Buddy of mine is wanting to upgrade motors on the little duck boat. He has a 1546 Alumacraft with an 18HP Nissan. We've about torn the little Nissan up. The boat has a 15" transom we believe and rated for 25HP with a load weight of 800 plus. What motor would you suggest for this boat knowing we will will hunt the backs of slews and pockets but will probably run open water getting there. Lots of trees and stumps in the route as well. We hunt public for the most part. Thanks in advance for the advice.

Can't beat a Mercury.

My boat has a Johnson and I wish it was a Merc.

Mudmotor

Gator Tail surface drive GTR23. Not sure if the boat is big enough for that motor but I know it could handle a Mud Buddy surface drive Mini HD sport 23hp.

I agree with yentzen, get a mudmotor. I'd think in that small of a boat with a 20hp direct drive you could run 18mph+

Mud motors are cool until you have to drive in water deeper than a foot.

Yeah they will run shallow, but there is no skeg and you might as well be in a sailboat in open water. Same as an airboat.

I have an outboard, I just trim it up, center the weight and putt along in 6" of water all day long. Plus I can take the boat on any run and fish out of it, too.

Word. Thats what I do.

Go devil makes a lot of smaller surface drives as well. Taking that boat in places that only a mudmotor will go, will have that hull destroyed in a couple of years. Then you can get a real mud rig.

All mud motors have a skeg. Get an outboard, that way I can blow by you going 30 while you and moose are putting along with your motors trimmed up.

We do the tilted outboard now. It's okay, but doesn't like to push through the nasty stuff.

but it goes both ways because I can blow by 99% of the mud motors on open water. I get to the back waters first and honestly that's what matters when dealing with some of the yahoos when there's only one area in a certain cove to hunt don't get me wrong I'll have a MM one day, but I'll probably stick with an outboard too as some lakes don't really need a MM

Mud motors have their place.

They are specialized equipment, and I'd rather have an airboat than a mudboat.

A regular old outboard is way more versatile.

To each is own.

You Aint never rode in my boat. Ill put it up against any outboard And run where the airboats run.

I agree, there are places and times but for what we are trying to do, outboard is going to get torn to peices. I've taken it three trips to my hole and it already vibrates and tore up the lock/release lever. Time to do something about that. I also can't get all the way into my spot to conceal it. Keep em coming fellas.

Sharp. Give me the details on that bad boy please.

Here are the details. It is a bad arse boat.

My boat drives fine in open water. It is not as easy as driving my old center console fishing rig but it will do.

LOL, kinda what I figured. You have a GDSD right?

Yes I do!! But if we start going into brands then it will step on this guys thread. I am too hung over to defend Mud Motor brands today .

yen
I never realized yours has a console. Do you think it handles the same as tiller steer? Obviously you can't turn as fast, but I've always wonder how the MMs were with a console because you don't see very many of them. I assume it's easier to control the tilt when necessary?

I think you've done it right on that one brother!

Wal you're too hungover to argue MMs?? Never thought I'd hear the day.

Not as pretty as yentzen's boat, but definitely gets the job done. 250+ hours without a single problem.

Well it's my thread so I'm asking for opinions.

I think he was too hungover to notice it was yours



yentzen...never rode in a mud boat but especially interested in riding in yours...it knows where the ducks are . That is a dayum nice ride.

Obviously I had too much this weekend to say what I just said. TBK yes I have a GDSD. Sorry I didn't realize you were the one who posted originally.

Here is my take. All the Mud Motors have a claim to fame. All owners have a claim about there own and why wouldn't they? I have had a ot of mud motors and they all give performance voer the other one in some shape or fashion.

My best suggestion is to try several of them. If you ask what the best is on here or any other forum then your are getting some good and some bad information. You will never be able to see what is good and what is bad information until you drive it yourself. Even if you were to demo the motors your not going to know exactly which is the best for your application. That is why I have had several mud motors.

Years ago I just had to have the longtail. It was all that was out there at the time. It was great, at the time. Then SD motors hit. Oh crap I had to get one. I listened and bought without really driving all of them. Then I had to sell and buy again.

I can look at Yentzens rig and wish I got a center console. If I did then I would have been stuck like Chuck's Uncle last weekend. I got way up on a hard mud flat where the prop would not go down into the mud. I saw a 300 pound hog just looking at us in ankle deep water. I stopped and then remembered. I had to lift the tiller handle and grind out for over 100 yards and spent a prop doing it. Yentzen would have to clear up what a fella is to do with the center console and diggin for a long way. I have not driven a center console so I am not totally sure what you would have to do.

I can look at anybody elses boat whether it be GT GD MB PD and like a lot about it. Call me a duck boat slut, it fits. I just can't stand it when somebody offer information when they have no freakin idea what they are talking about.

If you want I can arrange a demo and I am sure Yentzen can hook you up with a dealer for PD as well. I would take a lot of time and a lot of thought before droppin a nickel on a motor. I would not take advice but use it. Meaning take everything you are told with a grain of salt and just let it all soak in.

So take this with a grain as well. I bought GD because it does what I need and it has no frills. It is carbon steel which I can grind on and weld up if in the event I need to. The internal parts are minimal and can be accessed within 10 minutes by removing the rear plate. It can be put back on with no gasket, just silicone. There are no bells and whistles to it at all. Just a mud motor.

Belts will burn up especially if you don't check the tension. I didn't and burned up a belt. I got a new one and it was easy to replace.

A lot of people always say I don't want to adjust the manual trim(trim knob which its turned by hand). You don't have to drive and trim it at the same time. I have my trim knob backed all the way out because I don't need it. When I stop and take off again the prop finds the surface on its own. You don't have to trim it out. The only time I use the trim is when I am checking the oil at home or working on something and need it level on the trailer.

That is an example of how the mud motor wars get started on the internet. When I speak of a no frills motor, somebody will inevitably say "Who wants to have to manually trim a GD motor?" Nobody wants to but you don't need to.

Your welcome to pm me if you have any questions. I am sure any of the other mm owners will offer the same.