I own a 2006 long tail go devil with a 16x48 go devil boat. I really am thinking hard about selling my long tail to purchase a surface drive, but I really do not know anyone personally who has one around my neck of the woods.....Which ones do you guys strongly recommend for my rig? The long tail is nice as hell....but yall know how slow and hard to turn the long tails can be at times!? Any kind of suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

it just depends on the types of places you will be running around in.....the needs you will have to fullfill with it, etc.....drive down to south LA and go on a demo ride, that'll tell you if you like the full power reverse PD or the instant reverse gator tail. if you dont need reverse go on a demo ride in a go-devil or mud buddy, neither have revers. and if you dont need neutral just go demo the go devil.

Most people on here will just insist der motor brand is da best just cause dat is what they hae. They will never confess that they wish they wen't with another brand..... even as I'm pullin der stuck ass out da mud wit my GTR.

And in the words of the infamous Brooks " Thats a matr FACT"

Carolina, Where are you from exactly?
I assume SC or NC, so if I'm correct, I probably know enough people that would want to go play that we could get you down to run a PD, MB, GTR (I think there is a local dealer now) and GD all in one day/weekend to compare them...
Can't guarantee the GD, but pretty sure I could talk a big enough group into going that you could figure out an idea of what you would need. Area I'm referring to is near Charleston, SC. We have plenty of mud on the right tide (can check ahead of time) and definitely plenty of trees to cut down and about any kind of grass you can imagine. Can't guarantee any of the other brands will be fond of you hitting trees, but I will gladly let you cut down anything you see under 3-4 inches (welcome to try larger) and jump all you want. Not a dealer, but still biased heavily towards the PD as I have been punishing them for close to 5 years now and the PD just keeps asking for more! Only reason I am on #2 now is I wanted more boat and power.

Check PM as I don't want to publish a complete novel here...

Carolina, where you at? I could get you a ride in a PD, GTR, or MB if you are close by.

I am from a hicktown called Edgefield, SC (which I am sure noone on here knows where that is! ha ha it's close to North Augusta or Aiken South Carolina and close the Augusta, GA Border). I would love to be able to test drive something before I made the purchase, but just do not know anyone personally around my way that even owns one. I do a good bit of hunting down in the ace basin area near Beafort and Hampton area in the marshes to have a mud motor really helps out alot. I am happy with the long tail type motor, but like I said I am not getting the speed I am from my rig, has no neutral, and is a PAIN in the ass to turn and all. I usually run with 2 to 3 people in boat including myself, and my 27 long tail just aint what I am looking for in my rig. I don't know much about any types of Mud Motors either long tails or surface drives.....I just run it to wherever I can get on the ducks and I have been reading up on the surface drives and just think it would complete what I want. I have been thinking hard about a Pro Drive, but jsut was curious what kind of speeds I would be running and if it would fulfill my needs in what I am looking for. Thanks for all the inputs fellas cause I am new to all of this.

Also, I see that some of these motors have hydraulic trims and all.....does this mean when something is hit like a stump or something the motor will not kick up? Because I am definately not looking for that type deal being a hunt down in Santee Swamp and different area where hittin things is almost inevitable. Thanks fellas

i know for a fact that the PD and GT motors kick up when something is hit b/c i owned a PD before i bought my gator-tail. im not sure about the others, i havent ridden in them or even been close to em to have a look. im sure someone will chime in.

they all kick up. the ones with power trim have a slotted bracket that holds the ram in place, so the bolt slides up when something is hit. the gd jus floats up

Carolina, I work in Columbia and go back to Moncks Corner (near Charleston) every weekend just about. If you wanted to run them, definitely would be willing to try to get everyone together so there would be a variety to try out. Also, if you aren't in a huge hurry, I highly recommend you attend the Sparkleberry Swamp Poker Run (or Duck Run as they now call it) out of Pack's Landing in Rimini (upper end of Lake Marion - just North of Santee), as this would surely allow you an opportunity to see a wide variety of mud motors in action relatively close to home. There is also the day after the poker run on the Cooper River in which you could see a good bit of rigs playing in the mud too, since Sparkleberry is more sand and stumps than actual mud like the ricefields I assume you hunt in the ACE Basin. If you need info let me know or keep an eye on the MMT Forums as May and June approach as this is traditionally the time of year for the Sparkleberry Swamp run.

Im about 5 mins out of aiken and have a 27hp gtr would be willin to show you around your area. just let me know.