I currently run a 31 HD mudbuddy on a riveted modified V lowe 1648 with pods and a removable bowfishing platform and poling/generator platform over the motor..

I have the opportunity to pick up a reasonably priced 1648 homemade welded boat with a more open hull configuration being pushed by a 35 godevil longshaft on it,, .

My main concern is speed. I like my current right, my only complaint is it doesn't work very well in hard or shallow stuff. its light weight and down right scoots in open water but if I get in anything skinnier than about 10 inches Im digging and slowed right down, sometimes even pulling. I would put pods or a hunt deck on the godevil if I buy it so that wouldn't be an issue. but my question is for overall speed and load carrying capability. What type of speeds do you guys see out of a 35 GDLT on a 1648 welded boat?

Thanks guys

If it's setup correctly I wouldn't see low or even mid 20's being an issue depending on loads. A big block longtail is a hoss and should put you through hard bottom shallow stuff really well, the sacrifice will be a bit of top end speed.

Another advantage is you will build up a left arm that the incredible Hulk would envy.

Longtails can also be modded . , I'd say mid 20's also.

H Finn

That's him

A 35/37LT with some mods and the right prop would roll the prop would be the difference maker.

The longtail will definitely give you the ability to run that hard bottom. My 31 GT has issues with hard bottom too. That's just the nature of the beast. As stated above, be prepared for a workout, tho. My late brother's 23 GDLT was a monster on a 1436 and would go when mine wouldn't. But it would wear you out getting there. Whomever was driving it (me or him) would almost have to sit on the tiller to keep it from digging too deep. That was probably more of a setup issue, but we tried everything to tune it in, even rolling the cavatation plate down to create more lift.

I've only driven one LT and its my Backwater. I really don't know the trouble with it wearing you out...I haven't experienced it. I don't know if its Backwaters design, or I'm lucky. It does have a pin to get maximum depth.

I ran a 18 hp GD longtail on a 1640 riveted Lowe MV for DECADES, literally. The boat was light compared to the ones I've bought since then.

UNLOADED, with just one passenger it would hit 20 mph. LOADED with one person, bow fishing gear, a raised platform with several lights and a generator, I was lucky to hit 15 mph. It was slow compared to surface drives and outboards. BUT it went EVERYWHERE and never got stuck.

The Go-Devil was a workhorse and when I bought it new back in the mid 1980's, it was the largest one they offered. Don't let people tell you that it WON'T wear on your shoulder and left arm, because it will. I'm glad I didn't own anything bigger, with more horsepower. It would have really been a struggle.

I run in a lot of hard bottom river floodings full of logs and stumps. I went places chasing fish that I probably shouldn't have attempted to go with that rig. But the boat and Motor took all I dished out. I am older now and switched to a surface drive and glad I did. I still go into almost all the places I used to go and I can get there quicker if I want to. And my left arm and shoulder don't get the crap beat out of them like they used to with the longtail.

I sold the rig to a friend and he still uses it, when he's not standing on the front of my boat. I never had a tach/hour meter installed but I'd bet it has 1000's of hours on. I would run it all day and night while bow fishing, sometimes never shutting it off except to take a break. And it's still running today.

So take your pick. If you're young and strong and can take the beating the longtail is gonna dish out from running in places with a hard bottom, and you're not in a hurry to get there and back, I'd say buy one. I have no regrets for doing so.

If you want speed and easier drive ability, by all means get a surface drive.

Everyone on here bitches about long tails being a work out... I don't understand. I've had 3 and NONE of them are near as bad as my buddy's GT or my other buddy MB

If your boat is set up right and cav plate set right you should be able to sit and run it like an outboard for runs that arent too curvy.