Anybody have any experience with a 25 hp kohler longtail with stage 1 mod? Just curious what kind of difference it would make on speeds with a full load or top end speeds unloaded.

Better hole shot, more load carrying and higher speeds. Trust me you will like it.

What does the stage one kit consist of ?

Heads decked, port and polished, exhaust, intake and a carb.

Don't see how you can get major gains without moving up on the prop pitch too....

You only get about half MPH per 100 rpm gain...

So if after mods you turn 500 more rpm you will get 2 to 3 mph...
You might get that with a new prop purchase alone...
I'd buy the prop before I bought mods.... Specially after the lesson I got
today from Bart Baker of GoDevil on props and prop condition... Bought a new 9x7 and a good used 9x6 too.... There is 3 mph difference between
those two props alone.... But the 9x6 is a real digger...
But thats just me...

So what prop, speed, and rpms are you getting now ????

I would think the prop would definately help top-end speeds but hole shot and load carrying capacity is much better with the mods.

I keep a fresh 9x7 on my motor. I eat about a prop a season split. But theres alot of ducks to show for em so I guess I can live with it. What Im really thinking is maybe mod my motor and go to a bigger prop then work on getting a bigger boat.

OK - but let's talk prop...

bigtex's - 31 uses a larger diameter prop - lots more blade and mass

If you mod a 25 up to 31 hp -- what prop would you use ???

Would you have a "custom" prop made - or rebuild your tail to hold the larger prop ???

Just askin' ??? Cause I don't get the enthusiam over mods - if the "total package" is'nt addressed ???

Put the 31hp prop on themodded 25hp for faster top end with reduced rpms or use the stock 25hp prop and spin it faster with alot better hole shot and grunt in the weeds and mud.

Can you just not put a 10x6 prop on the 25 hp without any modifications to the shaft?

Just going to bog the motor down. Mod the motor if you want to swing a bigger wheel.

What Im reffering to is after the engine is modified. You dont have to modify the shaft to accept a larger prop right?

25 is a 3/4 10 shaft, 31 is a 7/8.

> aint much room between the cav plate and the prop either. I'm sure you could get to where ya want with pitch and cup. The alternative may be ditch the 10in prop idea and try one of those Ron Hill 9 5/8 diameter ones????

GoDevil has a 9x8.... That is about all I know of for "stock options"....

I'm just sayin - start with prop - money on mods is wasted without a way to put the power in the water....

I doubt the 25 will turn the 9x8(2blade w/cup). MINE WON'T! Now if I had mods I might turn it. Hell if I could turn the 9x7 at a couple hundred more Id be flyin (for a longtail on a beat up old boat). Lot of fine tuning with the prop, within each prop-then ya wear it down or bam hit a rock and ya need a new (fixed) one!
Mods should outlast prop. Then you have the power all the time. You can then try to find the perfect prop. Or you can try find the perfect prop for your stock motor and find there are compromises-one is fast but won't carry a load or go through the mud.
Mine is really picky right now (9x8 3 blade) it likes all the weight in the rear of the boat!??? 3500-3600 rpms today 13mph....add mods-500 rpms and I'd be running 20 (i know cause i did it at 3900 with no load) so my unloaded speed becomes my loaded with just mods....?

I think the guys with longtails that had them modded will gladly speak up. I had mine modded and it improved greatly. I stayed the same prop pitch and size but rpm's increased a whole lot. With a new prop I went from 3300 to 4300. Went from 19 unloaded to 24. And loaded with gear, dekes and people went from 16 to 21. Call EVT, they do good work.