G...thats another reason I got a 1660 flat bottom boat....its sits up higher in the water and I wont get hung up near as much as I did with that 1648 boat...plus them pods help float the rear a little higher also....so, I put a lot of thought into my boat when I laid it out so it would fit all my needs for a boat....a longer boat would require a bigger engine to keep the speed I wanted but it would make the boat heavier also...as far as the flat bottom....I dont really do the big open water much ....but, I did get the pointed nose instead of the standard flat nose to help keep some of the waves and spray outta my face.....I also usually stay along the shallow side of a lake and I will do a good bit of catfishing with the family out of it on the TN River in Alabama. ....maybe one of the days I'll go get a Modified V type boat again but right now this one is perfect for me and the family.