Alright I am new to the game and entertaining the thought of getting an SD rig. Ive owned boats my whole life and ran tiller outboards from 9.9 to 50hp, just never an SD. I hunt and fish in Arkansas and usually the terrain I would encounter would be flooded timber, buck brush swamps, shallow lakes, flooded moist soil units and open rivers with some back water. I would be looking at getting a 23hp sized motor and a 1542 sized boat. I dont have the money for, or really want a true mud hull boat; and I understand that you will not get maximum performance out of a motor unless it is on a true mud hull. So I have been toying around with the idea of getting a 1542 weldbilt boat customized how I want it, and possibly a 23hp Copperhead. I duck hunt probably 40 days a season, but i fish a whole lot during the other months. Do any of you fish with your SD rigs? How do you like it? Would you rather have an outboard for fishing? I have looked at the Copperhead 23 vs the Mudbuddy 23 and I would lean towards the Copperhead but dont know how I would like the idea of direct drive. How long does it take to get used to? Is tilt/trim that important or not really? Any input you seasoned veterans can give me, is appreciated. Also comments/ recommendations on what I think I would be looking at: 1542 with Copperhead 23.

Not having the clutch is pretty easy to get used to. A clutch would be nice, but if you're looking for options and amenities then REVERSE is what you need.

Manual trim is not too bad either. Mine kept backing off from the vibration, but I'm the only one I've encountered that had that problem. It was annoying, so I added my own electric trim. It was easy.

You will get infinitely better customer service from Copperhead than you will from butt-buddy.

I have a 1644 with a 27 GD for sale


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sounds like you will be running a lot of stumps..... you will wish you had a thicker hull.

X2 ^ I don't run many stumps but on the one flowage I started fishing is littered with stumps and just slowly riding up or hanging up on a stump will dent it. I run a .100 thick hull. Get a longer boat I got rid of my 1448 and went to a 1744 and speed and load carrying incrased a ton 5+ mph loaded and light load. Go with at least a 16' boat it will help balance the heavy motor and runs flater. I run a 23 mud buddy HD. At minimum get a motor with clutch and power trim