Man there has been some serious posting to this thread since I started it late last night. I appreciate the help.

So in my situation having a buddy with a normal outboard and sea ark that we can take if conditions are dangerous or a shallow engine isnt needed affects my decision on what to get....I should have mentioned that in the original post.

I had liked what i read about jet drives online (and by that i mean the yamaha and mercury websites...so obviously they werent gonna make them sound bad. The biggest problem i hear about the jet drive is that is sucks stuff up and clogs up the motor, but is this a common problem?...seems like if it was then no one would buy them. I am not at all opposed to a mud just curious about the jet drives.

Thanks again for the help on this topic

Why? Because of the extra weight in back? I guess you could get swamped easier...

first

Moose is just wrong about mudd motors. Jealous something not sure.

second when discussing wind as duck hunters we are not in any boat designed to go through big waves. Not a jon boat, doesnt matter what is powering it. Period. If you have a strong north wind you plan for it. You launch and hunt where you can safely go in your boat. A mudd motor can actually be a friend in these situations because you can grab the bank, and go. You do not need to be focused on a boat lane etc.

That being said I have some friends with an alum rig set up for bass fishing that can straight run through skinny water. Can it get where a mudd boat can? No. But it has jack plate tilt trim, and was built to run skinny. IE batteries moved to the front. Weight distribution is a huge part of it.

Also Moose when you said "I know boats, Judd. I know what hull designs do what."
i think you were implying Judd doesnt. Believe it or not Judd knows boat designers, he has riden in a few, he could walk up to the owner of the last American made, and owned company sit down bs and walk around the plant. So Judd knows boats too.

Here is a picture of a ProDrive lower unit:

http://image02.webshots.com/2/5/48/44/157154844trJrUq_fs.jpg

As far as finding someone to work on it...it is a commercial lawn mower motor. You can take it to any lawn mower shop.

At least the guy in Pottsboro has actually killed a few ducks.

Judd and I are friends, we're both pretty hardheaded, too.

I have some of his lifejackets, he's got one of my calls.

Hell, I loaned you two knuckleheads my decoys last year! Remember you had that hotspot, how many did yall kill?

are pro drives cream of the crop?? they look pretty bad ace

WOW, I go to lunch and you jokers start throwing punches...I like it.

Moose, you are right we are both hardheaded and it normally don't matter and you know I like you but there isn't any other way to put it but you are talking out of your *** bud. My PD (yes, mark it confirmed BTW) will do anything your WE will do and more. I did the research I know and most importantly I have at least been in a mud boat.

I'm not gonna say PD is the best out there and I own one. But their customer service and owner reminded me of BassCat's and I am used to a certain level of service and wouldn't be happy if I don't get it. Their reverse is different than other folks and it was better for me.

Go ride in them and see which one is the best for you. Right now it seems the GT and PD are the two on top though and those two and an Excel/Mudbuddy were the only 3 I looked at.

I figured you would want to take it red fishing before that...sure we can go mid Nov.

back off bobo..

what its only a two seater