So I've decided to look into getting a mud motor for my welded 1436 triton. I currently have a Suzuki DF20AES 20hp outboard that weighs about 105 lbs. I've never had a mud motor so I'm not sure what HP I should be looking into. I usually hunt alone or with a friend and my dog. I have boat rides that vary from 1-13 miles on open water/ sloughs. I'm concerned about the weight of a surface drive so I've also looked into welding floatations pods to my boat to help out. Due to some of my longer boat rides if was wondering What would be a good motor to get decent speeds and have enough juice to carry 2 guys and a dog. Thanks for any input and help !

I know a guy that ran a 18hp copperhead on a 1436. It ran good and wasn't too heavy In the back end.

I wouldn't put pods on it. I have put some on 2 boats with outboards and mud motors. The only thing that I see they do is pick the back end out of the water while sitting still. Lost 3 mph on the mudmotor and out board plowed horribly.

I believe the 18 would be a decent motor for that size boat.


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Thanks! I was worried about it sitting to low in the water and not getting on a plane since a mud motor would most likely be heavier than my outboard I have now. What kind of speeds would an 18hp get ? I'm not looking for a ton of speed just want to be able to access areas that an outboard can't.

18hp or a 23hp theres only 4lbs diff. The bad thing is the boats just not big enough to get all the preformance out of the motor. I would guess ya would run 22-24 mph depending on weight in the boat. I ran a 14-36 with a 23 on it. I would run 21mph no matter how it was loaded. It was a old Boat the motor killed the boat after 1 season it was not welded thou.

if you look the 18 is heavyer

jb27, your boat looks pretty stout, I would put a 23 longtail on it and it would go through anything.

I have a 16 gdlt on my 1436 and i like it

18 would be best

That boat looks wider than 36. 23 copperhead way to go.

Id like to put a 23 on it but think it might be a bit much. It's a a welded 1436 16" transom. Just worried about the weight and drafting to much water in the rear.

I'm running a 25 hp Orion on a 1442 alumacraft and getting 24 mph by myself. Never get water over stern when I slow down. Weight of motor is fine.

You will be much happier with a SD for long runs. IMO.

I've heard long tails are harder to drive however can pretty much go through anything and have lower top speeds than the surface drives do. I hunt sloughs and flooded ares with stumps and rocks etc. I also hunt tidal marsh to where it's straight mud. Kinda torn which would be best. Some of my boat rides are a few miles and one is 13 or so..here's a pic of my boat blind with a few buddies in it

A 23 long-tail is heavier than the copperhead SD but if you run alot of stumps the long tails are better.
Longtail props are more rounded and glance off stumps much better.