Looking at getting an alweld. Having trouble deciding on a 1642 or a 1644. The area I hunt has a 25hp or less motor restriction so I'm putting a 23hp LT or SD on the back of it. Is there really any noticeable difference in the 2" of width?

What kind of terrain are you going to run? What's your typical load? Are you leaning long tail or surface drive?

Running the marshes and waterfowl management areas of SE GA.....not really running mud but shallow water and places where my outboard won't take me. Leaning towards a Copperhead, but a 23hp Backwater is more my budget. Heaviest load I'll run is 2 guys, a cooler, 2dz decoys, and the rest of our duck hunting gear.

If it'll usually be you, another guy, and gear...I'd run a 1644. If it was going to be you and gear, I'd be happy with a 1642. I'll think you'll have an easier time finding a 1644. My 2 cents.

So you think either of those motors would be enough to push a 1644 with the load? I'm not so much worried about the SD doing it but rather the LT. I kinda like the idea of speed but like the rugged simplicity of a LT (fewer moving parts = less that can go wrong).

I am 100% sure that 23 SWOMP Lite would a 1644 on pad with 2 guys and gear. Follow Backwater on Facebook. They have a tour going on right now. They're are traveling across the country with a 1644 Alweld and a 23 SWOMP Lite. They are meeting up with customers and those who are interested in Backwater motors. Depending on what part of the country you're in they'll be in your area soon if you haven't missed them. I believe they're still in Texas right now.

I had a Backwater SWOMP with a 23HP Predator on a 14x42 Alweld. The hull was light, but I had a HEAVY 2 man hunt load in it. With the load is would run 17-19. Empty 22-24. This was with a 9x7 prop.

The predator was a really impressive motor. It would have undoubtedly ran better on a slightly longer boat.