Gator Trax GT model

[GreenvilleSC_fishing]

Obviously Gator Trax Strike Series is an awesome bass boat… but for a non-tournament angler who’s also looking for some diversity in use (like inshore fishing) do y’all think the GT model would still make a nice bass boat?

[Susky River Rat]

It looks like it would not be a good boat for any kind of rough water. 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

It looks like it would not be a good boat for any kind of rough water. 

Ya, they're very narrow for their length - 14' has only a 38" beam? My 14' Alumacraft has a 64" beam (60" at the transom) and it still rocks a bit when another boat passes at speed.

[Susky River Rat]

@MN Fisher it’s not just the rocking j would be worried about. Shallow boats are made for shallow water. Any kind of chop is a very rough ride. Lots of slamming down you take a beating. The boat I have now is a lot bigger but, way rougher of a ride than my tracker 160 was in chop. It’s all in the hull design. 

[Catt]

Beam width is the measurement across the top of the boat & has little to do with how stable a Jon boat is. Bottom width is the part of the boat that is actually in the water & is key to Jon boat stability. 

 

I fish Toledo Bend  out of a Alweld 1652VJT

16' length 52" bottom with a Tohatsu 40 hp. I don't try running the main lake, I know where every public boat launch is & simply trailer to where I wanna fish.

 

[Susky River Rat]

@Catt that is very true. If you have a wide beam but narrow bottom with this will be less stable as well.
 

The flatter you get the rougher the ride but the shallower you  draft. The more of a V the better the ride but the more you draft. Is a general rule of thumb. There is always exceptions. 

Youll never have a boat that can do everything it’s all give and take. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Susky River Rat said:

If you have a wide beam but narrow bottom with this will be more on stable as well.

 

Disagree 😉

 

The side of the boat from the gunnel down to the bottom is not in the water. The more "bottom" you put on the surface of the water the more stable, less tipsy. Now this is talking about stability at rest, two people can move about without rocking the boat. 

 

Flat bottom, roughest ride

Mod-V, so what smoother 

Deep V, smoothest

 

Wider beam will give you a dryer ride.

[Susky River Rat]

@Catt sorry I did not proof read what I wrote. I meant it would be less stable lol. So I agree with you. I will fix my error on my post.