Just wondering what to expect with my first mud motor purchase? I have looked at a lot of posts about electrical issues with some of the motors and engine mods being needed early on in the life of the motor. When something is wrong we see it here, when they work well not much said. I understand the want/need for trim and reverse. Just curious on what to expect. If I went mb HDR, do you carry a few switches in the tool box ? Are this simpler motors more reliable with less extras? Do the benefits out weigh the cons? Do long tails out perform sd that much better in shallow sandy/rocky waters? I know this is a ton of questions, just want some honest answers on realistic expectations.

Use the search feature.
You really don't see many electrical issues early on into the life of the motor.
Some were EFI issues.
and other electrical issues will happen if you sink the motor under water, or you just flat out don't take care of it.
Reverse is like a gun, you don't think you will need it, until you need it.
Majority of these engines have many, many hours on them with no problems at all.

Do research on this site for what you're looking to do, and you will answer your questions yourself.

Thanks for the replies. I have a mud buddy and pro drive/copper dealers a few hours from where I live. Just need to make a decision for my boat.

The MB HDR has a sealed Mercury Trim Switch and Mil grade sealed Shift Switch- major upgrades from the old HD ones (which really didn't fail very often).

Since you live a ways from the dealer i would go GD. It will keep miles off your truck

Prodrive is the way to go!


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Yes poodrive is the ticket

I'm with Jimmy GTR all the way. It's lighter than the slowdrive, and I haven't had a problem with mine, it starts up every time I turn the key and has gotten me out of tight spots. Also you don't know how handy reverse is until you need it.

In the end they are all labeled one brand no matter if it's got a briggs, kohler, robin, kawasaki, or whatever. IEan my title and registration says 35 gatortail not 35 briggs gatortail

A pd will outrun your gtr in reverse, and by a significant margin with a heavier load. Also doesn't matter what your title/registration says when it comes to the engine starting or not. That has nothing to do with the brand of frame said engine is bolted to.

All 1 more hp? It's geared differently and uses a different prop, apples to watermelons.....

I can't disagree about the reverse on the gtr being slow but it was either pay 10 grand for a mud buddy without reverse or 8 for the gtr when I bought mine. Prodrive was a 2 hour drive just to look at one.

That boat you got there is just a bad sumbeech, that's how that works...

Maybe its cause the GTR's engines come stock with valves that don't leak and lash that never needs to be checked?
and maybe the stock PD's valves leak more and lash is always out of wack?
Because, you know, 1 title says GTR and the other says Prodrive, not Briggs

They're all powered by pos Briggs no matter who makes the lower! I am still amazed at how many people think one is better than the other as far as the power head.

I hope one day soon Honda will make a 35 hp horizontal air cooled engine so I can be rid of this Briggs bs.


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If you haven't bought yet your best bet would be to test drive as many brands as you can if that's possible. I