Alright you boat guru's

[Anatidae]

Looking at getting another boat........#3.....need input on size preferences.

Already have a 1436 flat jon w/ 15hp and a 1542 all-welded mod-V w/ 40hp tiller. Good for runnin' and checkin........good for 2 hunters and a dog w/'bout 4 bags o' decoys.....kinda small for 3 hunters......damn small.

'Am torn between a 1650 and 1756 W/ 50-60hp tiller handle. REALLY leaning toward Xpress but will consider Weld-bilt and may get a neighbor to custom-build me one if we can ever figure-out what we want.

Basically we "run 'n gun" on river systems (not Big Muddy) and occassionally get into some heavy chop in 30mph winds. Need something bigger..... that'll also handle a goose spread of around 4doz floaters.

We've ruled-out War Eagle, Duracraft, Legendcraft, Alumacraft, Fisher, Sea Ark, and Polar Craft. Don't have any info on F&F......what's their web address? Any other brands worth considering?...... .100" welded

Let's stick to boats.......I'll get to motors later. (Got my eye on a Merc 60 'Big-foot'.....hehehehe.....tiller will probably jerk my spindly little arm clean outa the socket. 'Bet the prop-wash (at idle) from that baby will shove a decoy 30 yds 'fore the anchor hits bottom again, huh?) 'Don't really know if a 'Big-foot' is suitable for a regular boat.......kinda designed for pontoons........but man, what THRUST!

Primarily, we want to be able to hunt 3 and a dog.....on open water.......making 2-6 mile runs and capable of 6 bags of decoys and all the other duck stuff (give or take a chainsaw or 2)........and take a corner, wide-open on 2 runners (hehehehe)...i.e. "Hey ya'll....watch THIS!".....that kinda mentality......dig?

Please share your preference and experience with 1650's and 1756's or similar with rear bench and front deck ('don't really care for boats with 'drop' decks or boats that don't have enough muscle to get 'on- plane').

We (wife and I) like an open floor plan with no boxes and stuff to trip over ('got size 13 waders....me, that is)......just an open layout. 'Want as low a profile as I can comfortably achieve with homemade blind......'don't care for 'high-rise' hotels that you can't hide.

On a boat that size w/ 50-60hp what's the pos/neg of tiller and remote steering other than the superior maneuverability of tiller. I don't really like the idea of a console in the middle of my gunning space.......I'm 6'-4" and need all the leg room I can get. 'Gettin' old and cranky.......need a certain amount of personal space to manage the pre-dawn 'fumble-fest'

Thanks in advance. Happy hunting!

[Dutch Dog]

Go with the bigger of the 2 options. The 16ft boat is only just a little bigger than your 15ft boat you already have...you just about won't be able to notice the difference. You will definately notice the difference in the 17ft boat however. I had a 15ft war eagle before the 17ft one I have now. Stano has a 16ft polarkraft and there really wasn't a noticeable difference in the room from my other boat and his, however there is no mistaking the difference in the other one I had and this new one. I also have a steering column/console, and I can tell you that you can't go wrong with it. I mean it's like buying a $40,000 cadillac and having em take the automatic transmission out and put in a stick shift. That large of a motor is going to push the boat too fast to be holding onto a tiller handle and trying to handle it. Things happen extremely fast with a tiller handle if there is a mishap, and due to the steering cables in a console setup, if something happens it isn't as magnified. Keep this in mind...safety!

[BIGDUX]

Check out this boat. I don't have one, yet! I have looked at one at my local dealer and I was impressed. It it .100 gauge all-welded.

http://www.wacomfg.com/BW50MV.html

[no angel]

we can build an 1860 for about 4200 and tax maybe less . this is camo, big deck ,vinyl ,covered metal floor. 24 inch sides , gun box and 3 seats and trailer.. the price revolves around you. all out of .100 guage and 12 inch ribs. f and f doesn't have website but i am working on it. you design the boat and we build it.

