Friends,
I've read the threads in which you have all shared what motor you use or like, but there is not much discussion on why. I am a newbie, with questions on what kind and why. Long Tail or Surface Drive? Why? Clutch or Direct Drive? What does that mean/do? Electric trim? What does that do? How do different models ride when trailering? How many hours is too many hours? If I had to do it over I would ... ? What I don't like about my decision is...?

Can you give me some nuts and bolts? I THINK I want a surface drive but don't really know why.. Have the idea it is more maneuverable, i guess? Easier to control? Think I want a 23-25 horse because my Lowe 1448 Mod-V is rated for 25. Are ratings on mudmotors same as "standard" motors?

Thanks in advance for your serious consideration and reflections.

Charlieboy

lightweight? what's that mean? how much weight? as I said, I am a real newbie.
Also, I forgot in my first to ask about pods. Do i NEED to consider adding pods? two-blad prop or three? Stainless steel?

Pods will disturb the water for a surface drive (they like clean undisturbed water) and that coupled with the mod v just isn't worth it. There's other guys on here that know WAY more than I know and they can give ou more details. Ive been runnning a 27 lt on a 1648 mod v while I'm fixing my project boat up, will never own a mod v myself after using this one. As a matter of fact I'm going to sell my project boat and just save p until i can get a true mud hull and surface drive.

Many have been in your postion before, save some money in the long run... shit-can the lowe and get a boat built for a mudmotor. It's hard for a newbie to understand, but durability, speed, performance in mud, grass, stumps, or whatever you will need it for are night and day over that lowe.

Also speed wise, Outboard to Mudmotor isn't a 1:1 comparison. A 35hp mm runs the same speed as a 25 outboard.
If you have the money and don't hunt a HP restricted WMA, get a 35-36+ mudmotor on a 18' hull however wide you think you can swing will be the absolute best route

Where do you live, what conditons do you run to need a mudmotor?

WHY do you think you need a mud motor?

Reason I ask is because so many folks are buying these solely because they're the "new thing" out right now. Unless you're tearing up the outboard you have now, or just simply "can't" get into the spots you regularly hunt / fish, you don't need any mud motor. Now, on the other hand, if you are tearing up motors because you're too stubborn to accept you shouldn't be doing this or that (like I was), then you need to give us some more details on the conditions you frequently run.

Live near Milwaukee WI hunt Horicon mostly. Am not thinking I am going to get into really heavy stuff, but with my 25 Evinrude outboard, I really have to owrk to get to some places that just should NOT be that hard. I know, however, that once I get to point / place B (the next level) then I'm going to want to get to C (the level after that). HP stands for? and Lt again... what might be the max for the boat I have if I cant really afford to scrap it and start over (I can't right now). And yes, I push the outboard I have on beyond what I ought to be doing.

Should it be a surface drive, or should I be looking at long tial?

Thanks!

Ok, this is how I always explain it... Surely you've been around a 4wd truck before. Do you want full time 4 low, or 4 high? Do you want neutral? Do you want reverse?

I have never driven or rode in, Never hunted from. Never had much conversation about it.. dont know what the equivalent of 4 low or 4 hi is. do i need reverse? Again, I am a real newbie, not even sure of the questions to ask. that's why i'me here.. Appreciate your paticne and thoughtful advice, and good questions! As i said, I have the idea I want one, could use one, need one because the rig I have does not get me where I want to go, in whater that is shallow but not super shallow...

Im new to this too. Got a deposit on a Mudbuddy sport 44H. Hunted out of both long tail and surface drive last year. Got a mudbuddy cause its something new. Got a surface drive because they are easier on you on a longer haul. Reverse may not be needed in the field buit is nice at the docks.

hp stands for horsepower....

For the time being, I would put a 23hp Longtail on that boat (pods are the devil!!!) and run it until you can afford to go all out. Otherwise you will find yourself constantly doing upgrades 1 at the time and loose money. A LT may push that boat 17-18 with a 1 man hunting load and 14-15 with a two man, 3 people in a 14' boat with a mm = plowing water... SD or LT.

