Hey guys! IM kicking around the idea of maybe upgrading to a SD next spring and looking for a little info.. I have a 16x48 Grizzy tracker with a 27hp Mud buddy Longtail right now.. I LOVE my buddy's pro drive but im not looking to spend that much money right now... My boat has a max of 30Hp limit on it, so i've been looking at maybe the 27hp mini HD from mud buddy or the 27hp go devil... I like that they are both under $5000 new... I would consider a used of any make if price is right .... iv'e never used any other SD other then a pro drive on my buddy's boat.. I mostly run lakes and marshes in WI, i dont run into mud that often.. so does anyone have any info or have used either one of these motors and if so how did you like them...IM kinda getting tired of watching my buddy run circles around me on the water and would like a chance to try to keep up..

Get the HD your going to want power trim! I almost got a mini so glad i got power trim as I use it a lot during each trip especially when in the mud. Thank me later. I would hate the motor if I was constantly reaching back to turn a trim knob. I run a 1744 with a 23 hyper. Where in Wisconsin are you.

Drop the extra 1k and go with prodrive. You wont be dissapointed....but if you absolutely cant spare the extra grand id say go with go devils surface drive. They run great and a very reliable.

I run a 27 mini on a 1748 flat. We don't have any mud so i hardly ever have to adjust the trim, but lots of stumps and fallen trees. I like the balanced frame on the mini, makes it easy to lift the prop out of the water especially when idleing around in the hard bottoms we have. My boat runs about 22-23 empty and about 17-18 with 2 guys, a dog, blind, dekes, and gear. The only other motors I have ever driven are a 35 mb hd and the elusive 35 mb sport v so I know that the areas I run I don't really need trim. Reverse would be nice sometimes but I've lived without it for 4 years so it's not a big deal.

have you looked at the 25 gtrs? the 27s have been known to be turds and the 25 subarus seem to be putting out good results and seems to be a great little motor..just food for thought

thanks guys for the info!! yes if I can afford it I would put on a 27hp Pro drive on it in a heart beat!!! hopefully we get a snowy winter and I get a lot of overtime at work and maybe it will happen.. Ya iv'e looked the GTR's and I do like the instant reverse option seeing how I fish a lot in the summer... the one thing i did like about the Mini HD was that it only weighs 165 pounds vs. 235-265lbs.. would keep the boat lighter for those moment of " oh shit where did the water go? "... iv'e been there a couple times..lol.. I guess I got some more research to do and maybe next spring i'll be looking for some people to maybe take me out for a ride .. I'M located in southeastern WI.. thanks again guys, if anyone has anymore info keep it coming

is the boat a short transom? Met a guy last year that had a 23 GTR on a 1648 grizzly short transom and it floated it fine only had a little water come over the back when slowing down fast. the $100 upgrade to the HD is worth every penny and you won't notice the weight on a 1648 if you had a small boat 14 r 15' i would say go with a mini. If your going to spend the money at least get power trim. I have no problems pushing the boat out myself if I get hung up in a shallow sandy spot and don't want to burn up my prop digging out. I live just outside milwaukee.

ya i agree power trim would be nice!! Iv'e looked online at the GTR's but iv'e never actually seen one in person.. i do like the 25 hp one they make now..and Yes i do have a short transom on my grizzly.. if winter is good enough to me i might end up with one yet.. I'M also just outside Milwaukee.. thanks for the info puddler45 and we"ll have to hook up and go for a ride. I only know one other person with a mud motor around here and that is My buddy Jason.. He has a Phowler 18x60 with a stage 1 36hp pro drive... his boat is huge!! but it still gets up and goes.. We go out to Big Muskego lake from time to time to have some fun...

Puddler45 do u remember what kind of speeds that 23 hp GTR was doing on the grizzly tracker???

Never asked the guy but i would say mid/upper teens loaded cause he was a little faster than me with my old boat which was a 1448. I'm running 19 with 2 guys 150 220 75 lb dog 100 lb blind and 4 dz deeks in my current set up. We could get together in the spring and do some fishing if you want to run it. Sorry all my weekends are booked up for hunting season and heads are comming off after season closes. I get out on big muskego a good amount cause I live 15 minutes away. I saw a phowler out there sunday