[Stano]

Man for me PolarKraft was the way to go I really have been pleased with mine theres a fella in New Albany that has some great deals on polarkrafts Grisham Marine If I recall correctly well built boats IMHO I have the Alweld sp 1642 stable as a rock and handles quite well with a 40 tiller altho it has no tilt or trim really have ta grunt sometimes to rase that boy up. I want to put a 50hp and a hydro jack plate for shallow water drive I think that would be an awsome set up cause I hate a go devil boat hard ta drive like trying to steer a log and outta the three i have been in all 25hp one kolar and two briggs the briggs suck 3 people and gear that dude want even plane out?....one on a flat bottom 16 foot boat would haul butt and do like they say but two sesons later the boat is shot. I do like Dutch's boat but too big for me that 90hp and steering wheel = no fun in the timber it will fly tho and does great in the lakes and rivers awsome MS river boat...the 16ft polar was a good mix for me plenty of room for 3 and will take some pretty rough water for fishing....

[no angel]

the guys i guide for got a polarcraft and it is alot of difference between it and f and f . it is fancy but it is not as heavy duty as what f and f builds. if i spent that much i would want a .100 but the polar is in .084 and not as many ribs. belive me it makes one hell of a difference.

[Wildfowler]

Go with the bigger of the 2 options.

That large of a motor is going to push the boat too fast to be holding onto a tiller handle and trying to handle it.

I agree with Dutch on the first comment about getting the larger of the 2 options. Since you already have a smaller boat, you can continue to use it in certain applications. By all means, go with the largest boat and motor you can. Dutch is right, there is a big difference in the size difference between a 16 and 17 foot boat. But not much difference between a 15 and 16 foot boat.

I have a 17 foot boat with a 50 tiller merc on it. It has power trim and can be operated by a small child. (well supervised) There's nothing unmanageable with this set up. I would be glad to let you operate mine sometime if you want to see for yourself.

For a while there, I thought I wanted to trade my engine in and get a larger one with a mini console. But I decided against it, mainly because of the steering not being as tight as with the tiller. Particularily when I am by myself picking up decoys.

I too would like to know more about the "big foot" versus the standard version. I would like to know if you had two identical boats side by side. One with the standard engine, one with the big foot engine, each suited with the ideal prop, which one would run faster? The bigfoot has a lower gear ratio, but it can take a larger diameter prop. Does this mean it will run significantly faster? It does weigh more. Anyone know for sure?

Merry Christmas!!

[laduck]

Merry Christmas. 1) Try this http://www.hankos.com (custom made aluminum boats). Toll-Free 1-877-385-3310 Morgan City, La. 2) Tim's Marine G3 boats 504 682-5252 Violet, La. 3) Scully's Metal Works http://www.scullysaluminumboats.com Morgan City, La. Toll-Free 1-866-238-8353 These boats are the best and they will be around long after we are gone. Jack

[Nitro Mag]

I would take a good look at the F&F. These boats are built very strong. We hunt 3 sometimes 4 out of a1760 with a 75. Hit a submerged concrete bridge with it running about 25mph. No dent or hole in the boat just a few scratches. The boat works well in the smaller rivers but it handles the MS with no problem. Just an all around good tough boat. I would go with the console on that big of a motor.

[Anatidae]

So far......VERY HELPFUL INFO!!.....and we genuinely appreciate the input, fellas. Keep the suggestions coming, please.

We're (she's) leaning toward the larger boat....the 1756.......much for the same considerations pointed-out by 'Dutch' and 'Wildfowler'.....not much difference in 1542 and 1650. I think if we'd gotten a 1548 to begin with, it would've given us a lot more room, especially for fishing, (even though 6 more inches in width might not seem like a lot). But the narrower boat hides well and fits into smaller, shallow pockets where we hunt, so I'm fairly pleased with what we've got, there.

Stano, I like the Polarcraft ....I'll go back and look at it again......man, we got boat brochures scattered all over the den.....'bout worn the print off of'em for lookin' at'em so much. The PolarCraft MV1751AW weighs exactly what the Xpress' 1650VJ does.....372#......the 1756VJ weighs 430#.......both are .100" .......that may be worth looking at again. I appreciate you comments.

No angel.....I WOULD like to see a F&F or at least get a brochure to compare features and specs. The only thing I've noticed about 'strong' boats is that the basic hull weighs more than I want to try to float in shallow water.......sure, there's a trade-off there......more strength translates to more metal....thus more weight. Do you have some specs on your 17' 50-56" hull that you could e-mail me? If i remember right, F&F and Sea Ark are damn-near identical. Sea Ark's not a bad boat, either. Thanks for your interest and response.

