If you knew that you were going to be in thick mudd mixed with stumps and sometimes hard bottom, would you rather run 35 longtail or a 35 surface drive? Honest question, trying to make a decision. I have a 25 Kohler longtail and know what I can get through. I'm about to pull the trigger on another motor and want a surface drive, but not sure if they can go where a LT can.

I like the SD just cause there so much nicer to run.But a long tail has its place.

Do you carry large loads over long distances?

Usually average about 6 miles a hunt. I've been wanting a surface drive for a while, what's got me second guessing myself is after seeing what happened on our lakes here in FL this year. No rain and nothing but thick mud. Last year we were kicking up ice this year it looked like a plowed field behind my boat. It seemed like half way through our season all of the SD were afraid to run a local lake that was about the best around. When I watch yall's mud run videos it seems about the same kindle mud as what we are dealing with here. My question is would a LT run better through that stuff y'all have your mud runs in than surface drives.

I would suggest upgrading to a slick bottom mud hull before a motor swap.