Need to get a motor for my boat...it's a 14' Lowe. My budget is in the ballpark of 3-3.5k. I'm leaning towards a longtail right now, was wondering if anyone has recommendations on a brand. I'm going to be pushing some heavy weight sometimes with 3 guys and a dog, but I'm not super concerned with speed. Hoping to get access to a whole new batch of spots running in more shallow water. Top candidates currently are the Backwater SWOMP 23 or 25 for the EFI , but also looking at Mud Buddy's 23hp Longtail, 23HP Mayhem

I can tell you mud buddy has good warranty stuff. Just got my boat back today. I have a 55 mag full surface drive though, not long tail.

I did all the research earlier this spring. I settled on a swamp light 23. I'm liking it so far. I will change out the throttle lever after this season though. I'm getting 20 mph with 2 guys but no load. Its not a speed engine thats for sure. But the reliability is second to none and thats what I wanted. Besides, early in the morning in those stump infested waters speed is not an issue. But you do yearn for it on the way out lol. I strictly use mine as transport boat and will not fish out of it. Thats one of the reasons I went with a LT. I've gotten use to no reverse and no true neutral (neutral on a LT is lifting the prop out of the water). If i was going to fish and hunt out of it then I would have went with another engine and boat. My boat is a 15/40 and it was a project. (1978 fisher)

I have a great duck rig for what/where I hunt and am very happy so far.

Very helpful thanks. Why did you go with the light version...15lbs doesn't sound like much, but I haven't figured out if you lose any features.

Why would you say you wouldn't hunt out of it?

I've got a mud buddy 27hp. Needs upper and lower bearings and possibly a shafted. I'd sell for 950. You'd prolly have another 200 to get it right.

I've got a Go-Devil 23hp longtail. It's been a good reliable motor, 2002 model I believe. Replacing parts is easy.

I use it on a 15/38 riveted boat and got a little over 20mph with a new prop.

Friend of mine has a 14' Lowe and gets about the same speed with his 23hp.

It gets the job done and I've gone a lot of places I normally couldn't with an outboard.

Lot of weight in the back of the boat though, just gotta come to a gradual stop instead of just killing the motor, good possibility you'll get swamped in the back.

No reverse is something to get used to, but it's never bothered me a much.

Turning radius will be cut short with a long tail, and you will be standing up most of the time to drive the thing, once again, never bothered me much.

You can dig a hole with a long tail when you get in a bind, can also use the tail as a paddle to spin yourself around.

I've enjoyed mine and plan on keeping it for a good while at least.

As far as brands go these days I'm kind out of the loop. It's been a while since I looked into all of them.

I used to order my replacement props from these guys http://www.backwaterinc.com/ and I always thought they were very helpful people.

Same warranty and every pound counts when you want to get into very shallow water. And Jake at backwater said to get the small lawn battery...I was going to go with a bigger battery. Glad I took his advise. Even if the battery goes down you can still pull the rope start. Again all about getting rid of weight. I do not plan on hunting out of it for 3 reasons. I seek out the shallow backwater ducks where you can stand/sit and a 40" wide boat on the bottom is not stable as the wider boats. Plus you would need a blind to put in the boats for cover....more weight In a pinch if I saw divers out in the middle of the lake I would maybe take a stab at them hunting out the boat but that's not in the plans. Besides my buddy just got a new Prodigy/mudbuddy. We'll take his for open water ducks I'll try to post some pics later.

If you can, I would save up and buy the super longtail made by mud buddy