Alright I need your advice. I have an 1872 sea ark. It is 72" on the floor with a 96" beam. I am looking at putting a mud motor on it. I currently run a 60 hp outboard and it does good.
here are my ideas
1. A mudbuddy 45 short shaft
2. A longtail predator if I can find one (75hp)

Twins are an idea but to expensive right now. Would a 45 short shaft move a boat like this? Anyone out there running anything like this with a mud motor attached?

Short shaft, but what bottom does your sea ark have, i've never seen a true flat bottom made by sea ark.

sure you need a mud motor ?

You can save a bunch of money by just putting on a jack plate on that 60hp, will go more places then you think.


btw you dont want that 75hp longtail, not safe, hard to stir and drive unless your going a long ways straight and they are a piece of junk, or they would still be making them. Only about 10 where ever made anyways.

talk to machine on here he has or had a predator it was for sell . i haven't seen him on awhile but maybe a good source of info....

You could mod (evt or bps) any PD, GT, GD or MB and move that barge........Had a 45 MB on a 1854 Excel (heavy azz boat) and still did 33mph (alone) and mid 20's with 4guys gear grass blind....................

Mud motors come two ways - 15 inch and 20 inch transom heights...

Gator and ProDrive - both offer center console steer models...

Unless you are strong as a bear - avoid the longtail on a boat that large...

You will likely need 2 motors or a highly modified single to get good power
and speed in so big a boat....

You may want to see the "true" mud hulls from those manufacturers
as well.... You might be better off selling your existing rig and putting
that money down on the new boat.... Thats likely the best advice....

My buddy has an 18x60 Alumucraft, with a stock 35 GT. It struggles, especially in mud. Those strakes on the bottom just kill you. Seriously, do yourself a favor and DO NOT put a shortie on a production jon boat. Sell that rig, and you'll get close to enough for a proper mud rig.

[quote="Gigafowl"]Mud motors come two ways - 15 inch and 20 inch transom heights...

Gator and ProDrive - both offer center console steer models...

Unless you are strong as a bear - avoid the longtail on a boat that large...

You will likely need 2 motors or a highly modified single to get good power
and speed in so big a boat....

quote]You may want to see the "true" mud hulls from those manufacturers
as well.... You might be better off selling your existing rig and putting
that money down on the new boat.... Thats likely the best advice....[/


x2. Just my opinion.

X3

im with them sell that rig and get a true mud rig, you'll be much happier in the long run!

I am seriously considering your ideas I suspected what you told me. I appreciate the advice. I am currently considering selling the whole rig and purchasing a 20x62 gator trax with 24 inch sidewalls or a 2072 beavertail and putting a 45 short shaft on either one. I am leaning toward the gator trax they seem like one tough boat from all I have read.
I am open for advice on mud rigs too.

Where do you live and what type terrain are you running?What is your normal hunting load?Just trying to help with your purchase.You sure are looking at some wide ass boats.

Also - remember that not every good motor works right with every good boat.... Talk it up with the boat mfg - he knows - test drive, test drive, test drive....

Buy slow - think long...

I am in Northern IL. I hunt rivers, the largest the Mississippi. We also travel and hunt some reservoirs in the midwest. The terrain varies, from 3-4 foot roller plus at times to backwaters with stumps, mud, and vegetation. We are able to get many places but know what we are missing during years of high water when we can't get to remote areas. I am leaning toward a beavertail either 1860, 1872, 2060, or 2072.
I love the versatility of the sea ark but know I am missing out on many areas.
I do not have mud like i see in videos such as in LA. There is typically a few inches of water. Often we are dragging the boat over mud with mud up to our knees at times. Needless to say that is getting old fast.

So from the picture it is say to say that gator trax is not as indestructible as they say. I would also think that the extra bracing would help reduce this washboard effect? Why would the additional cross bracing be a bad thing?

yeah i see now. The one cross brace on the bottom. I see how many would be bad.

make sure you go do some test drives before you buy... sounds like you're falling victim to a clever marketing scheme like most folks that are buying their first mud motor. I will bet you $100 you'll think driving a ProDrive is easier... and you can get just as much hp out of one as a pudbuddy.

I am looking at a 1860 gator trax with hunt deck and either a 45 mudbuddy or HD6000 MB

I run a 1848 geaux customs and a 45MB HD right now, great rig for hauling a load and respectable speeds, let me tell ya though the reverse on the PD and GT are something you should look at........as much as I like my motor I would most likely go the with a motor with reverse next time....... mb really needs to come out with some sort of retro fit reverse..........and if you do go with a MB just do the 5000 (single carb) not the dual carbs, not worth the money.........my 2 cents.......good luck

husker, before u drop 20k on a new rig go get a 700$ hyd jackplate with at least 5" of setback [12" better} and put that on ur boat. it will run places u can't go now and if u got the balls it will go in sum real skinny stuff.
if u still aren't satisfied then i would look duals, cause hopped up motors are great, but are maintance heavy. stock motors aren't.


good luck.

No more upkeep on my modded motor than stock. plugs, oil change, filter change and valve lash clearance. All motors need these essentials.

I have run in some skinny water with two guys sitting in the front and on plane running backwater shoot into a lake of main river and the old motor was scraping mud bottom. Running skinny aint the problem it is those damn stumps that get ya. I have thought about the jack plate. Who knows trying to do my research right now. All of you guys have been very helpful with your input. Thank you.

If you would like to see how a modded prodrive on a 2060 Phowler runs, I am located in central IL. I used to run a 1860 tunnel hull w/90hp on jackplate. Got where I needed to go but can go lots of places I shouldn't go now!

Hey man. If you're in Northern IL, you need to check with Mudd. He deals in MB, PD, Geaux boats, and Phowler boats. Plus, he's in Sussex Wi. He could set you up really nice. It sounds to me like you need a Bateau style, either an Excel, a Geaux, a Phowler, or others. Geaux runs their cross braces off the floor.

Check out his site, www.allmudmotors.com.