Hello fella's...I'm new to this site but have been a duck hunter and trapper for 42 yrs. Been using jon boats with outboards and skiffs /canoes. This year I wanted to get a mud boat/motor set up. I'm too old and fat for canoes and don't like using the push pole anymore if I don't have too. I mainly trap and hunt flowages with heavy wild rice and stump fields. I also trap many small rivers and slougs. I checked the search feature and found a few threads on trapping rigs but wanted additonal advise. I never ran a mud motor before and don't know much about them other than some of the name brands and they come long tail or surface drive. Surface drive much more money. Welded boats vs riveted. 72" or 56" shafts on the long tails. Neutral, reverse, and trim. Smooth bottom vs ribbed. I need to buy a used rig and only have about $5,000.00 to spend. Don't need nothing real pretty looking and speed is not a factor. Just want to get from one rat hut to another and one beaver lodge to another and go ashore at times. Was thinking only a 14 or 16 ft boat for trapping supplies but wanted it sturdy so probably want at least 48" wide? Any suggestions? Want to purchase by summer. Thanks!

I'd suggest instead of 14-16', you should go 16-18' and 44-48" wide. As far as the LT vs SD question, that is up to you, just like the brand choice.

With price being a factor and speed not being one, I would say find you a 27hp or so longtail and put it on a welded smooth bottom boat. With you saying that you run stumpfields I would try to find a boat that has a 1/8th (.125) bottom with longitudinal bracing.