Slow and steady wins the race brother,
Just be patient, I know that’s easier said than done. :LOL2:
A good fabricator has to be able to make changes on the fly and I don’t think you’re going to have any issues with that. I’m a firm believer in build it the way you want it but I will say this much, you’re probably going to run a little shallower with the tunnel and float a little shallower without it.
Everything is a tradeoff. Same thing with my build, you can’t have the best of both worlds. I’m not going to be able to float as skinny as my flat bottom 1448 but that boat and all flat bottom non mod-V boats can’t run in a chop worth a chit. When it gets a little snotty out you get beat up and you have to go slow, I hate going slow. :LOL2:
Keeping the boat light, the float pods and a low water pick up and I can run pretty freaking shallow and float really shallow as well, but I can also run that boat where I would never take a flat bottom Jon.
I can run a cross a choppy bay, I can take it way out in the gulf and fish the reefs, that’s something I would never do with my flat bottom 1448. I can get and run an inch or two shallower with my other boat but for me the advantages of the 17 Mod-V far out way two inches.
If you want to run in three inches of water then a tunnel jet drive is the way to go. If you want a more versatile boat get a regular lower unit and on a jack plate and keep the build light.
Just my 2 cents brother. Good luck with your build.