Ive been duck hunting for the last 20 years on the Texas coast and finally broke down and bought me a mud motor. I had a buddy at work that got in a tight spot and pretty much gave it away. It is an Excel boat (after reading on here, Im embarrassed) with a 27 hp Mud Buddy. I took it out and am not impressed with the motor. I knew that before I bought it I would get a bigger motor. I hunt 3-4 people, dog and gear. The Excel boat is the 1651 model. My question is, what motor should I put on this POS boat?

Is that 27 hp Mudbuddy a surface drive or longtail? What year is the Excel?

Its a 2011 Excel with 27 hp MB Surface drive

27s are rough with a load, that being said NO mud motor runs like an outboard if that is what you are used to. Also before throwing the final kill switch on the 27 be sure to give it the old college try. Learning how to properly run a mud motor and balance a boat takes time, it's not just squeeze the throttle and go.

I had a 27pd for a while and i felt like you at first but after some tiller time things improved and it got me by. First time i took it out (first time to drive a mm) i was not in high spirits!

Good luck and welcome.

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I appreciate that. I hunted out of the boat this past duck season. 3 guys, a dog, dekes and gear. Wouldn't even get on plane. I took it out last week and had 2 adults, 2 kids and it ran good. Took some time but I think I figured it out. I took it out yesterday with my dad and brother and I....no bueno.

Buy it from Kevin?

Yeah, I bought it from that coonass! How do you know him?

He brought it to me for service last year.

Any advice?

Get rid of the 27 & get a 35. The 27 just doesn't have enough torque, & sucks for this application.

Yeah, looking to do just that. Reading on this forum, not to many Mud Buddy enthusiast.

It's a lil deeper than that, but I won't get into all that. You have a decent setup, but really need a better powerplant for it. One option to consider would be to just sell the Kohler & buy a Briggs for about $2500, then put it on your frame. Or just sell the MB & buy a new 35

I went out with Kevin the first day he had that boat (first day in the water).

With that hull size 3 grown men on a 27 is tough in deep water. Put a 35 on it and you will be fine.

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