[Kayakfish1]

I'm looking for my own boat, I've always shot off my dads 1860 g3 but I'm needing to go ahead and get my own. I found what I think is a pretty good deal on a 1654 flat bottom and was wondering if anyone could chime in on stability of that vs a 60" wide modified v. I normally only fish 2-3 people at the most so I would think it should do fine but just wanted some insight from someone who has had something similar.
Thanks

 

[eshaw]

I have a 1650 flat bottom and it does me fine. They're rated for 5 people. That being said I wouldn't think that three people would be a problem. Just depends how much gear you're going to be hauling with you, etc..

 

[NORTHTEXASSLAYER]

1672 here. I never shoot more than 3 because that's all the people I can stand on the water anyway...

 

[Kayakfish1]

I have a 1650 flat bottom and it does me fine. They're rated for 5 people. That being said I wouldn't think that three people would be a problem. Just depends how much gear you're going to be hauling with you, etc..

I don't normally carry much stuff, just a small cooler and a few tools, the only problem is it has a 15hp on it but its far enough under my budget I should be able to buy a used motor off craigslist and sell the 15.

 

[TheLock25]

I have a 1752 flat bottom and i fish 3 people regularly and sometimes 4. It does fine for me but I always try to fish the calm sides of the lakes. I have a flush deck which also helps keep it pretty stable

 

[bowmandan]

I have a 1648 and do well with 3 shooters off an 8 inch raised deck

 

[BlackBeard]

I have a 1648 with a 6' flush deck and a 15hp Johnson. I fish with 3-4 people all the time and it will still plane the boat out with 3 people and a 55gal barrel full of fish. I'd guess it runs 16-18 bare and around 12 loaded to the gills. As long as everybody knows their place, you'll be fine. I'd do a flush deck too

 

[baileyb]

I fish out of a 1670 that actually measures 48" at the floor. I can fish 3 max comfortably. I have a 12" raised deck with LEDS and three batteries and quickly find out my boat's weight carrying limitations everytime I go out. It is definately a fair weather setup. For stability's sake, if I had to do it over again, I should probably have gone with a flush setup.

 

[awaldro7]

I have seen lots of guys with 1648 boats that have no problem. Just do your best to keep your setup light and try to be conscious of the layout efficiency. I would convert the boat to a tiller steer if it is not already a tiller so that you don't have a console eating up space.

 

[eshaw]

I don't normally carry much stuff, just a small cooler and a few tools, the only problem is it has a 15hp on it but its far enough under my budget I should be able to buy a used motor off craigslist and sell the 15.

If the 15 is a good motor you may want to save it for a kicker.

 

[Kayakfish1]

Thanks for all the good info, I think I'm gonna do it as long as it doesn't get sold out from under me before the weekend and the hulls good and straight.

 

[GaryBriggs]

I fish out of a 1670 that actually measures 48" at the floor. I can fish 3 max comfortably. I have a 12" raised deck with LEDS and three batteries and quickly find out my boat's weight carrying limitations everytime I go out. It is definately a fair weather setup. For stability's sake, if I had to do it over again, I should probably have gone with a flush setup.

Then your fishing out of a 1648 not a 1670. My boat is very similar, it's a 1644 that measure 66" wide at the rails.

I only fish 2 out of mine, never had an issue, actually gets around pretty good with a 35hp.

 

[mathews8pt]

I had a 1648 flat bottom that with fished 3 on all the time. 4 Batteries in the back with a 25hp tiller. Barrel in the middle of the boat. Worked pretty good except it was a fair weather rig because of the shallow sides. Swamped it during duck season one year and now i have a nice tall sided 1754 mod v. lol

 

[GaryBriggs]

I had a 1648 flat bottom that with fished 3 on all the time. 4 Batteries in the back with a 25hp tiller. Barrel in the middle of the boat. Worked pretty good except it was a fair weather rig because of the shallow sides. Swamped it during duck season one year and now i have a nice tall sided 1754 mod v. lol

Well said, tall gunnels is a must on a smaller boat.

 

[Kayakfish1]

Well said, tall gunnels is a must on a smaller boat.

That's true, most of what I shoot is smaller narrow lakes so I should be pretty good there.

 

[Kayakfish1]

Gotta love craigslist, had it lined up to go buy the boat tomorrow and the dude sold it out from under me, deleted the post, and wouldn't text or call back.....I swear some people just don't care that someone would clear their schedule on their only free day off to drive 150 miles round trip to buy a boat from them.