After years of thinking/talking about it; I'm all in for next years waterfowl season (getting too old to drag a boat through the mud these days) I need/want a surface drive engine with boat and trailer. All the engines look good to me but I'm not smart enough to operate one that doesn't have reverse and not end up stuck somewhere in the swamp. Shipping on an engine doesn't seem to be a problem but the boat/trailer is a whole different story. The jon boats up here all seem to have "grooves" on the bottom. It sounds like you really need a flat bottom to take advantage of the mud skimming abilities of these machines. Leaning towards a 35 hp engine and 16X60 boat with galvanized trailer. This thing will be in the salt water most of the time if that matters. I live in the pacific northwest and hunt in the tide flats most of the time. Have burned up a few water cooled engines (prop and jet drive) because of the mud/silt clogging up the cooling system. Will also need a blind which can be towed down the freeway then pop up on site without much trouble/work. Thanks in advnace for any advice/help, cd

I'm next rig will be a gtr. I think Prodrive has a galvanized option for saltwater don't hold me to it. Most boat manufactures offer a popup blind for their boats. If not the Avery quickset is a good blind and is stowable as is the beavertail blinds. As far as boats go you definately want a mud hull it really helps. Prodrive and gatortail both build boats or you can hit up any of the custom
Builders on this site, can be found under the sponsors page and get a boat built how you want it to be built and most times for less than a manufacturer would charge. The best advice is to look for dealers or other mm owners in your area and try to drive the motors your looking at. hunt682


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You say you are in the Pacific NW and run in the salt. Are you in Western WA? There is a dealer of boats and mud motors in the Seattle area: Blaze B*a*c*k*w*a*t*e*r (without the asterisks). Timon (the owner) can get you out in a boat in the sound or over the hill in the Potholes. He runs an 1854. google Blaze Backwater and give him a holler.

There is nothing like taking a test ride to clarify what you can expect when running these type of rigs in the conditions you will be in.

Good luck.

Thanks for the help. I talked to Timon and we are putting a plan together. Hopefully it comes together by the fall.