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Pros/Cons of a mud motor? #5563542 01/25/15 07:00 PM
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txtrophy85 Online Content OP
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getting closer on my gator trax boat.

I've never had much experience with a mud motor, only one trip in a jon boat over on caddo that was pushing a jon boat.

what are some of the pros/cons vs. a traditional outboard?


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564037 01/26/15 12:19 AM
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Nobody run mud motors?


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564148 01/26/15 01:14 AM
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I run a Prodrive. Only con I can think of is speed with a load but they have mods to help with that. I can run 27 w/ 3 guys, gear and a dog. Plenty fast for me, especially in the dark.



Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564323 01/26/15 02:37 AM
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I have a GTR. Takes some getting used to but no cons as of yet.

Like mentioned above not the fastest things but if i wanted to go fast I would have got a bassboat.


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Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564515 01/26/15 03:54 AM
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Pro - can run in shallow water

Con - not as fast as outboard


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Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564698 01/26/15 05:54 AM
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From what I have seen, another con is the motors don't last as long as outboard and not as east to reverse.

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: huntingag01] #5564747 01/26/15 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted By: huntingag01
From what I have seen, another con is the motors don't last as long as outboard and not as east to reverse.


It's a lawnmower motor. They last plenty long enough. Mine was more reliable than any outboard I've ever had.




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Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564754 01/26/15 10:24 AM
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Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5564848 01/26/15 01:28 PM
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I ran them for years. If I had to choose I would take a good 2 stroke motor over a mud motor any day of the week. I never got 27 miles per hour with gear 3 guys and a dog. Out of all the motors I had, the fastest made 22 MPH with a light load. Now it was on a heavy 20 foot gator trax. Everything little thing different will effect the performance. I can't help but think a little 60 yamahammer on the back of that Gator Trax would make it skip like a flat stone going across the water. With a tunnel on that Gator Trax and a 60 you could run an easy 5 inches of water. Do you really have to have somethhing that will run through straight mud. I like to think I have hunted the bad lands, the spot where nobody else could get to. Well that is all I was doing was thinking. I could have gone out to the bay and killed the same 6 ducks without having to go way back in the marsh. If you sit back and approach this with an educated pro and con thought process, I see it as a no brainer. Aluminum, 2 stroke, center console, rod holders, Shiner Bock. What else do you need?

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: wal1809] #5564875 01/26/15 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted By: wal1809
Everything little thing different will effect the performance.


x2
weight distribution, grade of gasoline, what side of the bed your motor woke up on....they are very fickle.


Originally Posted By: wal1809
Do you really have to have somethhing that will run through straight mud.


No, but I can run through a stumpfield full throttle like I was in a bumper boat!

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: wal1809] #5565068 01/26/15 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: wal1809
What else do you need?


The legit duck hunter image...duh


Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: TXPride] #5565073 01/26/15 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted By: TXPride
Originally Posted By: wal1809
What else do you need?


The legit duck hunter image...duh


I believe you and I are looking at the same target here.

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: FowlDreams] #5565077 01/26/15 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted By: FowlDreams
Originally Posted By: huntingag01
From what I have seen, another con is the motors don't last as long as outboard and not as east to reverse.


It's a lawnmower motor. They last plenty long enough. Mine was more reliable than any outboard I've ever had.


Yeah they are cheap and easy to fix... outboards are nothing but a headache..

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: Navasot] #5565238 01/26/15 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted By: Navasot
Originally Posted By: FowlDreams
Originally Posted By: huntingag01
From what I have seen, another con is the motors don't last as long as outboard and not as east to reverse.


It's a lawnmower motor. They last plenty long enough. Mine was more reliable than any outboard I've ever had.


Yeah they are cheap and easy to fix... outboards are nothing but a headache..


I wouldn't say that at all about an outboard. I bought one not realize hole 4 had a smoked piston. When I say smoked I mean the aluminum actually melted like a beer can in the campfire. I was hesitant but I tore the powerhead all the way down to a block and took it to the machine shop. They bored it out and ordered me a ring, bearing and gasket kit. All that was $1100. I put it back together and it runs like a r***d ape. I was very apprehensive to try it. Afterwards I figured that was the easiest engine biuld I have ever done. I biult my first engine at 16 years old. It was a Ford 351M. It took me all summer. I had that Johson powerhead off and at the machine shop in 4 hours flat including a 30 minute drivetime. The mud motors are cheap and easy to fix. But I have to throw that out there about the 2 strokes.