BiGDUX.....I tried the web address and got a 504 Gateway Timeout......'will try again later.....Thanks.

Jack....I knew there was another brand (G3) but I just couldn't remember it......Thanks for the addy's.....I went to Sportsmansparadise.com and couldn't get any info. Merry Christmas, buddy!

Now we (she) just gotta figure-out what to put on it........would've probably gone with a 50 tiller on the 1650, but thinking about a 60-70hp remote on the 1756. 'Wildfowler', That's real nice of you to offer a test drive.......'would like to take you up on that before we buy.

Thanks again for the info guys. I need all the help I can get, sometimes. Anybody else have any suggestions? Happy hunting!!

[no angel]

f and f has no brochures as of now. i will get a picture of one we use 1654 duck boat and let you look. it went w/3 guys today in a 1 1/2 of water and that is pretty shallow.i will get pictures and put on the board asap.

[Stano]

My PolarKraft is .100 dunno which one you were in the double rail on it really makes it strong........Another brand you should take a look at is a RiverHawk friend bought one with a 60hp and a sterring wheel I like that boat alot as well that little dude will booggie its is a 16 or 17 foot can't remember... Triton is alaso making a nice boat theses days PolarKraft is also making a 1658 or 52 now I bet that dude drafts shallow as heck.......

[Model12]

I have the 1546DB, express. My best friend has a 1650, and my Brother-in-law has the 1756. We have all hunted from all the above and came to the conclusion that the 1650 is the best all around choice. It hunts 3 with no problem. It handles well in tight timber where the 17 is often to wide. The 15 is a dream, it handles bad water just about as well as the others but is to crampted with more than two hunters. If I had to have just one boat (heaven forbid) it would be the 1650, (I think the new number is the HJ50DB). Just my observations....

[tazdog]

f and f can't beat it rides high in the water and will take anything thrown at it i have a 1544 and last year we ran arkabutla in a chop that made other people in a 1650 (dont know what make) find another boat ramp

[Anatidae]

'No Angel'.....Just send me a picture of the 1654 boat w/ 3 people in it, floating in 1-1/2" of water......dead still.

'Taz'........you could tell it was a 1650 but couldn't determine what make? Hmmmmm. How do you know it wasn't an F&F with wusses in it? ......Or do they NOT sell F&F's to wusses? There's a lotta 1650 'ribbet' boats out there, ya know. Let's compare apples and apples, O.K.?

I keep hearing good things about F&F's.........but I need to SEE some specs. Mainly, how much does the 17'basic hull weigh.....with just a rear seat and front deck? 'Sounds like as strong as they are, they may be too dang heavy for my needs.....(or too much boat for me)heheheh. What's the HP rating? How tall are the sides and transom? What's the rib spacing and does it have any reinforcing in the 'stump zone' (the section of the hull from the front of the rear seat to the transom.....center of mass of the boat w/ engine installed....or the 'balance' point)? What grade aluminum do they use? How many runners on the hull? What's the capacity rating?

Model 12....'sounds like ya'll own some stock in Xpress....or SHOULD. So far, that's what we're sold on. What size motor does the B-in-L have on his 1756 and is it tiller or remote? Is that boat in Hattiesburg? Maybe I can look at it next time I'm in town. Thanks for your response. If your B-in-L didn't have that boat, your best friend didn't have his 1650 and you wanted to get a second boat, what would you get......the 1650 or the 1756? Do you like the drop deck or regular front deck better?

Stano.....Don't worry about the rib comparison thang......I'm very familiar with the specs on every boat I've mentioned (except F&F). I know that Polarcraft doesn't make an AW boat in the size-range I'm considering of anything LESS than .100 gauge and their rib spacing is 12"......anything less, I would consider overkill. I saw a Triton duck boat a couple o' weeks ago but was afraid to go up to these guys like a little puppy-dog and gawk....pretty interesting looking rig (from what I was able to see).

What's the deal?.....the wider the hull, the less it drafts?