Hey new guy here needing some help, I just got a 1444 polarkraft with a 20 HP beavertail. The prop is 9 inches not sure on the pitch, the boat got a 20 inch transom. I get 14 mph on the gps by myself. What would be the best way to gain a little more speed?

what rpms are you turning, also is your prop worn much
we would get about 16mph with a 16hp with one person in a 1442
i was turning a 9x4 or 9x5 prop
but with 5 people we got 5-6mph

Well I just order a tiny tach and I was told by the seller the prop was new. I going to move the battery and gas tank to the front to see if that help some. I actualy get 14/ 14.4 two guys no gear and 14.9/15 by myself . What kind of increase could I expect from cutting my transom down to 16 inches ?

thats a good question, but i dont have a clue, i know if it is designed for at 16 inch transom your prop angle is not going to be as efficent as it could be tho

If you're keeping that boat a while, heck yes, cut down the transom and it will be easier to drive, and you should realize a 2 mph gain. A cheap "mod" is to advance the throttle to around 4100 rpm out of the water, that should also net a small gain. Of course, I started with a 1436 w/ 18 hp LT, have progressed to a 1544/ 25 hp, and now a 1648/ 27 hp, and I would like an 1848/ 35 HP. Your rig is a fine two-man hunting platform but you've got to balance the load and take all due precautions. Since that motor is broken in, switch to synthetic oil and grease (eg. Mobil 1), remove any foam pre-cleaner that may be around the air cleaner, steelflex/gatorglide the hull bottom. If you are really ambitious and have extra $, check out those go kart/racing sites and trick up the motor with new carb, etc., get the $400 SS better flow muffler....vroom, vroom!

Before you cut the transom make sure you motor is for a short transom boat. You can tell by measuring the length of the shaft. With these motors weight displacement is key to getting the best performance out of what you have. Move things and people around to see what works best.

Hey Ray, the standard length LT for a short transom is 6' (72"). My hard headed friend ran an LT on a high transom and it was a bear to drive then finally I convinced him to cut down the transom. A couple of years ago he "graduated" to the shorty world and bought a short transom SD 35 HP. So if you cut it down you still have options...a recent convert to waterfowling bought only a bit larger hull than yours, a 1542 rivetted alumacraft and plunked down a Dixie 14 HP Honda SD on it a he gets 25 mph. by himself! Of course he souped up the carb and jets and whatnot and is probably around 17-18 hp by now. The SD is lightweight and so far very good. We run in sheltered marshes with shallow hard bottoms and little mud so we still use our LT's. It all depends where you run and your budget or your creative finances!

Thanks for all the great info I'll keep you all posted

Hey I hunt mainly lake okeechobee and the everglade 3A south and do believe the long tails do better down here I just would like to get as much speed as possible. Some time the duck move 15 plus miles into the everglade and it take forever to get back there. What prop size do you guys think would be the best on my 20 HP motor (2 guys 18 decoys two guns light load) ?

Hey Ray, I guess we're neighbors. I checked three longtail mfg.'s and two rated the 9x5 prop for the 20 HP another rated the 9x4. It is a question of trial and error as to which is the best match. You should have a backup prop regardless to carry you through the season. For example, my 27 HP LT is rated for the 9x7 on the different mfg. sites but I run much better with a 9x6. Did you advance the throttle to 4100 rpms? Let us know how it goes.

Thanks I just got two quart of super slick steel flex and now I'll order a 9x5 prop and see what it does