So I'm looking at getting mud buddy HD mine 23hp or the mud buddy HD mine 27hp. Need Help. My boat is 16'x48 riveted alumacaft flatbootm with a dry weight of the boat around 300lbs. Is one better then the other? what would the avg speeds be? I would be run the boat with two people sometime 3 people, a dog, decoy, and gear at a elevation from 3500ft up 5000ft in Montana. I will be mostly running the motor on lake's and river's with areas of sallow hard rock bottom, weeded areas, and muddy/sandy areas. Is there advantage of one over the other motor?

The 27 is a slug.. if at all possible look into gatortails 25.

I have the 27 it ain't the fastest motor and suck at carrying a load

If those are the only two options, 23 for sure.

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I not sure if my boat can handle the heavy motor with the transom I have on my boat. That why I'm looking at the Mud buudy HD mini's because they are a light motor and that motor weighs the same as my yamaha 1987 40hp outboard which has SH** the bed. My boat 1980 that this rated to a 35hp. I may do some mods to motor, but more less looking to run the motor stock.

I owned a 2011 MB 23HD Sport. The "heavy one" with 40" shaft. I had a very cheap transom bracing mod done by a local welder. This was on a 1984 1648 rivited MonArk boat. Boat ran 24mph with me and 20-22mph with two guys, dog, hunt load. My opinion, spend $100-$250 to beef up your transom at a local welder and buy a 25gtr. Your load sounds a little heavy for the 23hp. I know because I've had pretty close to your rig. The money you'll put into modding a 23hp you can just buy a 25gtr for. And it will handle a load stock. Mine with 6 grown men was a constant 23mph. 16.5' x 46". Yours should do better by being a hair wider or at least close to same. Your gonna want the trim and reverse is nice. Or save money and get the 25gt with NO reverse. Might be a little lighter. But the 23 and 27 are turds compared to my 25gtr. I drive 27 GD at work everyday and as stated above, owned the 23MB. Hope this helps.

Can someone elaborate on the transom bracing? What do you do, weld a steel or aluminum plate to one side or the other? Many thanks in advance, I'm upgrading from a 25 horse outboard. I probably don't need the extra strength but a wise man once said it's better to have and not need than need and not have.

Thanks again

I had plates welded outside and inside. Plus channel from middle transom angled to bottom of boat(on last rib). Then had 2 flat bars on on each side of motor from top of transom to back of bench seat. Held like a champ.