Alright need a little clarity. I have a 13hp longtail on my 17' river flat bottom. This boat has ribs on the bottom and I keep seeing posts about surface drives not working right unless you have a slick flat bottom. I live in Texas and hunt on lakes that just get shallow cause of drought. Im not trying to James Bond on dry land or spend all day in a mud flat doggin my motor around. Don't get me wrong it looks cool, anyways I can't front enough money for the motor and a new boat so any comments would be appreciated thanks. I want a surface drive to go faster in the Deep water to bass fish that's all.

Slap a big block on it and run it like you stole it. A SD has no problem with ribs, just performs better without when sliding over obstacles. And we don't James bind shit, we John Wayne

Forkin right, Rooster Cogburn style! Welcome to the site. Nobody is saying a ribbed boat won't go with a sd, we are just saying it is not ideal. Go ahead and slap a big block on it and use it until you can afford a mud motor hull. Warning! if you go for a ride with someone that has one of these hulls, you will have one within one year. Its a horrible addiction.

I had my gtr on a hull that had 3 ribs on it and it didn't stop me from doing anything. The only difference I saw was in thick hyacinth or straight mud. Still didn't deter me from doing anything or going anywhere.

Word!