Hey guys, I've found me an alumacraft 1436 that on eof my friends is going to sell me. But i'm not too sure about what kinda layout i want. I always hear about some guys not feeling too stable when it is decked to the top of the seats when you have more than one person in it. So in picture one do you think that it will be really stable with 2 good size boys in it? Or do like picture 2 and just deal with it? My real question is, Will it be unstabl;e with 2 people in a 1436 decked to the top of the seats?

oh and i'm just talkin about the front deck setup

I personally like picture 1.  It would be a lot more stable to me personally  than picture 2.  But it is an individual thing.  My balance is not as good as others so I like my decking lower.

picture 1, I would suggest to never deck higher than the bench on 1436 boats.

picture 2 should start with 1448 boats, my oppinion.

this is how I did mine

It is totaly up to you.  People where saying oh you would never be able to stand in a 10' jon well me and a buddy went out on the weekend and all we did was stand and it was as stable as you could ask for in a boat that size didn't feel like we where going to tip of anything it was awsome so really it is your feeling for it and who is going to be on it...if your taking kids out probably better to keep some edge for stable and something to grab and hold onto....just you and a buddy it would be all about how you feel and what you feel is comftorable. Like we say in my tech class it is better to make it too big/ long then not big/long enough so start a bit high and work you way down smaller after some test or something to get it perfect.

Picture 2 has the bench cut out, thus loosing flotation should you take on water.  I did mine like FishingBuds and made the front deck the same height as the bench. If I were to do over  I think I would just sacrifice that extra 1/2-3/4 inch and run the deck over (i.e. resting on) the front bench and go to the front mini seat.  less seams in the carpet and less of a place for debris to collect.