Need to get a new motor for the GatorTrax. It is leaking oil, pretty bad, at the gasket crank case between the oil sensor and oil filter, that is where they all leak eventually. I'm told by experts I should not run it any more or it could crack the block. So I'm not going to mess with fixing it, I'm just going to sell the motor and get a new one, I'm might just get a whole new boat.



As far as motor goes, looking at the Mudbuddy HDR 40 EFI or the GTR40. My heart is telling me mudbuddy, my brain is telling me GTR. I'm hearing the GTR is easier to work on. I just don't like the look of the GTR, and the higher profile I really do not like. 10 years ago if I made this post it would turn into a 20 page debate and get locked, now it is kinda dead around here...

How much to repair the problem?

You are better off to just buy a new Briggs motor, like 3.5 to 4k, and put the lower unit on there, vs paying someone to repair it. But from what I’m told, there is market for that motor, oil leak and all, there are many out there that like working on these things. It has a new clutch.

I don't know, but I'm starting to get the itch for a boat again. I'm probably going with a mud buddy.

Mudbuddy gets my vote but it's your deal might be best to just upgrade all at the same time could be a deal setting out there /

Take a look at Pro-Drive's. If you get in a bad spot from time to time the full power reverse offered will get you out of trouble. It lifts the whole back of the boat up and pulls you out. That is what we use here in marshes of SE Louisiana.

No help with the mud buddy Guy but we have 2 gator tails and have zero complaints.

That is a good motor, good boat, and good company. But don't think I want gear driven lower unit, as many stumps as I hit. If it wasn't for all the stumps I hit, I would for sure get a prodrive or even an outboard.

Yeah, I'm like 90% gatortail, up from 80% lol. I'm mainly leaning gatortail because mohunter will get mad at me if I get mudbuddy.

I would not get the pro, mohunter already yelling at me I posted the wrong motor...

LOL, I was wondering about that. Then I started looking at it and thought the shorter handle may be good for me. I have a 6'7" wing span so the only complaint I have is that I'm too close to the grab bar when I'm running. Literally with my ribs dang near on it and that ain't good. I'm gonna talk to a welder about putting in a new receiver in 6" or so forward in the off season.

Technically I also don't prefer the high profile like you, Guy. I very rarely hunt out of the boat so it isn't that big a deal.

BDB was telling me he could not get under a bridge once, where a mudbuddy probably would have. But even if you do not hunt out of the boat, lower profile is just better, the boat hides better, there is nothing positive about a higher profile motor. My momarsh I cut down the transome as low as a I could to ge the lowest profile possible.

Between the 3rd and 4th on my list I’d go with number 3 gator tail.

I’d glance at that FNR Go devil too if I was you.

Gator

I wouldn't put a lot of thought in the height of the motors. That bridge I couldn't under is a lake I've not been to in 4 years and may never go back to it again. Hiding the motor is not a big deal, I have a 21 ft boat and my boat hides as good as my buddies 17.5 ft Prodigy.....with a mudbuddy. We don't hunt out of our boats though, we can his if he puts the boats blind on but he never does. The handle/throttle on the GT is better imo. I hate my buddies handle on his mud buddy. Mohunter can give you his opinion on handles as he's used both also.

This is really pretty simple....choose the one that's most reliable and you can work on or take to someone local to work on.

Guy I would go with a gator tail. If you sell that motor what do you want for it. Or if you want to get it rebuilt let me know. I am working with gator tail right now to get setup as a service dealer. Where have you priced the motor from.

what do you have against go-devil?

Either Pro Drive or Gator Tail. Mud Buddy’s are for couyons …. 😜🤔😜

Honestly they are all just lawn mower motors on a lower unit. Go with what you have confidence in and like. Go with the one that has the closest dealer with the best service.

Pro Drive is gear driven with full power reverse. They are a little heavier and in my opinion a little slower but more durable. Gator Tail and Mud Buddy are belt driven. To me Gator Tail is the best out of the two. You see very few Mud Buddys in the marshes of southwest Louisiana and there is a reason for that. Don’t forget Go Devil makes a surface drive too.

Good luck.
Big Hutch

Guy stick with Mudbuddy and get you a Subaru for a tow vehicle. Should suit you well!

My momarsh has a subaru motor, I would be matching. That’s a good idea, thanks Barney you’re such a nice guy.

Whichever handle fits you better plus dealer support,The new 40s arent as forgiving as the 35s but they do run better,since covid B&Stratton have had some issues especially parts avalibility.Good luck with either one.

I did alot of research before I bought my rig. For the guys saying pro drive It was clear to me that pro drive was the way to go if you were hunting heavy vegetation/mud.
Thats not our case in North Texas/ok. Stumps are what we deal with and MB or GT were the the obvious choices. I can only speak of MB with my experience driving my buddies rig ....I'm delighted I went with GT

I was gonna say basing what motor to get off the fact one couldn't get under a specific bridge is kinda silly. If your boat and motor are hidden well, ducks working above can't tell if that GT is sitting up a few inches higher LOL. But I get it, higher profile is definitely not an advantage. IMO it's waaaay less important than other factors.

I'm not basing my decision on one single factor, I'm looking at the accumulation of all the factors. But I would say the higher profile is less about getting hunter bridges, and more about hiding it, and higher profile motor "sticks out more" vs a lower profile motor. Those are juct facts, and one factor to consider.

Thanks, I like it. No trim it looks like? One less thing to go wrong is a positive. Shortly after getting my mudbuddy the trim went out, wiring issue. Glad it went out with my prop in the water, or I would have been SOL. Mohunter had same issue with his new gatortail. Not sure how mush work it takes to handle that motor without a trim. I imagine it finds the surface pretty easy on its own with the fins.. and I bet with the angle of the shaft it bounces off the stumps pretty well..