I sold my jet boat and I am thinking about buying a Lowe 1648 arura (275 pounds) will the 22 hp predator motor and backwater kit serve well on this boat? It seems like it would work, but I'm not real familiar with long tails.

On a 350lb 1548 I'm getting 15-18mph out of a 22hp Predator in a Go Devil frame with a 9x5 prop. I would go at least a 23hp LT if your budget allows for a bigger motor do it

I know two ducksters who have used rivetted Lowe 1648's with 25 HP LT's for years without any real issues...sleepy is right, unless it will be just you and a retriever and gear, go for more horses! The 23 will work and a 25/27/35/37 will all do much better. The older Lowes had a wooden insert on the transom and needed some "beefing" up- like adding a couple of aluminum plates or replacing the wood with alum braces, etc. The new ones might be different but that would be the only upgrade, of course gatorglide or steelflex on the hull bottom is strongly recommended. I would save $ or finance a bigger motor- you are better off starting right from the get go!

Well a buddy of mine has a 35 backwater he said he would sell me with 12 hours on it. As far as the boat, I'm going to buy new. He has the 35 on the 1648 aura. He is supposed to take me out today. Hopefully I like it. I had an outboard jet but sold it. Didn't like it in the hunting season, constantly sucking up leaves and trash and ice. How would the 35 do you think? Or should I step up to the 1852 riveted Lowe? Thanks

Other than a short demo ride with the Backwater guys in a 1752 Alweld with a 37efi my Backwater experience is limited. That boat was crazy fast and it was a regular ribbed Alweld. The Backwater setup is a lot nicer than my old Go Devil also. My eventual plan is to get a 1852 or similar with the same motor. I may actually get the motor 1st and run it on my 1548 until I can afford a custom hull. Rivet vs Welded is an argument some guys make but all those little holes in the hull seem like trouble to me. Ribs vs Longitudinal stringers is an argument I could see going either way if you aren't beating the crap out of the boat. I personally don't intend to do as much of the hardcor Mudboat stuff a lot of guys on here do, I just want a really rugged motor that can get me just about anywhere I want to go.

Backwater is top notch, I've owned both GD and MB. As far as the hull, the 1852 or 1848 would be a good choice with the 37. For years, there were only LT's and riveted hulls...it sufficed until the heavier surface drives arrived. All marshes are not the same; I'd get a .125 hull quick if I had stumps and beaver dams and real mud...in many shallow marshes with hard bottom and no mud (like where I run), a heavy hull can be a liability, I can get by with .080/.090/.100...my next hull will be custom or alumaweld now offers true flat bottom hulls that can be paired either with BW LT's or various mfg. SD's. My only criticism of the BW is that they are more back-weighted which works for better planning but makes it harder to push down on the tiller into "neutral"; the other mod would be a more upward curved tiller for taller drivers. I have dealt with the first by using a versa mount in the forward most hole, I just lean lower to offset the second.

Well a friend of mine has a 35 backwater long shaft on his 1648 aria, he took me out in it yesterday and I really like the motor. Needless to say I'm buying one! My only concern is I didn't like the 1648, how big a boat could I go to and still preform well? I would like to be able to take my wife and 3 kids out once in a while too!! His by the way went 19/20 up river and 23-24 down. Turning 3610 rpms.

The 1744/1748/1844/1848/1852 will all do better load carrying with the 35! You might want to spend a little extra and get the 37 EFI! Heck, I guess even a 2044/2048 would be a go! For my needs, 1-2 hunters and gear, the 1648 with my 26.5 EFI is enough, but with your family definitely go bigger!!

I'm getting a good deal on his 35 since he wants to try a surface drive! I am like him in always wanting to try new things!! So the 35 will be ok on an 17-1852? Or 1860?

I'm also still contemplating going with a riveted boat to save weight. Is that a bad idea?

Talked to a couple dealers around here, all sold out. Have to wait until at least late April for a boat. I'm wanting to but am 17-18 riveted or light welded Jon without all the bench seats in it. What brand does that?

Don't know of any current manufacturers that build riveted boats that big anymore. Backwoods landing in AL has cheap wide open welded boats (weldbilt). Could look at alwelds too. You are going to hook and dent either of those boats sooner rather than later. And you will learn a lesson most of us on here have already learned.

There is an alweld dealer 120 miles south of me. He doesn't stock a lot though. I am seriously considering having one shipped to me depending on the cost! I would like a front deck and floor. I'll keep looking

The boat Backwater had at the SETX Mud run was the cheapest Alweld 17ft boat they make with plain ribs etc and they said it was pretty light. I wouldn't go riveted if buying new and you can swing the extra funds. I was looking at Alweld or Weldbilt and ran across a 1999 .100W 1548 Weldcraft on Craigslist for $600 with a trailer that I couldn't pass up.

I keep looking Craigslist over nothing yet.

Can someone tell me what an arura boat is?

I'm going to alweld dealer Saturday morning! It's a bit of a drive but I think it will be better suited for the 35 SWOMP!!!

With the alweld should I go narrow or wide?

I would go 52-54 inches wide. Mud motors like long skinny boats but a 52 or 54 is still wide enough you can move around and it's stable still when fishing.

Longtails fare better with 44-48" widths... short transom with reg. (72") or BW swomp (59"), though the 72" BW is supposed to be ok with tall transom...I personally would love an 1848 open hull/ true flat bottom configuration in .100..

BW has a "conventional" clamp on style transom mount or the versa mount. The latter does require drilling/bolting.

Not able to test, but going off what backwater has on their site with Alweld boats this dealer has some that backwater has. I'm going down tomorrow to see them. It just doesn't make sense all of there flat jons are only rated for 4 people. All the way up to their 1870. Mostly it will be me and another person in it but occasionally I need to take wife and 3 kids. Dealer said when they sell the same boat for commercial use they take plate off and can haul more but a different set of regulations apply.

What was the outcome?

I went to the alweld dealer and looked at what he had in stock. I really like the 1752ssmb. But with trailer and tax was right at 5000. I'm contemplating going back and getting it even though with buying the 35 swomp at 4000 will put me slightly over budget! The only thing I didn't like about the alweld was that it didn't have a floor. It's still up in the air between the Lowe and the alweld even though the alweld is a better and 900 dollars more...

I know it may not be what you are specifically wanting but you may be able to get a custom built hull for that price that is meant specifically for a mud motor.

According to backwater, alweld is a good fit for their motors. I do like gator traxx though. Living in central Ohio boat manufacturers and dealers are far and few between! I'm open for input though.

walker, the alweld will be just fine! The flat bottom is better than ribbed. A floor is no big deal to add later; GT makes fine boats just heavier and not cheaper. You can use .090/.100 sheets or if you get lucky those big road signs are stiff enough and DIY and save $. Get some closeout hydroturf sheets and put those on top. Let us know!

Will do! I did notice though that Lowe has a 1652 that is rated for 5 people. Plus dealer is closer. I'll hopefully make up my mind soon!!!

Well I bought an Alweld 1752 and also picked up that 35 swomp off my buddy. Have to get my battery and gas tank fitting and hopefully try it out tomorrow!

Good luck, please report speeds ASAP as that's a similar setup to what I want eventually.

Will do, I'm sure I'll have to make some minor adjustments with cab plate shims and things. I am definitely looking forward to it and this winter do duck season! Hopefully I didn't make a mistake by going this route.