information needed

I have a 17'x 50" Tim's flat w/ a 23hp longtail Go-Devil that runs around 18 mph. I no longer duck hunt, and am going to start fishing again. I want more speed, but still want the low water advantages of a mud motor for rabbit hunting, bow fishing, frogging, etc. I'm told that stepping up to a surface drive is the answer to my problem. My question is for the guys who know surface drives, what hp would I need to get speeds of around 25-30mph from my boat with a moderate load, say two guys and an ice chest. I'm not real concerned with reverse, and I know there are quite a few companies selling surface drives, is any one brand standing out in the crowd??? Any information is appreciated.

Thanks

Try mudmotortalk.com

like he said MMT will have more info, but you'll need a 35hp to see those speeds. Also I would go with either prodrive or gatortail they are both great motors. You get what you pay for. I would stay away from mudbuddy. and as far as go devil, I have heard very mixed feelings about them. some owners loved them, others you couldnt give them one. But I do know that gatortail and prodrive owners love their rigs and wouldnt trade em

get you a 35hp Gatortail It'll do all you want and then some.. real good set up

pro drive is where its at. are you selling that 23 long tail

yes, when I find what I need to replace it, it will be for sale. Its a 99-2000 model, garage kept, very low hours. I lost my duck lease of 12 years in 99, the lease I hunted next was bigger waters, so I bought the Go-Devil. That lease didnt work out, and I quit hunting ducks and tried bow hunting deer. I got addicted to the stick and string, so except for a bowfishing trip now and then, the Go-Devil sits in the garge. I took it to Go-Devil in 2006 and had them retro the shaft to the center bearing update, and go through the motor for me, its in very good condition inside and out. If your interested, Im in the Metairie area.

you dont need a 35hp for those speeds, can get that easily with a 23vangaurd... go to mudbuddy.com and see what they offer... they are coming out really soon with the carb for the 23, and the tuned exhaust is in production. should get about 1000 more rpms....good idea!

I went to mudmotortalk.com. It seems the Prodrive gets the most positive reviews, with the Gatortail a close second. From what I'm reading, the Prodrive seems to be the only unit using direct drive gears instead of a belt drive. I'm no engineer, but it sure seems that a belt would be alot easier on motor and prop, more foregiving, than a direct drive gear. It surprises me that it seems to be leading the pack.

first off like I said from the get go stay away from mudbuddy. second of all I dont know where youve seen 23s gettin 25-30 mphs because I got a 35 and pending on the load I dont even see those speeds. I have an 1850 and Ive never seen 30. the best Ive ever seen is in the 28s. also why would you want to buy a 23 just to have to sink a bunch of aftermarket trash that mudbuddy sells into it so that you can see 25-26mph, and then your brand new motor doesnt have a warranty anymore. Anything beyond exhaust I would stay away from just for reliability sake. Its no fun being out there with a broke down motor. been there done that. sure you may have gotten to the hole faster but its no fun when you cant make it back to the landing.
And yes on MMT prodrive is the favorite but gatortail is just as great. I see alot more post on there about problems with PD than I do with GT, now granted there are more PD owners on there so you would kind of expect that. I would go with either one pending on your uses as to which one

The only experience I've had with surface drives was the GTR 35 by Gator tail. It had lots of power and ran really well, the only time we got stuck was when my buddy hit a floaton that we could walk on with out getting our ankles wet. Why don't I ever hear of anyone putting car engines in boats anymore. My neighbor has an 18' Aluminum hull with a 4.3 liter V-6 Chevy with a technidrive that does about 45. From what he tells me it runs much better in shallow water than in open water crossing a small lake or something like that. It's laid our really nice with a fan-tail that goes all the way across the back of the boat about a 6 foot deck on the front with a trolling motor bracket. He has rod holders installed behind where he sits to drive it.

I have a 35hp on a 16x48 and get 27 empty 23 heavy loaded. I don't know what is wrong with the mudbuddy but that is what I have. I bought it because of the power trim and it was lighter. I WOULD NOT BUY ONE WITH OUT POWER TRIM. I was told left and right that once you set the trim you leave it. I guess I don't know how use my motor because I trim almost every time I get in the mud. DID I MENTION I WOULD NOT BUY ONE WITHOUT POWER TRIM.

I have heard some good things about mini hyperdrive. I meet a man with a 23hp on a 14 flat and ran 25.

Oh don't want to forget to mention NOT TO BUY ONE WITHOUT POWER TRIM.

that was the problem i had with the MB, the trim. I sold my motor with like 74 hours on it and it had been in the shop 3 or 4 times for the trim and then the guy I sold it too had to bring it in for the trim also. I believe they got it right after 4 tries cuz I havent heard anything else about it. I also have a friend that has a MB and he has had endless problems out of his including but not limited to the trim. thats just my 2 cents. some ppl have em and love em but i've known alot more including myself that had em and hated em

well maybe on your set up if you had the lazy trim, i mean power trim.and the added weight is what slowed you down....

all i know is that a 14'40"allweld with two 200lb men, and 2 insterstate batteries and a 23hpvangaurd mudbuddy hyperdrive lite did 26 on a lowrance gps @3520rpms ... so KMA if you "dont know where im getting my speeds from"

ok true that, but like you said your hauling an empty load. my boat by my self weighs more than the load you just described. you got a light weight 14ft jon boat with no load, of course its gonna haul nuts. but what about when your actually using the boat for hunting and stuff i bet its way different than 26mph unless you just dont bring hardly anything with you hunting. and whats your normal speed, cuz I know my boat has gotten going pretty fast with a good tail wind heading downriver with the current but what about normal operating speeds. sure you hit 26 before but what are you doing on average. I find it hard to believe that its 26
All I can say is that I had one and I have a few friends that had/have them and we hate em. if you want that style motor just go with the original instead of a copied product. stick with Gatortail.

I'm not a mud motor expert but I have experience with Prodrive and Gatortail. I have to agree with FFT (but in a different order). I'd go with the 35hp Gatortail 1st followed close by Prodrive 32 or 36hp. You can't go wrong with either one. Both have good power. The GT was more tricked out with reverse and power trim. The PD had a handwheel trim. Powertrim is the way to go. Both ran about 28mph.
I'm sure Mudbuddy makes a decent motor too but I'd buy from the Louisiana boys and wouldn't go with Mudbuddy - especially a 23 on a 17' boat! I don't have experience with Go-Devil surface drives but I have heard that there isn't a neutral. That's about all my mud motor knowledge...