Go Devil boat gonna be too big for a 37efi? I only use the boat for bowfishing shallow areas so top speed isn't a concern, mostly load carrying, but I would like to go a little faster than the 15mph I'm running with a full load in my boat right now (3 people and about 500lbs of generator, HPS lights, deck, troller, etc). Obviously an outboard is the logical choice but those aren't fun.

Lots of people are getting good speeds out of an 18x60 with the 37EFI motors.
I don't see why you wouldn't get good performance out of it.

My setup does pretty well. Totes basically whatever I can fit in the hull. I have carried an older 250 Honda 4 wheeler, climbing stand, clothes for a couple days, cooler, rifle and shotgun cases, 2doz decoys and still stepped the load in deep water and got where I was going. It wasn't fast but carried it well.

I've been in a 2060 phowler with a GTR. It did fine stock and did even better after the heads and carb were done. The thing couId haul a pregnant elephant around. I wouldn't be worried a bit unless your trying to have some kinda speed boat.

I've got a 2060 Phowler and love it. I don't know as I would go any bigger but it hauls a load very well.

I run an ancient 24 X 60 Monark with a 37 EFI. I average 20 mph with a 1000 lb load. The 20 X 60 GoDevil boat is hard to beat for carrying a load. If you have a need for speed get a smaller boat and go light.

Are you running a 3 blade?

what props do you guys run on these big rigs? BB?

Stock GT prop or a BB. The GT prop is a little faster in my experience.

Factory GD 3 blade for me.

No, but I should have taken some boat is "rated for" almost 1200lbs load and I figure I was close to 1000 that day. The little 250 is light in comparison to other 4 wheelers these days (it's an 86 model). I had a few sticks of firewood and a gas can stuck in there too. It was a load and didn't like to go against the current but it made it. My motor is bone stock, not modded in any way. To get it on plane in deep water headed into the river current I had to trim the motor up just enough to aereate the prop and gain some engine RPM but once the boat got on top of the water we were in business. Adjusted the trim for the load and headed out. I never checked speeds since I was busy watching what I was doing but it felt like around 20mph, turning around 3800 engine RPM. At no point did it ever feel sketchy or overloaded at all. Just needed to be careful about maneuvers and be mindful of the boat having short sides.

I'm thinking 2060 for my next boat which will be retirement present to me in 2 years.

I'm glad some others went that route and didn't regret it.

In my area a lot of guys run 60" bottom plate boats with outboards. Think big river setting not timber etc. The difference between the 18 and the 20 is the ride, the 20 is much better when it's rough.