Boat questions

[jhunter77]

I am looking for a boat that can fish and hunt out of. Lots of uses and can be stored outside. Handle 2 to 3 people up to 4
1) crappie fish
2) catfish/run jugs and lines
2) fish the bays
3) gig flounder
4) put in larger rivers like the trinity or brazos
5) duck hunt the coast
6) gig frogs

Right now I am thinking a split rear seat 1656 with a tunnel and a tiller 50hp. Mod V deep sides, and .100 ga Open floor plan and exposed ribs. On a aluminum trailer.

Questions:
1) Will I be able to get shallow enough to gig with the tunnel hull? Can I use the trolling motor to gig with? I dont want to put a lot of rails or a pusher fan.
2) Would a 1552 with a 40 be just as good and allow me access to smaller rivers? Even a 1448?
3) Will a 1656 handle the bay well?
4) Will a mod V be better than a flat front? The flat bottom will draft less but will ride ruff. The mod v I have been in still rides ruff, so is the difference even noticeable?
5) will this be a wet ride? Been in a 1648 and always get drenched, but really cant sit in the middle due to the way the boat is configured. Will the extra width be drier?
6) any problem pulling this long distance with a jeep wrangler? I hate to get a boat too big or heavy for a small vehicle to pull.

Right now I have a 12ft extra skinny and extra shallow, all Jb weld, rivited hull. I am ready for a upgrade.
I have been in the bay in a 14ft 9.9 and we were just fine, but I know the wind can kick up and I want to be able to travel further.

[BDann]

You will probably want bigger than a 1656. I’ve got an 1854, and it would be tight with 4 guys. Here are some pics of my gator trax 1854. The pic with 2 boats is a shot of mine next to a 16’ gator trax. My bowfishing lights are removable, and are in 3 sections. The poling platform also comes off. I don’t know why 2 of the pics are sideways, sorry.

[Grulla]

[ATTACH]o[/ATTACH]


1656 Alweld here and we love it .
We take it to port o Connor for ducks you just have to use the back cuts on rough days , or go slow across the bay .
My brother has a1448 with a 20 mercury 4 stroke and he uses it down there also . Bigger is better for sure but if you don’t do anything foolish on those tough days you’ll be fine .

[BDann]

You probably won’t want a tunnel hull unless you are making long runs in very shallow water. The tunnel hull will probably draft more water than a non tunnel hull. My 1854 will float in 5” of water, no tunnel. It is a wet ride for sure with any kind of chop. It will also be a pretty rough ride in a chop, as you probably know. I would make sure to get a modified v, it will still have a long run of flat on the bottom. As far as fishing the bays, you will need to really pick your days. Fishing in open water will be rough. I’ve taken mine to the Sabine jetties in nice days, and there was no problem. I’ve also ran to the south shoreline of West Matagorda with a pretty good wind and got soaking wet and beat half to death, but never felt like I was in danger.

[BDann]

If you are trying to tow it with an older wrangler TJ you might have issues, but no problem with the newer ones.

[az2tx]

I am looking for a boat that can fish and hunt out of. Lots of uses and can be stored outside. Handle 2 to 3 people up to 4
1) crappie fish
2) catfish/run jugs and lines
2) fish the bays
3) gig flounder
4) put in larger rivers like the trinity or brazos
5) duck hunt the coast
6) gig frogs

Right now I am thinking a split rear seat 1656 with a tunnel and a tiller 50hp. Mod V deep sides, and .100 ga Open floor plan and exposed ribs. On a aluminum trailer.

Questions:
1) Will I be able to get shallow enough to gig with the tunnel hull? yesCan I use the trolling motor to gig with? noI dont want to put a lot of rails or a pusher fan.
2) Would a 1552 with a 40 be just as good and allow me access to smaller rivers? Even a 1448?yes
3) Will a 1656 handle the bay well?no
4) Will a mod V be better than a flat front? noThe flat bottom will draft less but will ride ruff. The mod v I have been in still rides ruff, so is the difference even noticeable?
5) will this be a wet ride? probablyBeen in a 1648 and always get drenched, but really cant sit in the middle due to the way the boat is configured. Will the extra width be drier?probably and more stable
6) any problem pulling this long distance with a jeep wrangler? I hate to get a boat too big or heavy for a small vehicle to pull.

Right now I have a 12ft extra skinny and extra shallow, all Jb weld, rivited hull. I am ready for a upgrade.
I have been in the bay in a 14ft 9.9 and we were just fine, but I know the wind can kick up and I want to be able to travel further.

I don't think you are going to have enough boat to be playing around the bay especially if the wind kicks up and it is in the dark
I would suggest that if you want to gig you use the boat to get you to the area and then get out and wade to do your gigging, the narrow mod v boat is going to a bit unstable to have people standing up and walking around in

[az2tx]

This is what I run
Its 20' long 72" wide bottom with a 115 yamaha and 22hp air motor and handles 4 200 lb plus men no problem

[jhunter77]

I definitely want to be able to run to the south shoreline of matagorda. I will be pulling it with a older yj with a 6cly.
Really like the 18ft but think a boat that size may be to big to haul with the jeep.
Have thought about loading the kayaks on the boat and using it as a mothership also. 99% of the time will just be 2 folks fishing, or gigging. Will be 3 sometimes.
We hit some of the smaller rivers in the 12ft now and put 3 in it. Its tight but we have fun.

[jhunter77]

Also if I dont use the trolling motor to get could I use the outboard and just trim up?
Also why the plastic bag over the trolling motor?

Thanks for all the help!

[az2tx]

Also if I dont use the trolling motor to get could I use the outboard and just trim up?
Also why the plastic bag over the trolling motor?

Thanks for all the help!

The motor either the outboard or trolling motor put vibrations in the water that will spook fish, running my air motor I can get up to about 20' from reds without spooking them

Where we gig their isn't enough water under the boat to use a motor in the water

[jhunter77]

Ok, thanks. We normally gig out of the kayaks and walk pulling them. I have never gigged out of a boat.

[LivinADream]

I have a 1660, no tunnel, float pods, duracraft semi V.
1. Can't answer as I don't have a tunnel. I do gig out of mine with trolling motor and no light rails.

2. My 1660 is small enough to do the smallest creeks I have any interest in, and big enough I can fish the bays on a lot of days. Also fish Rayburn and Toledo in it pretty often. It's not ideal for lakes and bays but definitely wouldn't want any smaller.

3. Have to pick your days, but I can almost always find a spot to fish. Just might not be big open water.

4. Mod V for sure. I have no issues needing to get any shallower. My depth limit is my trolling motor. (Hits bottom before boat does)

5. Gonna be wet. Mine is center console so may be a little drier than sitting in the back but I doubt by much.

6. Pulls like a dream.



Sent from my motorola one 5G UW using Tapatalk

[fowlwaters]

1870 flat bottom with open floor plan is a great boat. A flat bottom will draft shallower then a tunnel if you are wanting to run shallow water alot I would look into a jet drive. If you plan on gigging out of the boat a trolling motor will not get shallow enough if you use the boat to get to a gigging spot then walk and gig it would work best. Even a gigging boat you will oy be able to gig 2 off the front comfortably.

[jhunter77]

Great advice keep it coming. I dont see me ever buying another boat, so I want to get this as close to perfect as I can.

[fowlwaters]

I use to pull a 1870 Alweld flounder rig with my 1999 Toyota Tacoma v6 I know it's different then a Heep a 1660 would be my next go to.