After running my Lowe Mod-v 1648 w/ a GD 25 Longtail for the past 5 years, its time to upgrade into the actual mud boat world! Ive spent the past couple weeks doing quite a bit of research and heres what i have found.

1.) For what I do an 1860 will be best. I often have 3-4 total people and a dog when headed out hunting, and i have been known to "overpack" The load carrying capabilities are very appealing to me.

2.) My favorite place to bowfish is on big water (saginaw bay Mi) so i would like a boat big enough to handle some chop if it ever needs to, granted ill be staying in if it looks like the perfect storm out.

Right now speed and weight hinder me heavily while bow fishing. For example this past weekend we shot 170 fish and had to unload half way through the night. 6 miles back to the launch damn near cost us an hour at a whopping 7 mph and that was only with 90 fish in the boat.

So here are my thoughts- I am currently leaning towards a brand new Go-devil 1860 with the 37 hp EFI engine. Keep in mind i don't have to be a speed demon, but if i could get on plane with 150-200 fish in the boat that would be amazing. Am i dreaming or asking too much of this set up? I have read several reviews on them and from what everyone says that combination will fit my needs well. I have had the greatest luck ever with my go-devil long tail, and not having neutral or reverse has yet to bug me, so i am fairly partial to go devil but feel free to change my mind! The one thing that i would love to have on my new boat is 24 inch sides, just for the reassurance on the big water I run, but I have struggled to find someone who makes a mud boat with 24 inch sides. Point me in the right direction guys, if i left anything out that hinders you giving me input just let me know!

Thanks

The godevil 1860 is a great load carrier. You should be able to plane that load with the 37 and run high 20s empty.
The sides on the boat are low though. I'm not crazy about taking mine in "big" water but it has handled larger than average chop fine plenty of times. Even been out with small white caps and I still have the boat above water.
Any custom builder should be able to do 24" sides. I'll be going custom on my next boat with at least 21" sides and probly a 1750 with a hunt deck to get down a little smaller.


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Oh yeah if you run any salt beware of the floatation in the godevil.


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Awesome, i appreciate the info. No salt here, but i appreciate the warning. I have read about the flotation foam and water logging issues. Does go-devil modify their boats, i.e if i ordered one could they make a boat with 24 inch sides? I would call them directly but i am still a month away from ordering/buying so i figure i can save them some time by asking around here.

I think go devil boats are great boats. If I were you I would talk to a few of the custom builders about a boat first. you might be surprised what all you can get for about the same price as a basic go devil hull. This is the same advice I wish someone had given me before I pulled the trigger on the boat I have now.


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hey finnaddict2 i was having a few problems getting financed also since its a custom built boat and credit unions and banks were not knowing how to value my purchase, but what i ended up doing with the credit union that i went with is i got a unsecured personal loan for the amount of the boat, and this monday when i go to gatortail to pay for the boat and get my v.i.n number and serial numbers i will take that to my credit union after going to wild life and fisheries to get my registration number and there going to put it as a boat loan. this may or may not help you, but good luck. and consider a gatortail, i was going to go with a go devil but the amount of cat fishing i do the open haul design of the gatortail and the reverse was a no brainer with my purchase.

My Alumitech hull is an 18x60 with 24 inch sides. Runs just shy of 31 with me, wife, 2 teenagers, and 2 coolers. I have a modded 35 gtr mudmotor.

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Thank you for the ideas everyone, i really appreciate it. I like the built in bow fishing deck but since its 60/40 a duck boat i like the idea of a removable elevated platform. Good ideas for the financing as well, I will look into those options. I have seen a few used rigs that i would have loved to jump on so far, but like you said you have to have cash in hand and thats tough to do when you'll be financing. Another issue with picking up a used rig for me is the distance, most of the rigs i see are 12-20 hours away as I'm located in michigan. Not against the drive by any means it just adds another obstacle!

Thanks again for the help all.

might want to give prodigy a call i saw today on their facebook page that you can finance a boat through them. not sure on interest rates or anything like that but maybe an option for you.

A couple of my buddies have Prodigy boats. They are one of my favorites. There are a couple of things Prodigy does that I would like to have incorporated into my Alumitech build.

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The GoDevil Hull and Motor combo has served me very well. No regrets at all. For an inland fishing and hunting boat you won't find one that will do it any better. Certainly there are faster, more "polished" hulls out there with more bells and whistles but there hasn't been a job yet my GoDevil has failed to do for me. Hunting, fishing, camping, joyriding, you name it.... The brand has staked its claim on reliability and utility. That's exactly what you get.