Gents-

I am not a rookie duck hunter or boat owner/driver....but a rookie with mud motors. Just moved to the midwest from the east coast....from hunting rivers with my roughneck 1860/Jet and big water with a Sea Ark 24'/150 Prop....need a mud boat to add to the collection. Need some advice as I am clueless on these boats/motors. I guess I am looking for something reliable, that can haul 200+ dekes, 3 guys and a dog or two, plus the 1000 pounds of ammo and coffee we all like to pack. Not looking to go real fast, over long distances, but at times may hit shallow bays (if I go back to the east coast...or venture to bigger lakes with shallows) and would like to go 20+ mph. Main hunting out here will be impoundments and marshes...want to keep it under $12k- please give me some ideas on what I need....IE tiller vs remote, what grab rails I need to operate (if any) battery/fuel storage consideration, etc. Again...I am clueless and looking to you experts on what to consider. If you all ever need info/recommendations for bigger water rigs or rocky river river rigs, I can help...but mud motors...please help me.

Death Metal..

Just Motors and Rigging for Duals is $18,000.00

Are or you talking second hand?

Your gunna be hard pressed to do that with 12k

sell some of those decoys,you gonna need more money!

12k - is a tight budget for new...

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10674
I believe he paid 12,500 for it....

But at 14k you could easily get a GDSD 18x60 or 20x60 w/35 GDSD - for
the loads you are talking don't go any smaller.... If you could find a dealer
demo you might get in nearer the 12k range or below....

Search StuAlaska - he hauls some heavy loads up there in Alaska...

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18957&p=211502#p211502

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=18844&p=210300#p210300

TXSHOCKWAVE has a very reliable used hull & modded motor that has pushed 6 guys & 8 dozen decoys 26-27 mph unloaded it will run 30's

I'd get a 54 at minimum if not straight to the 60 wide

gents

thanks for the info- learned alot. Sounds like I either need to increase budget or decrease load.....Looking to buy new. I was thinking of a 16-17 footer as some of the places I will be hunting are smaller waters, and I would go with a smaller spread than the 200 I mentioned earlier...or less coffeee and ammo. I am thinking the MB or pro drive due to the reverse features...any input on either brand? As far as a boat- do I need a special type of hull, Or can I get away with a riveted Jon? Electric start or pull? Tiller or remote??? I have a tiller 25 on anther boat- pull start, and she serves here purpose, but holding a spotlight, running the motor, etc is much easier with remote, but seems like most videos/photos I see with mud motors, are tillers....not sure if the technolgy aint caught up yet to make a good remote steer mud boat??? Any feedback is welcome and apprciated.

I can sell you a brand new complete rig. 36PD, 17' boat, and Galv. Trailer for around $13,500.00

nc, you can try to cheap hull this thing but it will cost in the long run. A Surface drive motor will beat a riveted hull to pieces. The Mud Buddy, Gatortail or Prodrive are all good motors. The Mud buddy offers factory mods that are capable of shovin a load well when you pick it up from dealer. These boats are not as big as they sound. I went w/ a 1650 w/a huntdeck which sets motor out the back over a ft and a half. Go to as many websites as you can find and read as much as possible.

I purchased a Phowler Xtreme 2066 for a similar load of gear. It isn't fast with the single modded PD, but it sits on the water like a duck and performs very well in the mud. So long as you don't have to negotiate timber, IMHO a big boat is the way to go. You don't pile up or walk all over your gear, so it saves wear and tear on your decoys. It is also very stable in big water. If you've got four guys leaning over the same side of the boat picking up a diver spread in a chop, its no problem.