I have a 1652 weldbilt that I have a 25 horse on right now. With 3 guys a dog and 2 dozen decoys I can hardly get the thing to get on plane. I'm looking to get into the mud motor game but I'm not sure what size I would want to get or if I should go the long tail or surface drive route? Any help would be appreciated thanks

it all depends on what hunting conditions you will be in, but with that kinda load, you've gotta go with a big block.
Anything else and you will be disappointed.

What are the river conditions where you hunt? muddy, sand, deep water? You might just want to step up to a bigger outboard if you don't "need" a mud motor. Just my .02


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I was thinking the same thing, honestly unless your spot require a mud motor to get to, I would go up in horsepower on an outboard.. In my experience an outboard will always outrun a mud motor in open water and are much better at hauling loads, if you don't get the weight perfect with a mud motor you wont see accurate results.. If you're dead set on a mud motor you certainly don't want a longtail. I would go with the largest big block SD you can afford, permitting the boat will support it, also maybe consider welding pods on the boat if it does not already have them

What's any of this got to do with the weather?

16x52 weldbuilt will support any of the brands of surface drives or longtails named above.

Yup. You're correct there in most cases pods do cause a "lack of performance" however since Jon doe appears to be trying to haul an astronomical unit of weight if he was to go with a 35hp the more than likely un-even distribution of weight would also equate to a "lack of performance". However if he decided to go with a 45hp and pods, the pods would create more floatation, allowing Jon doe to more evenly distribute the weight. That being said yes there would be some loss or performance but it would be made up by the extra horsepower and the more evenly distributed weight.

I still say no go on the pods.
I have a 16x48 with a 36 prodrive, and haul that weight and then some.
Gas tank and Battery are in the back also.

But the OP should go with a 16ft or bigger boat, with a big block mud motor, if there is a need for a mudmotor.

My dad has a 1652 with pods. He got lucky that they throw water mostly correctly to the prop, but that is so much not the norm. Better to weld a whole hunt deck on the back than doing pods. Big block is the only way to go, and mods will help. That's a small boat for a 3 person and gear load if you're looking for speed. Figure without pods, a stock 35, and 3 people with gear, you'll get around 21-22 mph once you get on plane (from experience, I could do 24 solo with my old motor, and I'd run a tad faster than him with my uncle in his boat, we ran the same with him having three and me having 2 at 22mph). With pods done correctly, about the same, but it'll float a tad higher when still. With pods done wrong, figure it'll float a tad higher, lose 2-3 mph on top, and won't get on plane as well in really shallow water. Just get the motor, or a bigger boat. Don't have expectations only to not get what you're looking for and be disappointed.