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565290 01/26/15 04:46 PM
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My Gator Trax 1850 & Mud Buddy 5500 runs 31 with me, dog & gear. 26-28 with 4 people dog and gear


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Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: wal1809] #5565329 01/26/15 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted By: wal1809
Originally Posted By: Navasot
Originally Posted By: FowlDreams
Originally Posted By: huntingag01
From what I have seen, another con is the motors don't last as long as outboard and not as east to reverse.


It's a lawnmower motor. They last plenty long enough. Mine was more reliable than any outboard I've ever had.


Yeah they are cheap and easy to fix... outboards are nothing but a headache..


I wouldn't say that at all about an outboard. I bought one not realize hole 4 had a smoked piston. When I say smoked I mean the aluminum actually melted like a beer can in the campfire. I was hesitant but I tore the powerhead all the way down to a block and took it to the machine shop. They bored it out and ordered me a ring, bearing and gasket kit. All that was $1100. I put it back together and it runs like a r***d ape. I was very apprehensive to try it. Afterwards I figured that was the easiest engine biuld I have ever done. I biult my first engine at 16 years old. It was a Ford 351M. It took me all summer. I had that Johson powerhead off and at the machine shop in 4 hours flat including a 30 minute drivetime. The mud motors are cheap and easy to fix. But I have to throw that out there about the 2 strokes.


Right... but you can buy a whole engine for a mud motor for that kind of money

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565377 01/26/15 05:30 PM
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True that

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565401 01/26/15 05:39 PM
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How do surface drives handle big deep water on a windy day? I imagine the prop spends half the time out of the water, but maybe I'm over-thinking it. I know that isn't what they are designed for, just wondering.

Yesterday was not a fun ride back to the ramp.


Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: LarryCopper] #5565422 01/26/15 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted By: LarryCopper
How do surface drives handle big deep water on a windy day? I imagine the prop spends half the time out of the water, but maybe I'm over-thinking it.

Yesterday was not a fun ride back to the ramp.

You are correct, performance is cut. If you are on big water on a windy day (10mph+), it will definitely cut your performance, as you don't have much prop in the water with waves. I had a scary situation on opening day where the wind picked up (not forecasted to) and we had to cross an ocean of whitecaps in an 18" side boat. I have a Pro-Drive 1848 with a 36hp PD mud motor, and what normally took 15min to get back to the ramp took about 30. I was soaking wet as well. I decided I was done with that lake after that.....although mother nature took care of that for me with the water level drop and subsequent closure of the ramps, lol.

All that said, if you have a place that requires shallow running and stumps/debris, they are hands down better than an outboard.

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565429 01/26/15 05:52 PM
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PS...mine runs about 26 with 3 guys and a load of gear.

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565479 01/26/15 06:16 PM
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I have a 60HP outboard and there were plenty of times I wished I had a mudmotor to get me places I couldn't get to in my boat. I can run 32mph with 2 guys and gear and I would trade that for a mudmotor that could only go 22-25 with that same load, any day of the week.


Say When.....
Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565483 01/26/15 06:22 PM
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Like mohunter told me a long time ago, you'll fly by me on the open water but I'll catch up and fly past you while you're out pushing your boat to your spot......he was correct.


Say When.....
Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: Guitars&Guns] #5565540 01/26/15 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted By: Guitars&Guns
Originally Posted By: LarryCopper
How do surface drives handle big deep water on a windy day? I imagine the prop spends half the time out of the water, but maybe I'm over-thinking it.

Yesterday was not a fun ride back to the ramp.

You are correct, performance is cut. If you are on big water on a windy day (10mph+), it will definitely cut your performance, as you don't have much prop in the water with waves. I had a scary situation on opening day where the wind picked up (not forecasted to) and we had to cross an ocean of whitecaps in an 18" side boat. I have a Pro-Drive 1848 with a 36hp PD mud motor, and what normally took 15min to get back to the ramp took about 30. I was soaking wet as well. I decided I was done with that lake after that.....although mother nature took care of that for me with the water level drop and subsequent closure of the ramps, lol.

All that said, if you have a place that requires shallow running and stumps/debris, they are hands down better than an outboard.


Any boat is going to slow down in rough water than when its calm though... iv taken my little 10hp longtail in stuff that kept bass boats at the dock... I paddled back in one of those times bobbing up and down like a quark though lol

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: Navasot] #5565551 01/26/15 07:14 PM
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lol444

I say surface drive or long tail hands down over outboard....but be prepared for a sticker shock.

Re: Pros/Cons of a mud motor? [Re: txtrophy85] #5565558 01/26/15 07:17 PM
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Guess we will find out. Just cut a deal on a boat with a surface drive on it


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