Hello,

I have been reading the posts here for a few years but have decided to register and ask for help. 3 years ago I bought a Lowe Roughneck 1650 tiller. After reading motor reviews I purchased a Backwater DIY 23 hp SWOMP kit and vanguard 23 hp motor.

After 3 years I have decided to move on from the LT for a variety of reasons, first I cant swing the LT into the boat, this was a big pet peeve of mine for trailer safety and to lower the overall footprint of the boat for storage.

Second, the motor powers the boat ok but not great under load, I think the boat is just to heavy. so I am either going to upgrade to a surface drive or an outboard. I can go max of 40 hp but there is no transom weight rating on the safety card in the boat. I hunt in shallow water but not straight mud, I hunt the fox river, various local lakes, and have been to Horicon and would like to hunt the Mississippi River.

is a mud motor necessary or can I do this in a outboard? also what weight surface drive can I get away with? I see they 40 hp surface drives are close to 300 lbs.

Also, this is my primary fishing rig. I am debating getting a dedicated fishing boat down the line as well.

The 40 is the same weight as the 37 which is the same weight as the 35....

If you needed the long tail, then stick with a mudmotor. If you didn’t need the long tail, then doubtful a SD will scratch the itch so get an outboard and maybe a breakaway jack plate.


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Agreed. Go outboard. That boat isnt too heavy for what you had on it, it's just not the right boat for a longtail and not ideal for a surface drive.

#CFFITR
#GhostBoat
#Whoneedsphysicsihaveamudmotor

I’d go with a jack plate and put a 2 stroke 40hp outboard on there.


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a 40hp tohatsu outboard with a jackplate will run shallow and get you around pretty good.

i'm a mercury guy, but tohatsu is cheaper and a solid motor. the 40 and 50 4 strokes are great motors.

how shallow can you guys run with a outboard/jack plate set up? I dont think I will be running in mud flats so this might give me exactly what I am looking for.

I had one. Ran shallow as crap with a balanced load. If it wasn’t for brutal veggitation, I’d run an outboard.


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I’ll run 18” with my F70


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Good motor + crap boat = poor performance.

As others stated a 40 or 50 outboard would be nice.