How to put a tunnel in a flat bottom skiff

[jbheels]

I have an 18' flat bottom skiff that is 72" wide at the bottom. I am going to be in some seriously shallow water so I was thinking of putting a tunnel in the bottom and buying a jack plate. Any thoughts on how to construct a tunnel for inexpensive? Thanks

No but do tell of what and how it is constructed. Actually, post pictures.

[dand0_4]

Down here at South Padre Island, Tx. we have to operate in the shallowest bay system in the US. Average depth is less than 2 ft.,a lot of it less than 1 ft. Tunnelboats are the norm here, but they are difficult to design correctly. Before you butcher your boat and possibly ruin its performance here are some suggestions that I use to run my nontunnel boat in water as shallow as 4 inches. First, and most important, a good stainless 4 blade supercupped prop. Extreme cupping is essential. Second a jackplate with 6 in. setback, and last but definitely not least is a Bobs Machine transom water pickup. The water pickup can be modified with a stainless livewell screen to keep grass out, very important. With this setup I can run in 4 inches and take off in 12 or less if the bottom is soft and the transom pickup keeps mud and grass out that other low water pickups ingest.