Tunnel Boat or Not: Ordering a new boat with a tunnel or without is a decision face by many fishermen. Making this decision can be simplified by looking around at the boat ramp.
Fishermen in your area can give you a good starting point to make your pick. If other fishermen in your area are using tunneled boats there must be a reason for it. If you are fishing mainly from Port O'connor south, you will probably be very happy with a tunneled boat.
Looking under a tunnel boat where the keel should be located is a trough running from the train transom forward, typically about 3/4 of the hull. The purpose of this trough is to raise the prop and skeg to the lowest point of the boat.
There are two main drawbacks to tunnel boats which come under the heading of handling characteristics and engine efficiency. A good working number for top end speed is a loss of about 10%. If you are looking for a boat with great handling characteristics were a good bad weather boat you will not want a tunnel boat. There may be a bit of an exception in the Pescador made in Victoria Texas.
After you have made your decision to purchase a tunnel boat you face the decision of which make. Cost, looks and features will be factors that will help narrow down the choices. It would be wise to talk with as many tunnel boat owners as you can and whenever possible catch a ride on one. What you have decided on the boat and the dealer you will be purchasing from, demand a thorough see trial. Also try it out in deep water so you will know the disadvantages as well as the advantage's.
Being the owner of a tunnel boat may put you in a position that you feel you have to defend your use of a tunnel boat. Some folks say that tunnel hulls, air boats and jack plates will hurt fishing resources and that the areas these boats are used in are better left alone. I don't feel this way and I will leave it up to you to come up with your own answers. Sorry folks but that's the way it is! Know but seriously this is a subject you should consider and make your decision accordingly.