I am looking to get a boat to fish and hunt the Susquehanna river. The river here is shallow and rocky. Most guys run outboard jets, a few brave sould run a regular outboard, but it is only a matter of when you replace your prop and outdrive

I am looking for a 16' 50-60" wide boat, possibly an excel hull but still looking.

I have never seen a mud motor used, but have heard (from a dealer) that these engines are very functional in non mud type scenarios. Does anyone have any experience with an outbord jet compared to a Mud motor? Any experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks

Waste

mudmotor is the only wat to goooooooo!!!!!

Consider this. A mudmotor will go everywhere a jet drive will go. But will the jetdrive go everywhere the mudmotor will? Just something to ponder before you put the purchase on anything.

You're on MudMotorTalk.com, noone here is going to recommend a Jet Drive.

I have been in both and hands down would buy 100 MM's before a Jet Drive. They work great in "regular" depths and even better in the shallows.

I've got to disagree with the other responses on here. I own a 36PD and run jet boats at work. If you are running rocky rivers, get a jet. If you are running mud, brush, and vegetation, get a mud motor.

I often run my mud motor in rocky rivers to get to the large marshes I hunt, they DO NOT run nearly as well or as shallow as a jet boat on a tunnel boat. But... if you try to take that jet engine in mud or weeds, you are dead in the water. Both were designed for a specific purpose; use whichever fits your needs best.

Let me introduce myself I am new to the site .. my is Stewart.
good info, Thanks Giga & watse .. I live in California and have been wanting to go to a MM set up in the worst way cause they are so Bad Arse and go everywhere !! but have not been in a position financial to get one and now my position is about to change so i have been reading a lot of great info on this site researching what would be best for me. Today I got an answer back from the MM manufacture i am looking at in regard to how they run in shallow water sandbars situation {do they rip through sandbars like the mud ?} as that is what i am running in a lot .... to my surprise 6" of water at speed and 10" to 12" deep water standing start with the MM !! I was a little shocked my buddies jet scoots over the sandbars at full speed less than an inch of water .... but like giga said the veggies get in that grate and forget about it !!
So I guess am trying to ask any of you that have run water with sandbars how shallow you go and are the specs i got from the manufacture pretty close {not doubting the MM manf. by any means} just gotta know before i drop a bunch of cash on something then find it does not work where I am hunting, cause my jon boat with outboard can run in 10 to 12 inches of water now.

Thanks in advance ...

Wasteman,,,

I ran a PD36 on a mud hull and ran it in the James a lot. Even in nasty low water two years ago. Witha rock guard, UHMW and a 3/16" hull with longitudinal bracing, you can do it no problem. Having said that, I bought a 90/65 jet on a 1760 (sig line is wrong) to run the James and Shenandoah and Rappahannock rivers. We had it in the Chesapeake hunting last year, and a ton of lakes. Yes, leaves are a problem especially in the late fall. But, overall I'm happy with the change. My biggest issue here was sand. I bought 3 props in three years. That was being careful.
I know a lot of guys in the Susq run jets. Check out James River Jets here in VA. He's a hilbilly but he know how to set up a jet rig for running these rivers.

Trankillity,

Disclaimer - the following is my opinion - so keep yer panties out of
your butts you SD fanatics....

If the ONLY use was over sandbars - I would not want the MM.....

But the best fishing is often in the weeds where the bottom is a bit
softer and that's where the ducks go too - that is where the MM
really dominates....

Boat width is a huge factor over sand, as is hull design or shape, with
narrow round chine doing the worst over sand an wide square doing
the best....

I am very close to buying a GDSD 16x60 tapered chine - mainly for
it's advantages over sand - compared to my current GDSD 16x48
tapered chine.... But I will not buy another square chine because
they slide too much to get to my duck holes in the twisting turning
bayous I need to run thru....

Also - no one talks about it here but the LT with it's smaller diameter
8" or 9" prop works better than a SD over sand.... And also none of
these guys talk about it but I have used a shovel to quickly dig a 10 foot
by 2 foot wide trench in the sand then positioned my rig over it and
blasted off in 3" water that barely covered your shoes over a sandbar
in the 16x48 with my 35 GDSD.... I could do it with my 23 GDLT without
the trench digging on that same hull....

In general anything under 4" and you begin loosing speed over sand or a
harder mostly sand bottom --- anything deeper than 6" and you can get
up and run.... With wider rigs subtract another 1" to 2" of water.... If
it is soft mud over sand then it just needs to be wet to run across - but
you need an inch or 2 to jump up and go - if really soft you just need it
not to have a dry crust on top it just needs to be wet....

Also Trinity Bay where I run is one huge sandbar --- there must be a reason
you see 3 GDs for every 1 other brand - I am just saying....

Another thing to consider is how long it takes to get on plane. My 90 hp Merc is heavy but I can plane a full on hunting crew and load in the length of the hull facing upstream. I line it up and hold it steady in the current and then hammer the throttle and we're on plane right then. That makes a huge difference in my ability to jump from pool to pool and avoid rocks etc.

Mudgun,

Of the two rigs you had do you prefer the 17' with the Jet or the Prodrive and Mudboat? The Susky is similar to the rivers you are running. On a similar note did you sell your old rig? It just so happens I am in the market

Thanks again for all input

Waste

Sold it last year. What I want is a Mercury 90HP with a prodrive lower unit that runs 50mph. But.....
I can't say yet which rig I prefer. I did clog the pump on leaves several times in the fall. That sucks. But, on the lakes I can run any sand or mud flat (water over them of course) that I could run with the MM. The jet rig hauls more of a load faster. 3 guys full blind, decoys, gear etc at 30mph+
I think getting the UHMW and a really solid hull (3/16") with long. bracing is probably more important. Of course, you could go full-on badazz and get the 115/80 Optimax on a 18/72. I almost pulled the trigger on that rig but I hunt alone enough that I didn't want to fight a rig that heavy if I do get stuck.

I haven't read this whole tread, but I can tell you that if you run a shallow rocky river the majority of the time stay away from a mud motor. They have their place, but they don't rocks or sand plain and simple!