Yes well worth it

 

If I could make a suggestion on an 1860, it would be to stay away from a center console if room is what you are looking for. A stand up side console would be ideal for that size boat to get the maximum use of the floor space.

 

I have found a Lowe 1860 flat bottom that is just an open hull with a 25 hp Johnson. I'll probably end up selling the motor and getting something a little bigger. And I'm thinking of going with a flush deck, but I might end up putting a raised platform on it depending on money and how stable it is.

 

I Have a Raised Platform on a 1644, and 1860 would feel like a Caddy.

My partner and I are Agile White Ninja's, 5 years of raised platforms with no rails and no one has gotten wet yet.

 

How high is your raised platform?

 

How high is your raised platform?

Bout this high.....

 

man you are agile I would have been wet without a doubt.

 

Let be fair snake, im 35, thats 1/4 of your age. I think you're doing great for a guy born before the Spanish American War

 

lol!! sometimes feel like it too.

 

First rig I put together was a tedertoder 1436 with a 2 foot high deck with no rails.
Never got wet, but partner fell in fish barrel once lol.
FYI bigger is better!!

 

18" is a good height with a 15" knee rail.

this is my old rig 1860 with a 18" raised deck

 

I had a 1648 and went to a 1860 definitely worth it lot more stable and more room. I have 12 in raised deck and it works good not to high but high enough to fit lights under it.

 

Ok thanks for all the info. I think I'll go ahead and pick up the 1860 if everything checks out next week! I might even start a build thread when I get around to fixing it up.

 

I have to have rails I hook my feet on the edge and lean into the rail. That gives me great stability 15 years of fishing on a boat and went in the drink once and that was last year.

 

I've done a fair amount of drinking while fishing, it's actually pretty amazing we haven't gotten wet yet?

 

I don't see how y'all keep from getting wet without some type of rail. We have somebody go overboard at least 6 times a year and I have airboat style rails on my boat. We are always hitting something chunking somebody in the water

 

Like I said, we're white ninjas. You got to be agile and keep your head on a swivel.

 

Maybe I'm that good of a driver :laugh:

 

I think a boat without any rail is better than a boat with a "airboat style light bar" or a extra short rail. either 16-20" tall rail or nothing at all. just my.02 like my lights underneath my decks.

 

Not a fan of airboat style rails? You need to fish off rails that I've built-you can hook your feet under em TIGHT. Tight enough that you can comfortably lean way over the side and shoot straight down. I'd have to guess they are 16" tall or so?

If you're only gaining 1ft of length and 4" of width I'd pass unless the bigger boat is better quality or newer etc.

 

Everybody tells me that I drive like a bat out of hell anyway. My buddy says that if there's a stump I'm gone hit it at least twice a night. Ha

 

Well I just found out the boat I was looking at is an 1852... Is that worth the money over my 1748 or should I keep looking?

 

Only you can answer that question.

 

Wait until you find that 60" width, it's well worth it. We moved up to an 1860 from a 1648 & it's night and day difference as far as stability.
And CarpCommander speaks the truth regarding the light rails ; he built ours & you can literally hook your toes under them & lean out & shoot straight down. Now if I can figure out how to not bruise my shins every time out !!!!

 

I would think you would love the bigger more stable boat .

 

Is the 1748 a mod v and the 1852 a flat bottom? That would be noticeably more stable.

It has happened to me a few times already, having an 1860 turn into an 1852. 1852 are often riveted flat bottom, the biggest econo jon size, and rated for a 35hp tiller.

 

I am not a fan of rails either. I would rather go in feet first than head first.

 

So you have a wide open deck with no rails whatsoever?

 

Well I ended up holding off on the 1852 and found a deal on 1860! It is way more stable and the sides are deeper too! I can't wait till I save up the money to build the platform and put a kicker on it.

 

Rails are for leaning on and balance I would build a raised platform with 15/16"tall rails and raised enough for your lights of choice to go underneath.

 

OK, I measured the height of the airboat light rails that Brent built for us & they are 15.25" high. Being able to hook your feet underneath them is the big difference & makes it easy to stay in the boat ...... no head first vs feet first. You can stand on top of them too if you really need to, but seems like a good way to get wet to me.

 

My are about 1 foot tall and it got toe slot in them.
Notice how the bottom slants out.

 

heres a few pics of the boat I ended up with...