Our duck season in Ohio started on the 13th. We tested the boat(1542 riveted) and motor(13hp Honda with Thai kit) about a week ago. We were having problems with the aluminum props that came with the kit and the shaft would not accept a stainless so we made a shaft and a spare to take a ss prop. We were so exited dreaming about passing guys that are rowing and spraying them with swamp water during the season. The dream was short-lived. The motor ran great threw the deeper Channel. When we needed to get out of the channel to go threw the lilies it wouldn't go. The root structure is to solid and there is not enough water on top of the roots to allow the prop to get in the water. With the skeg on the roots there is about 1" of prop showing out of the water. We had the worst drought on record so I am hoping for some rain, but until than we are back to rowing and my dads heart condition is not getting better. I am wondering if I went with a 23 bw or gd if that would help or only having 6 to 8 inches of water the hp won't make a difference. The test run was with me,dad,motor and a chunk of lead=750lbs. Any input would be great. I am also debating on just getting a fan boat but I would need to buy one that can run ice with hydraulic separators for lake Erie and I don't have 50 grand on me

750 # chunk of lead? bet that was a bitch to get in the boat.

That also might have been your problem....

I'm gonna say it before woodie does, the 23hp would be a much better option in your case be it BW or GD. There is absolutely no comparison between the solid welded frame motors and those kits. Those thai kits are junk, I can't believe people are still selling these things, I couldn't sleep at night if I sold em....

I don't know what size boat ole Woodiebuster is running but that longtail he has does pretty dang good. You give him six inches and he will make it work like John Holmes w/ his 14".

Get a good longtail or one of the small surface drives and you will be ok. You went cheap the first time and it has bitten you in the ass.

Woodie, I will explain who John Holmes is on our next meeting.

The " chunk of lead " must be the battery...Or is he like Holmes

The only thing I got in common with John Holmes is itchy balls. What I don't see is how any hp motor can make it threw water so shallow that the prop is not all the way in the water(please tell me different). There are no deeper spots in the lilies to get me movin. It is consistently 6 to 8". Thanks for the feedback. I am sorry I cannot have give advise on this site yet I am asking so many questions. Makes me kinda feel like a doush

You'd be surprised what a LT will go through. The water dropped in one of my favorite spots for the opener but I went anyway. It got so shallow in spots that only half the prop was in the water, but it dug through to the deeper water. I started from a dead stop in less than 8 inches of water, get some stick time, that's where the LT shines over the SD rigs.

Unless your running a sand bottom or a bottom thats hard as a rock I dont need water to get up and run and thats with a 20 hp go devil. I can get me and a 300 pound friend up and on a plain in a inch of water if the bottoms not to hard.

"and a chunk of lead=750lbs"

Explain what you mean by that.

IF you really put a 750lbs chunk of lead in your boat and you have a 13hp, all I can say is..

Really? You are lucky it even moved from the dock, and please explain why you did that....

test run was with me,dad,motor and a chunk of lead=750lbs

Yal are reading to deep into this, between the motor, him, and his dad there was 750 pounds.
Motor=150 ish
Him= 200ish ?
Dad= 200ish ?
CHUNK of lead?= 200 ish idk

I've ran/rode with just about every set up imaginable, and I can tell you this.

Over a hard bottom like you have, a longtail will run shallower than anything else... IF you can KEEP it on step. I can run my 24hp & 14x42 in 5-6 inches of water over sand for a pretty good ways if I can stay on plane, but you have got to have more than that to take back off or poke around. I ran a 13LT for a couple of seasons in Lillies and places just like you describe and I can tell you, unless you have almost 1' of water it ain't going very far! Anytime that hull starts dragging, the motor just doesn't have enough power to keep you going.

It may not be an option, but a 23+ American Longtail should meet your needs a little better.

That's what I'm talking about John...tell him.

Sorry, but I'm too young to know WTF you are talkin' about!

!!!!!!!!!
I had a 1552 jon with a 16hp lt on it. Sucked for speed, but torque like a mofo. Tide went out on us one morning & boat was sitting in pure mud. Cranked up & walked it right on out. Reason I tell the story is just to reiterate, long tail will go thru more than yall think.

Google John Holmes...or just ask Danny.

Or better yet, ask your mom, in front of Danny

Note**** this was not a slanderous remark or anything towards Mrs Austin.

I'll just google it......

Don't forget to clear history afterwards. Hahaha

You choose to go cheap, others choose to buy a motor that was preassembled and field proven, everyone is different.

I have come to the conclusion that the marsh I hunt is just not mud motor able . If I have 6" of water and the prop is only half under water and the back of the boat is sitting on roots as hard as wood it just won't work. I talked with the warden and he said fan boats are not allowed in marsh because of a law passed that says it will over pollenate certain plants. Sounds like bs but oh well. I can't use amphibious vehicles because no motor vehicles are allowed. The only option is to quit duck hunting and take up a more manly hobby. Tomorrow night I am going to my first open microphone poetry reading. I hope I will enjoy this as much as crumpling ducks