Well I found a jon boat for 400 I like and might get next step is a motor. I came across 2 nice mud motors for sale and I really don't know which would be better for me and my boat. First one is a 16hp Dixie surface drive. And the second is a 25hp go devil long tail. I'll be using the boat as a messing around for fun duck hunting and fishing. Plan on crossing sand bars trees in the rivers and of course shallow water. There will also be a lot of deep water I'll be taking the boat on. Need to make a decision on what motor pretty quick so they don't sell. The go devil is local enough to drive to but the Dixie I would have to ship. Any advice is welcome thanks

Me personally I just got into mud motors and heres my opinion I own a 18hp sd and I love it. I have never owned a long tail but I have ran a lot of them and they are nice too. I think it boils down to personal preference. Don't quote me on this but I think you can get more speed out of a sd which you will want if your going to run the river like I do a lot. I use mine for duck hunting and fishing and other than wanting a little more speed I am very satisfied with my motor but on the other hand my buddy has a 23hp go-devil and goes the same places as me Im just a little faster than he is. And for all the mud motor guru's this is my personal opinion so please dont tell me how inaccurate my opinions are.

Correction my buddy has 23hp go-devil long tail.... I left the long tail part out..

First, what kind/size john boat did you find? That could make a difference here.

Found a 1242 and a 1442 I'm really liking the 12 footer its an 07 alumacraft camo it's nice

I'd go with 1442 and surface drive. I've owned both a long tail and a Dixie surface drive and the Dixie is better all around. Easier to drive and can sit down in long distances. Long tail becomes a pain in the ass but will get through some thick stuff.

Only thing is the Dixie is 800 more upfront

Worth it

Get the 1442 and put a long-tail on it.

I'll personally slap you in the nuts if you buy the 12' boat.
A 14 is really too small, but itll do.

Well I'm use to a 10ft Jon boat but I don't want my nuts slapped lol

14ft boat and get a lt.

yea im planning on deep water a lot not so much timber just shallow water with sand/mud i have around 4500 now for a complete setup

I'd def do a surface drive. If not you will be like me and buy a long tail first and then sell it for surface drive

Wellif your gonna be in shallow water and sand than I'd go with the longtail , most of the time sand means hard bottom for the most part and that longtail will be better , some will agree ,some won't but in your money get what suits you , Oh and Buy the way you could get a nice rig ,and possibly a little bigger if you wanted for 4500.00 bucks.

Thats true. For 4500$ you could find a 16 ft Jon boat and trailer and put a used surface drive on it.

yea ive came across a few nice boats in my price range im not sure if im allows to post links on here to them but id like to get some opinions. anyways one boat is 1432 with a airboat bottom to it and it has a 23 MB mini with low hours for 3800. and then i found a nice 23hp gdlt for 2500 with super low hours on it and it looks brand new also another boat off the forum with a 13hp beaver tail.

i will be running over surfaces with hard bottom but also some surfaces you can step out of the boat and sink to your knees in mud and i will be over a lot of deep water too so im really torn on what way i should go i really am liking the sound of the 1432 with a mud buddy motor looks clean but i also the the low hour GDLT just really dont know what direction to lean in...

If your set on getting a 14 ft at least get a 42 wide. My buddy has a 1442 with 12 copperhead an it's sweet. You could run that 23 gdlt on a 1542 or 1648 and still get decent enough speeds and have plenty of room for you and another person.

dude, I have yet to see a 14' boat with a surface drive that really ran right.
My 1442 with a 24LT runs just as fast as any surface drive on the same size boat, and its alot less money.
You are stuck on a small boat, a 1442 is the absolute smallest I would ever own for a two man hunting rig in more than knee deep water.
Just run a LT until you can buy a really big boat with a 35 on it.

Yea I think I'm going to just run a lt for now it may me better for me anyways because of what the waters are like around my area and i can get a but of a nicer boat with the extra cash from going with a lt.

How is mud buddy long tail compared to go devil? I found a 25hp kohler motor mud buddy long tail for only 1500

Well I would think that they are the same , but the godevil might have a Galvinized frame , witch would be good if you hunt the salt alot but even the mudbuddy would be fine in the salt if you wash it off , with one has less hours and see with one been service check prop for wear and the one you like mostly have you ever had one , if not find someone to look at it with you that has some experience with longtails , where you live.

Well I would think that they are the same , but the godevil might have a Galvinized frame , witch would be good if you hunt the salt alot but even the mudbuddy would be fine in the salt if you wash it off , with one has less hours and see with one been service check prop for wear and the one you like mostly have you ever had one , if not find someone to look at it with you that has some experience with longtails , where you live.

Yea I've never had one. But I wont be doing any salt water driving but I dont even know of anyone with a Long tail around me much less anyone who would a few hours to look at one

I have a MBLT and Although I really don't care for the Owner of MB, I like the MBLT better than a GDLT.

Just make sure there are no oil leaks on the motor or coming from the seals of the motor.
Measure the prop, it should measure 9" at the widest point blade to blade.

well im pretty close to pulling the trigger on a hardly used 2010 1546 xpress for 2100 bucks boat and trailer. then for a motor im torn on a few options. theres a 16hp dixie surface drive on here for 1800 but i would have to have to shipped to me. or i could get a 25hp mud buddy longtail for 1500 theres also a few go devils driving distance for around 2000 . what would be the best motor choice for that boat?

The 25 lt, but if that boat has any kind of Mod-v to the bottom don't waste your money on it.

its a flat bottom but i thought the mod v was the new hot thing on the block.. all the commercials i see all the boats are running a mod v haha.

A mod V is great.... when there is a 40hp merc on da back.

They suck ass on a MM hull, just about anyting you think you know about a boat you can throw out the window for a MM application

ok well im sure glad i joined the forum cuz people like you are helping me big time and i really appreciate it! think that price sounds for 2100 for that boat and trailer and trolling motor?