Again, a hidden motor being up a little higher means nothing to ducks. I'm saying that isn't much of a factor.

I disagree it means nothing to the ducks. It is ok to minimize it, but to say "nothing" is silly. There is nothing positive about a higher profile, you can say nothing about that. Higher profile also grabs more crap going through brush.. I have had a limb grab my dip stick (lost it in the process) and also snag my fuel pump and bust it, I was able to duck tap it to get me back to the ramp. "I'm saying that isn't much of a factor", I can agree with that, I'm not sure how much higher it is really, I could just eyeball it and see it is higher. Obviously, the higher the more of a factor it is.

Agree to disagree

Not a bad deal if you're going with just a motor.

I'm waiting on that 50hp PD they keep teasing.

.

I watched a video they put out on it. I like quiet and more robust (at least in theory). I'm a bit concerned about the water cooling panel thing that runs under the boat. These boats get beat up pretty good, not sure how that's gonna work in the long run. Time will tell I suppose.

I would be willing to bet a stock 40hp Gatortail still outperforms that 50hp Prodrive with or without a hunt load, and doubt your able to build a true custom boat with that motor due to all the coolant lines and radiator that is mounted in that Pro drive boat, more of a novelty than anything else for those that don’t run in the heavy thick stuff or timber.

I would tear that back hydraulic line to the instant reverse completely off my first time out in the buck brush no doubt with my luck.

Keel cooling has been around for a long time. I know this application is different but it shouldn't be too complex. I feel like the OB power head will be miles better than the lawnmower motor. OBs are historically more reliable and lighter. Who doesn't love the idea of lighter, more powerful and reliable mudmotor? I suppose we'll see if the juice is worth the squeeze.

.

Alittle off topic, but do the weight of these rigs not bother yall? 300lb motor 600lb+ hull. Add fuel, battery and your gear your breaking 1200 lbs pretty easily.

I use to have a 20' gator Trax with a 46hp mud buddy. The boat was a tank and went everywhere I wanted to go. But dang it was a PITA to move around while not under power. Loading, unloading, picking up decoys, all that stuff. I ended up selling it bc it just didn't fit my hunting style.

Now I'm looking at something small, need something alittle bigger than a momarsh. But just want a 14-16' hull with like a 23 or 25hp SD.

Ditto. I hunted a WC Custom 1854 with 36 prodrive for a few years. Great boat, go anywhere, but HEAVY. I sold it off and downsized to a 13' fiberglass sneakbox with a 15hp OB. I absolutely love it.

.

If timber is t an issue for you a little on John boat with a copperhead motor on the back might be the trick. If you want something more designed for gear carrying a load etc there are several folks out there that make custom boats then put a smaller MM on it.

It all depends on what your application is. I have a 21ft WC and it has a 3/16" bottom. Believe me....its a tank. But I run big water and crappie fish out of mine....wouldn't have it any other way. Me and my buddy who has the prodigy....Pete just applied a new coat of GG on our boats. The prodigy has dimples on the bottom, mine is still almost perfect. My boat being flat bottom obviously is not a good fishing boat BUT.....the weight helps out a lot when trying to stay on a brush pile in some wind.

Everyone just needs to look at their styles/uses and get the boat of there dreams lol. Other than rounded chimes I wouldn't make my boat any different if I were to start over again. And that included the motor.

I hear ya. Looked a long time at a smaller rig like yall are talking about. A year ago I was 75# heavier and I'm on the tall side... and I hunt big water from time to time so I couldn't figure out how to make it work.

I think I researched what to get a lot longer than most folks and weight was always one of my biggest concerns cuz I'm no spring chicken and I hunt alone a lot. As I got to know more and more folks with surface drives, I got to understand how often they break down and get stuck. I realized a heavy hull wasn't for me after all the stories and especially on a hunt way up into some flooded stuff in an Excel. Apparently the flotation in those hulls is known to get saturated and add hundreds of pounds to it. On the way out, we were pushing that sumbich in 5" water with a soft bottom. What's the point? I think my ol SeaArk outboard could have putt around in that.

I ended up getting the lightest 1748 GatorTail makes. It's a true mud hull, which makes running timber a bit puckering cuz I can't turn on a dime, but I've been able to push it off everything so far. If there is any water at all and I know it gets deeper on the other end I can run it even with a hard bottom. I do keep a come along in it so if I ever do miss a turn and get stuck maybe I can wench my way out. This off season I'm gonna have a wench port (or whatever you call it) welded onto the front. I'm gonna have a second battery up front anyway when I get my trolling motor done this Spring.

If I felt comfortable with a smaller rig I go that route in a heartbeat tho. I still may end up going that route at some point. For now I'll drag my yak along in the GTR if I need to get into some really small stuff.

There is never a 1 rig fits all, they all have their pros and cons, you got to pick a rig that “most fits” where and how you want to hunt and/or fish and what you like most. Sounds like you got that figured out flyfish. The smaller the rig, the more fun and enjoyable they are to hunt out of. That’s why I like my momarsh so much, it’s about as small as you can get with a mud motor. As you step up in size, that just allows you to hunt more places, under more extreme conditions, and carry more gear and more people, and get there faster.

