The Ship Has Arrived!

[Coot]

:banana: I picked up my new ship, I mean boat today. I think I will enjoy this boat for many years. It is an open hull design and has a ton of room in it. I will post pics later if I can figure out how to download picutres.

The boat is a 1750 Gator Trax Guide Edition with a hunt deck. It is an open hull and the only options adding weight to it are a driver's 1/2 box and the extended deck. The boat is powered with a used (63 hours) stock 35 hp Hyper Drive Sport and a semi worn prop.

I ran the boat solo today with no gear (besides paddle, life jackets, and push pole) only with a 6 gallon gas (full) tank under the front deck, one cranking battery in the back, and my big 250# plus azz. My top GPS speed today was 28.4 mph and this was in deep, deep water at sea level with me standing up with the back of my legs touching the transom. She was faster when I shifted my weight further back. On the 50" wide GT boats, I think they will run better with more weight in the back. I will move the gas tank to the back of the boat on the next run and post the results.

I only broke 28 mph a couple of other times today, and for the most part my average speed was about 27.3 to 27.5 mph and when heading into a 15 knot wind I would run about a 1 mph slower. The boat seemed to run just as fast in deep water as it did in shallow water, but with strong south winds and a high tide there was no SKINNY WATER today so the only shallow water I found was 6" to 12" deep.

I did not watch my RPMs too closely, but I do remember hitting 4140 RPMs once at WOT. For the most part I think I was running just under 4000 RPMs at WOT.

I can't wait to load this boat down and see what it can do. Hopefully, I will have it rigged out for fishing by this weekend.

The only concerns I have with the engine are:

While running WOT, I often had to trim the engine down before it would trim up. Is this is normal?

and

I think I need to tweak and play with my idle RPMs since the centrifigal clutch is engaging too easily while at idle. I think I fixed it with the idle RPM's at 1400 +/- now. It's going take time to get use to this type of clutch. I am scared to death I will burn it up!

[sandman7655]

just dont ride around alot at low rpms and if you burn it up you can go electric or direct drive .

[Coot]

Originally Posted by sandman7655

just dont ride around alot at low rpms and if you burn it up you can go electric or direct drive .

Does that mean I can't hunt in the "NO WAKE ZONES"?

[Can Killer]

If your GT is anything like mine (I have an 18X50 GE Huntdeck) you might try running with teh fuel tank in back with you. I'm your size and the boat seemed to run better with teh weight in the back. The huntdeck tends to change the floatation around so that I was getting 28 at the SC run with an open rig but a 60# battery in the front compartment.

[Coot]

Originally Posted by Can Killer

If your GT is anything like mine (I have an 18X50 GE Huntdeck) you might try running with teh fuel tank in back with you. I'm your size and the boat seemed to run better with teh weight in the back. The huntdeck tends to change the floatation around so that I was getting 28 at the SC run with an open rig but a 60# battery in the front compartment.

Ring King is running the same rig as mine, but with floatation and an added gun box and 1/2 box and he runs better too with the gas tank in the back up against his transom. He is running the 42 hp. I will be moving the gas tank on my next run. My battery is already in the back, but I will have a deep cycle up front when fishing.

[Can Killer]

I switched to the 42 and it made a big difference! The torque is noticable. I have the battery and fuel at the transom and a trolling motor battery up front. The boat was hauling and I'm not even sure I have it fully tweaked yet. I have to do some clutch work before I can really run it any more but should have that fixed soon.

[Coot]

Can Killer, What is the biggest load you have ever ran in your boat and how did it do?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Coot

My top GPS speed today was 28.4 mph and this was in deep, deep water at sea level with me standing up with the back of my legs touching the transom. She was faster when I shifted my weight further back. On the 50" wide GT boats, I think they will run better with more weight in the back. I will move the gas tank to the back of the boat on the next run and post the results.

Weight situated midship to aft is the best for any GAtor Trax. Been in too many of them with too much weight up front and I tell the guys they aren't doing their performance any favors. My battery is against the tranny on port side and gas tank is under the 60/40 center bench which is mid ship. You gotta get the front of the boat out of the water to run best. Extended decks are nice but are an invite to putting too much under them, thus putting too much boat on the water creating more drag. Been there, seen it too many times.

Congrats Coot!! Sounds like your hull is setup perfectly:Banane38: :banana:

[BoatDR]

So when do you plan on breaking her in right by throwing a few reds or trout on the floor?

[Coot]

Originally Posted by BoatDR

So when do you plan on breaking her in right by throwing a few reds or trout on the floor?

Soon, Very Soon. Probably not tomorrow, but next weekend for sure. Biloxi WMA will be the destination. Good place to run some skinny stuff, scout for new ducks holes, and load up on the reds. If you ever want to go, just let me know!

[Coot]

Here she is! Pictures of my new scooter, a 1750 GT with a Hunt Deck!

[Ring King]

Very nice!!! Love the bow lights and the wide open floor plan. That'll be how my next rig is set up. I might not even get the back seat box!

[Coot]

:Banane48: Yep, I love the open hull, that was the best decision I made. The first thing my wife asked me is where does she and my two boys sit. I started pulling out folding camp and lawn chairs, duck buckets, ice chests etc. out of the garage and said "Honey, you sit on these". :017:

I know you prefer driving standing up, but the 1/2 box is a nice sized dry storage box which you will need and will come in handy. PS, I was amazed at how much storage space I have in the front deck hatch too. I can easily put 6 life jackets, 2 boat cushions, ropes, parkas and more in the front deck storage area.

[bubby864]

if thats the case about the weight forward, i could probably get over 30 with my setup. 1850 gt ge with all the trimmings. I have a 13 gallon tank i try to keep full and an xl dual purpose battery up front and still get 28 mph with a 35.

