I just got my new rig and am still researching all I can. Majority of my boating will be done on a shallow sand bottom. Is there any special prop that will last longer in sand or am I just going to run tru props fast. Running a 4200 mud muddy on a 1754 excel f4

I don't think any prop an sand get along. The only time I hit a sand flat I had to get out n push. My motor wouldn't even play wit tht shit. I don't kno much but I would think u would do better wit longtail in shallow sandy bottoms need prop high as can be

The pros will chime in

X2 on the longtail.

Pirogue.

Longtail half proping across extremely shallow sandy areas. Or use your push pole or two boots also will do it. But your right about burning through a lot of props.

Jet boat.

Ya wide open is the trick just have to deal with running tru props wish the would come out with one that would take it

We hunt Holly Beach, LA. Thin layer of mud on a sandy hard bottom. Surface drives and long tails are what we run. Nothing will run when the water gets shallow, 6" or less. That's when we start four wheelers and walk in from the trails. It's rough but manageable. All in all, nothing will work in shallow water with a sandy bottom. Better dig some launch holes and remember where they are or you will find them by accident on the coldest mornings when you step off in them.


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How did ur props hold up when the water was up? My river is shallow but at its lowest the channels are still 1-2 foot

Get out of boat and push while bursting throttle. If that don't work, take everything out if boat and try again. If that don't work call for help.

Should have done more homework before you ordered a boat. All I'm gonna say is a shallow drafting boat is way easier to push than a deep drafting boat. Good luck on a remedy for sand. Their is none.


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We have noting but sand and hard bottom. It kills your prop. Sometimes it's better to idle to deeper water then burn the prop. If your in 1-2 feet of water you should be fine. When your on plane its not that bad on the prop.

Buddy has a gatortrax 1754 35MB and runs the river fine not worried about getting stuck, just trying to get a feel of how fast a prop will last

Buy props frequently or buy a longtail. Whatever floats your boat. Sand and big surface drive props don't get along very well. It really depends on how many hours you will have in the sand and how shallow it is.

ive got a 1751 excel with a 36hp prodrive had a fairly new prop. got stuck in sand this past season, after a couple hours of trying to get out with the motor and pushing and pulling I killed my prop.the boat ran like a champ on plain until I stopped after that it was game over. had to get 2 buddies to come help drag it out probably shaved 5mph off with a unloaded boat by myself. the boat didn't even want to plain out with 3 people.

jet drive

jet drive

I live south of SE texas so I run a lot of sand. I get more outa my props then most in less time guaranteed. I run my props to a nub. I've had a longtail and it didn't impress me in sand and they are slow my 35gtr will blow right across it and as long as just the tip of your blades going in the sand you wont even feel it when I hit small spots of really shallow water I just lift my prop out of the water and glide across the momentum keeps you on a plan until the water deepens. neither longtail or sd will plane you out in shallow sand though.

I live south of SE texas so I run a lot of sand. I get more outa my props then most in less time guaranteed. I run my props to a nub. I've had a longtail and it didn't impress me in sand and they are slow my 35gtr will blow right across it and as long as just the tip of your blades going in the sand you wont even feel it when I hit small spots of really shallow water I just lift my prop out of the water and glide across the momentum keeps you on a plan until the water deepens. neither longtail or sd will plane you out in shallow sand though.

If any of you know where village creek is I run that often. Water gets down to a couple inches in the summer time in some places. It does smoke a prop in a hurry if you just dig and dig but if you pay attention to what you're doing it's not terrible. My Longtail works well in that type of terrain, mostly because there's trees and objects to climb over as well.

thanks for the tips. looks like if I get stuck on sand bar that the best idea would be to not try to get it off with motor but just pole my way back to deeper water. sounds like if I keep from digging the prop in thick sand then I will be ok. killed over 230 birds on this river this year and its 200 yards from my back porch so I cant afford not to have a good boat, im tired of walking!

Bingo! If you stop or slow down significantly, shut 'er down and push.... Sand will destroy a prop in a matter of minutes.

what river you hunting?

Washita river in Grady county. When we have a good corn crop them birds hammer the river and im right in the middle of that flyway? In the processes of building a slough right off the river out of an old oxbow. when I get that thing full of flooded jap millet and corn it should be game over.

Surface drive dont stop unless you get to your destination if you have a foot of water or less and if you gota take off do zig zags till you get up on top

If I think I'm on a sand bar or something I just get out and push a little bit even if I know it will be easy to get out. I can't stand spending 250$

I fished out of my mud boat in the lower laguna madre last year. Got tired of pushing the fukn bay boat. Between that and Venice I have learned that if the bottom is to hard to run in you can step out in knee boots and walk the boat to water deep enough to run. I burned up a prop the 1st week I had my boat in Venice.

Generally if it's too soft to walk it will run. If it's too hard to run you can get out and push.

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There are tricks to running shallow water trim the motor all the way up , remember these boats will go further sideways than straight forward .. Anytime I'm approaching shallow hard bottom I kick it to the side just a bit trim the motor up and let it eat you will be very surprised just how shallow these boats can run on hard bottom .

A while back in the Anahuac Refuge I crossed a dry mudflat and ended up on hard sand with about 2 or 3 inches of water over it. Once I stopped I had to stand up with one foot in the boat and kick with the other like a skateboard while holding the throttle wide open. Once I got a little momentum with my kicking it jumped up on plane and I was off like a rocket. (my wife got the whole thing on video from the shoreline... pretty hilarious scene)

Yeah I run east tx lots of hard bottom I have discover this recently. When gets to shallow and u accidently stop or not on plane trim all the way up I mean prop barely touching water. u can only creep along but atleast ur not stuck rev to 250rpm and just creep till u get deeper. Also got trim pin on highest setting made huge diffence where I run. But with those settings the prop isn't even touching the bottom. However I got gt boat dunno if that excell will do this.

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