The LT has a better "4 low" you can crawl over logs and beaver dams easier, it performs better where the bottom isn't endless mud, and is alot cheaper and simple.
The cons are, its slower than a SD by a few MPH if both are 23's I'd say less than 5mph difference, its got a hell of a learining curve to drive but once you learn it they will go anywhere, there is no Neutral or Reverse (you get used to this too)

A SD has a better "4 high" it its faster, you can hit things with a running start. They are eaiser to drive, and do well in endless mud.
The cons are they are expensive, heavier "this will be a factor with your boat"

The 4low/4Hi comment is for the lt/sd comparison. A lt is like 4 low, slow as shit, but nearly unstoppable. A sd is like 4 high, gets you there a lil faster, & still 4wd.

As for reverse, is it NEEDED? No, but it sure is nice to have. I used to say I didn't need it, or want it, but now I use it constantly. For your lightweight boat, a 23 GTR would be good, but I'm a lil bias now.

***Woodie beat me to it***

A 23 GTR would be on the fence of being too heavy from what I've seen IMO.

He can probly get his hands on a used LT alot Quicker than a 23 GTR up there.

This is good stuff, and helpful. Stuff I can understand. To add a little more clarity... I hunt a LARGE freshwater marsh created by the damming of a river. When I am in the mainr rive channel, or main, man-made ditches, I run fine. When I get out of the center of channels, however,, near the bull rush cover, or in large bays, it gets shallow, and I just do not get teh draft I need. I have to try to run with a severe trim, if that works, or tilt it out and push pole. I am often plugging my water flow so no water running through to cool. There are places I have never seen, and would not even dare try, but I see other with SD and LT going into those places, and I see the ducks going in, and hear the shooting. I need to get more mobility in shallow water = few lillies, no stumps, muck bottom, aquatic "weeds". I WANT to get where I see those now with the mud motors going, where I cant go. I don't need speed (thought would not turn it down) .

what does a 23 gator weigh?

Approx 225 lbs

Charlie glad to see you made it over here from L-L. The guys here will take care of ya. If you're interested I'd be willing to take you out there sometime this fall in my rig

Goosie and wm, Thanks for those generous offers. Big buck fever, you, too.

And to everyone else as well. Thanks for asking good questions and for sharing insightful thoughtful comments. I am guessing I will be back with more questions myself.

charlieboy

Got some feedback here from Team Camo, Woodiebuster and Scatters Boy 316, they weighed in, pun intended, that weight ought to be a consideration. I have a Lowe 1448 Mod-V, that aint changin right now, so, do any others have an opinion on this? How heavy can I, should I, do I need to go? How important is this point in the consideration/decision?

Draft and Shallow water performance go hand and hand, especially when you are trying to get away with using a small mod-v hull.

With a heavier motor you will draft more and the boat will hit bottom sooner, this is really a problem on a hard bottom in the mud it will hurt too though. Also, a motor can be so heavy you have to watch it when you stop or the wake will come over the squatting transom.

There are alot of variables in how it acts boat to boat. I was told my 14x42 would have trouble floating a 24lt (which is a good bit heavier than a 23) because they had the same set up and constantly fought it. But I very rarely take on a splash of water.
How big your ass is, if there is water-logged foam in the rear bench, battery & gas tank location all play a part.

This is the Horicon guys. Everything but rocks and a few of them I'm sure too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8sONjin ... ata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slfozwn6 ... ata_player

Your boat ain't gonna be good with nothin but a light motor or less than 150lbs at most. Problem is that if ya get up in these sloughs there ain't no turnin around easy. Need to eventually get ya a different ride all together if ya wanna do er right.

Your boats hp rating is based on weight and average weight of a 25 outboard would be around 120 lb. Look at copperhead 12 it will surprise u on speed and is light wt compared to others . Which means shollow water travel cause less boat down in water