Vhull or ModV

[UndertheRadar]

Howdy, I am a freshwater fisherman who often ventures into the rivers and occasionally ventures into the bigger more open waters where its rougher. I have a flat bottom jon boat now (1436 w/57" beam) It is stable as can be, especially with the extra 2" foam underneath the false floor, but it beats me to death when the water has a 6 inch chop. So I'm wanting a new boat, 14ft or 15ft, but cant decide on a mod-v jon or a deep-v utility. The boat needs to be under 350 lbs because I only have a 15 hp motor for the hp restricted lakes. (this 15 pushes my jon boat 25-26 mph according to gps) So, knowing this, I realizeI'll lose 2-5 mph going to a little heavier boat.
I like the extra side height that comes with the utility deepv's but I'm scared it will be too shakey for me as I like to fish from the front of the boat. Any opinions on this? I know a 1448mv jon will be stable enough as I have been in one, but I've never been in a deep v14. Also, for you mod-v'ers out there, how rough of water is too rough for a mod-v?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Vhull or ModV

at 14-15', stick with the stable boat. the V just won't make that much difference. You don't have the weight or power to cut through the waves much, which is the difference in larger and/or heavier boats. In fact, it can be a different type of rough when the V digs in and hesitates at each wave.
So I wouldn't change hulls just for that. Maybe try a little weight forward to reduce the bounce?

BTW my experience: I have a mod-V on a 17 with a 70 and it's a bit bouncy, and takes some skill to navigate sharp chop so you don't bury it. It's right flat--bay boat style. Had a mod V 16' and it dug in right much but it was powered with a 55. still bouncy almost as much as the 13' whaler it replaced; it was aluminum and you felt it. I was on a friend's alum. 16' jon with a 50 recently and it was bumpy, but not my 19' flat bottom with a 50 the same day. The weight made the difference. 14' jon with a 15 is bouncy as you'd expect; 21' deep V crosses over the weight differential as my sister's 19' V does.