So I was beating around the marsh this morning when my 31hp vangaurd blew the sides right out of it. It was good to me, but where I hunt I had a hard time with the prop loosing bite in the really soupy mud and of course its a bear to drive. Rather than replace the motor I'm thinking upgrading a Mud buddy surface drive. I was looking at he 27HD sport and the 27hp mini hd lite. I like the idea of having the Mini for less weight, but I noticed it has a manual trim vs the electric and I'm not sure how big of a deal that is. Anyone have experience with these 2 motors? Performance wise should they be about the same?

let me add a pic.

get trim

And a big block. The difference between the 27 and 35 is only about 20 lbs.

I'd look at some other manufactures too.

Any advice on other brands? Really like the gator tails, but they didn't offer a 27 and i'd like to stay around 4500

Electric no doubt and u my as well go with a 35 x2

The 25subaru costs a little more than the kohler, so the cost of a complete setup using that powerhead will be a little more expensive. I still think they are close to 5000 without reverse though


Brand new 27 pd is 4770.

If your looking for speed get a big block, I ran a 23 on my 17x48 and it ran great (21-24mph) with one person, after you put a couple people, a dog, and all your hunting gear it sucked! Got a big block now and it's night and day different

Just went from a 23 bandi mini lite to a 35 mini. There is no comparison. The stock 35 is a beast compared to a mod 23. My 35 now has 35 hours on it as a 5500BAMF and I hauled 26 5/4 x 12 foot deck boards, two 10yr old kids, 70 pound lab, 120 qt ice chest and me (180) 21 in deep water. running 30 with a typical two man hunt load. Piss on the small block. I will saw I could do stuff with the light motor that the big one won't but the big block will go places the little guys can't dream of. Hope this helps

Thanks guys, I guess I'll start looking for a big block also, just seem like they are a lot more money. lol, I like speed, but I was more interested in getting something light that isn't going to sink my boat. I'm already weighted down pretty heavy. Running a 16' XW XD jon boat with a fully enclosed hard blind, 2 guys a dog and a couple dozen decoys. With the 31hp longtail I could get about 15mph so I'm looking for more speed that way, but main problem is where I hunt the mud was so soupy that I just couldn't get traction with the longtail, I had to try and hold the prop in the clean water to get bite and when it only got a couple inches deep I was really screwed. I think something that runs on the surface would be a lot better.