[Coot]

Originally Posted by bubby864

if thats the case about the weight forward, i could probably get over 30 with my setup. 1850 gt ge with all the trimmings. I have a 13 gallon tank i try to keep full and an xl dual purpose battery up front and still get 28 mph with a 35.

If you want more speed, then try moving your gas tank to the aft. If you don't run any faster then it might be a hunt deck reason and not the 50" width or a combination of both why these boats run better with less weight up front.

Another thing you can do, which I have done, is go for a run with 2 guys (driver and passenger). Bring your GPS and have the passenger sit in three different spots while clocking your speed. Have him sit on the front deck or at it, then mid ship, and then in the back next to you. In this scenario, the boat ran the slowest (almost 2 mph slower) with the passenger at the front deck and there was not much speed difference with the passenger at mid ship or in the rear.

[Kman]

I love that you guys are on here telling the speeds you get out of our hulls.
I hope it puts an end to the whole " I need a 12ft boat with tapered / square chine made of .030 aluminum to go fast" theory!!!

Those are some BIG boats you guys are pushing between 28-30mph. Frankly, it has this affect on me.....:Banane16: :Banane16:

[Ring King]

Originally Posted by Coot

Another thing you can do, which I have done, is go for a run with 2 guys....

This should have been followed by......"twice a day for about 3 miles at a time wearing a couple sets of sweat pants and shirts." This would be a guaranteed way for most of us to pick up a little speed in the boats. Ever notice that most everyone running a mm is somewhat overweight?

[archermatt]

Hey now, I may be heavy but it's all muscle!

[Coot]

KMan,

I must tell you, I LOVE MY NEW BOAT. It is everything I expected and I am very satisfied with the performance of this hull! Oh by the way, In my book, 28 mph in a 19' mud boat is hauling ass.

Ring King, :crazy:

WTF, Are you calling me FAT? :WTF:

[bubby864]

I agree with the weight forward issue. I have some friends that dont understand the physics of boats. they will sit on the same side of the boat as me, ticks me off. I have some of the most comfortable seats on my halfboxes(tempress) and some of those idiots will sit on the front deck instead. I have the extended deck and everything is wired to go under that deck. I guess if i ran a 6 gal can in the back and used a smaller battery, i could make it work. It would also be nice to turn one of my gunboxes(just part of one) into a gastank.

[Hyperhead]

looks good, so lets go christen that baby

[Coot]

:017: I took my new duck hunting rig (which I rigged out for fishing too) for a test ride yesterday. I launched after 5pm and caught my limit (5) of good eating size redfish (18" to 20") before dark. The fish were caught in the Bayou Bienenvue area on a spinner.

The 55# thrust Rip Tide trolling motor pulls this boat nicely. Loaded down with 2 batteries, trolling motor, my tackle box which weighs 50#, 2 ice chests. 9 gallons of fuel, etc. I was still running at impressive speeds. I was very impressed with how stable this 50" wide GT boat is especially while fishing on the front deck. I also hit some monster waves at WOT in the intercoastal canal created by large shrimp boats and the GT handled them like a champ.

I would like to try frogging in this boat, but with a centrifigul (spelling?) clutch, I am not sure if I can run the boat at slow enough speeds for froggin without burning the clutch up. Any Advice or Comments?

[Rick]

You are correct--NO SLOW SPEEDS with the Centri. Cenrti are a gas and go setup, not putt and troll.

[Coot]

Originally Posted by Rick

You are correct--NO SLOW SPEEDS with the Centri. Cenrti are a gas and go setup, not putt and troll.

So, then what is the advantage of this type of clutch? Sounds like the electric clutch should be the standard clutch for all MB's. Also, I heard that if the centri clutch goes out you can still go forward (not being stranded), just no neutral when it goes out. Is this true?

[Cajun_in_GA]

it fails engaged is what i hear also coot.

u need an electric for frogging etc. that puppy will get smoked if u ride it.

[Coot]

Originally Posted by Cajun_in_GA

it fails engaged is what i hear also coot.

u need an electric for frogging etc. that puppy will get smoked if u ride it.

Glenn or somebody at MB, please verify this. If the centri clutch goes out while engaged will the motor stay engaged in the forward position?

If so, then this is a plus for the centri clutch, however if I burn it up I think I would replace it with an electric clutch. There are some long no wake zones in many areas I like to fish and don't know how to put through these areas and keep the RPMs under 2100-2200. Also, what is the safe minimum running RPMs to avoid burning it up? Is it 2100-2200 RPMs?

[Rick]

True Coot. If the centri goes out engaged you still get home. An electric goes out and your sendin up smoke signals for help. Trade offs for both.

[Coot]

Originally Posted by Rick

True Coot. If the centri goes out engaged you still get home. An electric goes out and your sendin up smoke signals for help. Trade offs for both.

Thanks, Rick. That makes me feel better knowing if my centri goes out I can still get home. I also just read a tip on MB's site that says to tilt the prop almost completely out of the water letting the prop barely skim the surface while still running at RPMs above 2,000 to run in no wake zones.

[Browning]

OK, I'm confused now. I've always heard (from mudbuddy and dealers)that the centri clutch fails to disengaged (neutral) and the electric fails to engaged. So, if I burn up a centri, I am forever in neutral. If I burn up an electric, I'm forever in gear (better option). Rick, your last post seems to say the opposite. Can someone from clear this up for good?

[Cajun_in_GA]

browning, u have that backwards.

Electric - when it fails u are screwed
Centri - when it fails u just lose neutral.

Coot - cost to go from centri to electric is about $350 just so u know. I have checked into it also.

Now, if the centri gets too hot and burns the belt that is another story.