I am writing you today in hopes you can guide me in the right direction. I am currently deployed, and yes it even gets cold over here... I am in the process of getting my ass back home and this will be the last deployment for me after 21 years in...
I am looking at getting a 17x50 gator trax boat. My question is do I really need the 4400 HDR or will a smaller mud motor do just fine? Intel on me and my hunts
Usually hunt 3 guys but we have a lot of gear
Usually hunt diver ducks and travel some open water 50%
Hunt very high vegetation areas and some shallow water 50%
Speed is not on the top of my priority list,,, much rather have torque...
Also would use this boat for flats fishing for reds and frog gigging so I want a trolling motor mount
Don't know if the "Slanted Rear Seats" option is good or not,, do not have ANY experience on gator trax boats or any flats boats for that matter...

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated ....

Florida?

I would get a boat with an overall length of at least 18 feet with a Delta Performance motor.

I don't think you will be happy loaded down with 3 guys and gear running a stock motor. I know I wasn't.

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I have a Gator Trax 1754 with hunt deck (NOTE: Gator Trax doesn't include the 20" hunt deck in their measurements and also measure the bottom where the chine starts to curve--so my boat is 18'8" x ~58 ). I have a pure stock GTR 35. I mean pure stock air filter an all. I hunt 3 guys all the time and never have a problem getting on plane and have speeds of around 25mph. For me, that's plenty fast when it's pitch black at 4:30 AM, foggy, 20 something degrees, tears streaming down my face from the cold, holding a spotlight and a GPS with one hand and the tiller in the other going out to duck hunt. I don't need to add thousands in mods to get that to 29mph. That said, I also go through zero mud like you see the guys in LA. for me it's all shallow, weedy areas (some wood) and ice along with open water. I also only use my boat for duck hunting (and want to get there and back with as little drama as possible) and have a different fishing boat. I don't jump beaver dams or try to see if I can get a running start to cross 20 yards of dry land. I don't film myself and post to youtube either.

Lots of guys on here mod their boats for the same reason they buy $500 coolers, $1000 stereo and light systems, super lifted trucks and extra loud exhausts--because they think it's cool. Nothing wrong with that if it makes them happy--these are after all their entertainment dollars (or should be), but it can cause some confusion what is necessary for decent performance and what isn't.

My advice would be to get a stock motor, learn where the weight likes to be (in my boat the gas tank and battery are at the BACK and the guys ride midship with all my decoys up front) and then add mods if you want/need them later unless you have a reason to do so upfront (like you want to finance the entire thing and not have out-of-pocket expenses later).

Thank you so much for your service!

Sure we aren't related... you sound exactly like myself.... Thanks for your advice and I too feel the same as you on everything you said... Thanks....

Thanks MNGunner,,,,,
Looks like I'm going to get the 17x50 w/hunt deck and gun/rod stowage on portside... with the hunt platform on the stern where he drive is (for what ever reason I'm getting it,,, it comes off as well).
the Mud Buddy 4500 Black Death (Stock) well stock as it comes... thanks for your advice... will be putting it on order after the holidays... Have a Merry Christmas...

Rgr.... will do.... thanks again...