I bought a brand new 1838 go devil boat. Love it! I also bought a brand new 35hp swomp from backwater. After 5 months of use, the skeg plate is cracked halfway down just below the prop. I stopped it by drilling holes. The cavitation plate is cracking in half from the shaft side towards the end, it's all the way to the first bolt hole. I fixed this with a little tig welding. And both bearings on the shaft are letting water into the shaft, grease and water sprays out when running. Is this normal wear for a 5 month old motor? I've tried to contact backwater with pictures, texts, and calls. No one will help me out. It seems like a nice setup, but cheap, less than adequate grade of material. Anyone help please?

Sorry to hear that you are having issues with your motor. After running my 23 SS Full Frame all summer long, through logs, stumps, etc. I haven't had any issues at all with it. You must have a bent shaft that is making everything out of balance, however this is just a guess. In regards to BACKWATER, call Jake at 320-266-0797. My experience with BACKWATER has been nothing but OUTSTANDING customer service. They've answered all of my questions before and after the purchase of my motor. Please contact Jake and give him the opportunity to assist you. If it's a fault of the product, and not abuse, They will stand behind their product 100%. Just my two cents! Hope it all works out for you. These motors are truly amazing!

Sounds like a shaft that is out of balance. .causeing vibration .did you ever set the shims in your plate. Are you having to muscle your handle at all ?? ( pull up or push down to keep prop in water ) Pm me your info , I talk to backwater all the time . You would be the first that I'd heard of not getting response back . Who sold you your motor. , jake or Arlon. ??

H Finn

Does your motor run smoothly at different rpms, or does it have a vibration in the middle range? Sounds like a bent shaft. I had a similar crack from vibration running a bent shaft miles back to the landing after hitting a big rock with the prop. Fixed it same as you, but unless the shaft is addressed, the harmonics will wreck bearings and cause metal fatigue and cracks? As others have said, my experience with Backwater has always been really great service. Is there more to the story?

It runs smooth, not a problem with bent shaft at all I don't think. There is vibration and a lot more noise at about %25 throttle but a little more clears it up. Been like that since I took it off the pallet it came on. I don't think a bent shaft can crack the skeg plate or the cavitation plate. I've run go devil and never had these issues. It seems like weak metal to me. I have the plate properly shimmed, I can stand in the front and just lean the boat without touching the motor. Also another thing I noticed when I first got the motor is that it at full throttle, the tail leans to the left if you're looking out the back, the frame isn't squared up. I notice these things because I am a fab shop fitter and welder. Nothing is squared as it should be. Just an 8th inch off at the motor is a huge difference at the tail.

Take 10 minutes, Pull the prop off and put a dial indicator on your shaft, I'd bet my lunch you have a bent shaft. It doesn't take much of a bend to get out of balance and cause stress cracks from the resultant vibration. The low to mid rpm (1000-2000)vibration is amplified greatly at 4000 rpms, but can harmonize somewhat and feel better. Your situation sounds identical to my bent shaft. Get a new shaft, lower bearings and a seal and you'll see a world of difference.
Best of luck!

It's either a bent shaft or something outta whack with the U joint setup. The Backwater frames are known for being the most substantially built and smoothest running units around. Hope it gets straightened out for ya.

No pm's. Sent to me yet. , you get your issues resolved yet ?? Who sold you your motor??

H Finn

I'm about tired of it. Anyone want a 6 month old backwater swomp 35? For sale, $3,500 takes it. That's a grand less than what I paid for it 6 months ago. Anyone interested let me know, it's in Arkansas. I'm selling and going back with go devil.

How can u expect help wen u wont answer peoples questions?


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4 posts in bashing backwater, I know Arlon personally . He bends over backwards to help people . Like I posted ,private message me your info , if not go devils are solid motors I ran them for years, I run backwater now.

Huck Finn

I don't personally know anything about backwater, but I will say you've got people here telling you what you should do. You haven't taken huck up on his offer to help, and your ready to sell your motor and take a loss. Nothing but good things have ever been said about them and their motors here until you. Take the offer of help, let them get the motor right for you, and if they dont, then share your experience. But right now youve only got everyone doubting your story has been shared fully and that you've done something and don't realize it, or something is truly wrong with it and your already too set in your opinion to get out of your own way and let backwater fix it right. Pm huck, or call Jake at the number provided and see what they can do to show you why everyone speaks so highly of them. The first time you saw a crack, or the uneven frame, you should've taken that thing back to them, or had them on the phone until you were satisfied with the corrective action. If I'd just dropped nearly 5k on a motor, I sure wouldn't be working on it myself a few months later.

Yep, got that. The point is, the motor has been run for 5 months, how is this even remotely well put together. The only thing I got Jake to answer my call is when I texted him and said that I personally put a limb through the front case when I was frog gigging and needed a new cover. When I send pictures and try to talk about why the motor is falling apart not due to my own problems, they won't talk. I tried for jake and Arlon. Neither will talk about it. There should be no reason a shaft bends up after 5 months of use. There should be no reason all the framework is cracking after 5 months of use. If you bought a new truck and 5 months later the axles were warped, cracks in the frame, etc....what would you be saying? I'm sure you wouldn't be saying that you should do all the work yourself cause it's all your fault when you know it isn't. I ran a go devil for years that was from the 90s. It's in better shape right now than this backwater motor is. How is is legitimate? And I live in Arkansas, I already know how the return deal works, I pay for shipping both ways, just for them to look at it and decide it's all my fault and no warranty is offered in this situation. Then I'm out the thousand bucks for shipping, plus the cash for the work on it. I might as well buy another for that money. Jake and Arlon have not responded to texts or calls, pictures of every problem I have were sent to both numbers on the website. When I sent a picture of the damage I told them I caused, I talked to jake that same day about it, but when I show the rest of the pictures, they both go quiet.

Good choice, go back with go devil. Much better unit in my opinion. Sold my backwater 35 after about 6 months of use as well. Nothing but frustration.