Hull thickness question - 0.160 vs 0.100

[zurk]

Trying to decide between a 16 footer with a 0.160 gauge hull vs one with a 0.100 guage hull.
Specifically would you go for : https://www.riverhawkboats.net/PDF/Drifter-ProV-PDF.pdf - pro v 16
vs : https://legendboats.com/boat/widebody/models/16-widebody-overview/
Which is better for rough water and long term usage in lakes/rivers etc.

 

[Lowe 2070 CC]

the Riverhawk pro-v 16 is .125 according to the brochure you posted. .100 sides, .125 bottom, .160 transom, weight 525lbs

The Legend is .100 all around, 290 lbs

They are very different boats.

That being said, .100 is pretty much industry standard for all welded boats these days, and is not a bad compromise between weight and durability. you can go to .125 - .190 or heavier on custom boats if you feel the need for added durability.

The question becomes do you plan to scrape a lot of rocks? The impact of rough water would be in how the boats welds hold up over time due to the pounding. In this instance the difference between .100 and .125 in rough water on a 16' boat would likely be negligible over time given good construction and welds on both boats, though .100 would flex a little more than .125.

The Riverhawk is a heavier duty boat overall.