Guys

I have a 16 44 Gt no huntdeck with the gas and battery up front under the deck. I had a 16 horse long tail and it is just not doing it on this heavy big boat..... i am still worried about going to a surface drive, but do want to get there with some decent speed and carry a load. I am thinking about a 35 long tail but wanted to hear what you all thought or would reccomend. I guess i am worried about all the parts on the new surface drives and dont think they could leverage me into as many spots as a long tail.

What motor woudl you recommend?

what kind of speeds can i expect with the long tail and why do you recommend GD over any of the other lt's

I had both the surface and longtails. Once I went to the GDSD I won't ever go back, with the exception of a home made longtail on a sneakboat. I run a 20 foot boat with the 35GDSD and I aint had nary a problem with getting wherever I wanted to get. Sometimes you got to drive a little different like over logs and stumps. Just hit them and go.

My buddy has a 1644 Go Devil with a 35 GD longtail and he is seeing speeds from 20-22mph with 2 people.

We ran a 1744 Gatortrax last week, no hunt deck, with a 29 MB Surface Drive. It ran 19.6 with 3 people and 20.2 with 2 people.

I run a 1856 with a 31 GD LT and see speeds of 18.6 with 2 people.

I can't believe you have a 16 on that boat. Surely it didn't come that way?

No i had the 16 on a old 14 rivited john. I am definately need to upgrade but can not decide between the sd or the lt....i am tired of getting beat up by the long tail but don't think the sd can get as shallow or as far back as the lt