I started out just wanting to get a new motor for my boat, now I’m thinking about just getting a whole new rig, so I’m completely rethinking what my next boat will be, and thinking about what I want most. My first thought was an another tank, bigger and better, 3/16 inch bottom and 40hp Briggs motor… Now I’m thinking maybe something more fish friendly with more speed which is better for scouting too, so maybe even an outboard, and center console. I use my gatortrax today for crappie fishing, works great, but other boats are better..

I run a 1436 Alumnacraft with a 12 hp longtail. I elected not to hunt big water or try to cross lakes like Whitney. I also have a kayak for those places that don't allow power. The Alumnacraft is thin bottomed but welded. I have to knock out dents now and then but I've jumped logs in that rig with two people and all the decoys. It runs about 10 - 15 mph depending on what's in it. Overall, I"m not super sold on the long tail. They can get dangerous quick. They can also get you in trouble quick but I'm building a clutch for it. I'm also building a surface drive to fit on that motor, with a reverse. That means I'll have a gear drive, which I'm still waffling about. i plan to add another 1/16" sheet to the bottom and sides to reinforce it.

The positives: I can hand launch if the water is low or the launch is dry. I can push off most anything without getting out. I have an avery blind on it and can hunt out of it comfortably. I can run in about 4 in water if i'm not loaded down and I stand in the middle and I can go about 14 miles on a gallon.

Negatives: I don't have squat for carrying capacity. I've had it loaded with three people and it handled ok but I wouldn't go in any waves with it. It would flounder in big water, especially with a long tail. I don't think alumnacraft makes these anymore and it is thin hulled. One of these days I know I'm going to tear a new one in it. But I can weld so if I can get it home I can fix it.

I hunted Whitney for years. Depending on where you're hunting, that lake can be downright dangerous in 15-20mph winds.

DO NOT BUY A MOTOR WITHOUT TRIM. PERIOD. I loved my go-devil, and then when I upgraded to the Gatortail, I loved it even more.

I personally think you should buy an airboat. I upgraded and haven't looked back. Have even hunted out of it on the crappy days. I've never worried much about hiding it, just park it a little further away. Drive over beaver dams, fences, etc. She baddd bad!



But if I had to buy from the listed options, go Gatortail and don't look back. Not even sure Glen is still involved, but he was enough of a JA back in the day that I would never buy anyting from MB.

Thanks for the insight Chaseh on the go devil, I’m for sure not looking for more work. I’m really wanting a center console. No way I’m getting an air boat lol, they do have their place, just not for me.

So I guess the only thing better than a gatortail motor is 2 gatortail motors.

Went thru this yrs ago. I sold my rig at the time it had a Mudbuddy on it. That was the first and last Mudbuddy product il ever own. I’ve owned two gatortails since and gatortail it is. Now when you look at a rig forget the 3/16 bottom. It’s overkill. Get a custom boat. Uncle j timber creek prodigy etc. call and talk with them. I’ve had both good and bad experiences with two out of those 3. It will be a wait to actually take delivery so be prepared. The 40 does a good job but you will not want to have it tuned, but almost have to. The custom boats are nice, but they’re heavy. A good tuned motor will make up for every inch of that. Go with tall sides. 24 inch sides make a huge difference here in n texas. If you have any questions shoot me a text anytime. You have my number. I’ve been thru it and had two rigs built now. My second one I’m very happy with. You’re more than welcome to come check it out if you’d like. I’ve got a friend w an uncle j you can see as well.

Dang, what does a rig like that weigh in at? An easy 1500lbs just hull and motors??

That's like seeing a big jacked up dully with mud tires on it. You'll be SOL when that thing gets stuck.

If you saw the bottom of my boat, you might think otherwise. But yeah, I don't want to get 3/16 bottom because of the extra weight. So maybe go 1/8 and just be more careful? I am leaning in that direction right now.

The trick I have learned is to just not get stuck.

Seriously though, I take steps now where the risk of getting stuck is very low. I do a lot of idling in unknown shallow waters to stay off plan, I also drop my prop low, that is my depth finder. One of the biggest things I worry about is parking my boat hunting, and water drops significantly during the hunt. That happened to me once.

Just an FYI, weight difference on a 18x50 hull is 64lbs from 1/8 to 3/16 but that weight is spread through the entire boat.

The answer to getting yourself unstuck and being self sufficient I have found is a WINCH. I will never own a boat without one. Get a 4500lb warn ge the wireless Bluetooth remote. Have you two spud poles built and carry a tow strap for a truck or an additional 50 ft of line. Stick the spud pole in the ground hook the winch to the pole you hold onto the pole hit go on your winch remote and you will never own a boat without one again. Personally I have a warn axion 4500 built into the front of my boat I use the remote app and it’s worth its weight in gold.

That is over kill for me. I would have carried one of those on my boat for 10 years and never used it. But if you ride plane on skinny water, you should have one. I do not go that shallow. If it is so shallow that I cannot float idling, I don't go there. I am taking a risk not carrying a winch, but I take extra precaution to minimize that risk.