Hello, my name is Kris and I'll be a shortail owner here in a few weeks.

I've been searching around for about a month, but can't seem to find the answer to my questions, so here goes:

I own a 1654 tracker mod v hull. I've read and read the you need a mud motor hull for the motors to work best. Why is that? What exactly causes them to not run great? I know the ribs on my boat can cause hooks. I know a flat bottom will slide easier on mud. Anything else?

I use the boat to cross some bigger water then go up the coves which are very shallow. My current outboard pushes the boat great, but has trouble in the coves. I want the motor just for shallow water and vegetation, not mud as we don't really have any here. Does this sound like the issues with a non mud motor hull aren't a big worry for me?

When I'm weighed down, the back end sags and nose comes up getting up on step. Normally, I hunt just myself and my dog and have no issues at all. It jumps out of the water and hits 37-38mph. It's when I double the dekes and add an extra 220 lb person and their gear.

I know a mud motor will weigh more than my honda 50hp on there now, so I plan on changing my rear battery out for a lightweight starting battery (50lbs less) and that should about equal the weight difference(looking at HD 35 hunter, lighter weight setup). I still have an AGM trolling battery up front as a backup just in case.

Would pods help as well? Or trim tabs? I know trim tabs won't do anything about the front/rear height while sitting still/ just getting started in shallows.

Thanks!

Your hull will work, but the slick bottom mud hull would work better. As you stated, with horizontal (side to side) bracing, you will eventually hook your hull, where as with a thicker hull with longitudinal bracing, you will be less likely to. The crimps on the bottom of your Tracker will help you with turning, but will hurt you in the mud / veggies because they act as a rake and grab onto everything. If you're Hell bent on gettin a mm, just go on & try it. If ya don't like it, then worry about it. Odds are, if ya don't have anything to compare it to, you'll be satisfied with the Tracker. If you do have something to compare it to, then you'll figure it out on your own soon enough.

Oh, and for the record, you said you were lookin at a Hunter because of the weight, don't bother. Go with a 35 La Special. You'll enjoy the clutch and power trim, I promise.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I figured it would be a case of "not knowing what you're missing".

I'm leaving for alaska in a few months and will be up there for at least 4 years. I want something to run in shallows. I considered a jet, but the cost is prohibitive after just buying a quad for up there.

I looked at the 35 special, and haven't made up my mind yet. The hunter comes with a clutch, but manual trim. I have power trim on my current outboard, but really only use it to put the transom brace on or trim up for shallows. I'll take it into consideration though! What difference does the longer drive make on the special?

one thing on that special is youll be able to idle over those rocks without getting the downhousing stuck on it. you really need a jet on those rivers up there. a MM is gonna make you sleep on the bank alot up there if you go very far. they just aint made to run in rocks. look for a 60/40 merc jet. it'll run good on that boat with the correct height transom. 27" for 20" motors.

ESH,
The only place I've run a mudmotor is in Alaska, but I've been doing that since 1988. I have run jets, airboats and hovercraft, up here, and while each has it's advantages I prefer the mudmotor. Your hull will be fine. If it has a drawback it will be size. I prefer a little larger (longer) boat to carry another person, gear for a week, 40-50 gallons of fuel and with any luck a moose, bear or caribou. There are very few short trips up here. Most of mine are Tanana and Yukon drainages where I am running in hard bottom gravel and glacial silt. A jet and a shorty mudmotor will run in the same depth but the jet will get 2-3 miles per gallon and the 35 shorty on a 20 X 54 hull will get 7-8 miles per gallon. That is a pretty big load of fuel if your trip is 200-300 miles. PM me about where you are headed and I'll be happy to pass on any info I can.

Oh yeah, I've done the Yukon from the Canadian border to the Bering sea and returned to Fairbanks in a 20 X 44 GoDevil boat with a 25 hp longtail. That's roughly 2100 miles.
stu

Stu- you are hardcore my man.

Stu,

I'll be in your backyard. I'm going to Eielson AFB. I have a friend up there who lives in north pole right now.

That's the consensus I've got from a few folks I've talked to. Shallow running, but better mileage. A friend of mine came down here after 4 years in alaska and he swore by his 23hp on a 15 foot war eagle.

I would like a bigger hull, but that can wait until I get up there. I carry 12 gallons right now for the short trips I make around here, but I'll definitely need to carry more for some trips like that!

I've had moose, and it's delicious! I can't wait to hunt some caribou and stack some quacks!

ESH,
I retired out of Eielson and live only 15 minutes away. When will you be coming up? Contact me when you get here and we'll lie to one another about hunting and fishing.
stu

Hahaha, will do!

I've been to Newfoundland for moose- now I need to go to AK for a big yukon moose

the v bottom will draw more water than the flat, that will effect you. A smooth bottom boat doesnt slide as much as people think so I wouldnt let that bother you. As far as braces I would go with "floating ribs". 2 inch flat bar running longways with square tubing going across. I like my boats built like tanks. And the little extra weight will not affect you enough to notice. And the longer the boat the better for carrying loads

ESH

Hit Stu up when you get into town. He's a hell of a guy and will get you off on the right foot. Experience is everything and Stu has that. Running Alaska water is like no other and the trips are usually long and the water fast and cold. He is the Go Devil Dealer ( Stu's Go Devil Outboards) in North Pole, just outside Fairbanks so he is right out your back door. Duck Don

i second team camo the Luisiana special is the way to go i have one and love it i had a straight up direct drive hyper and what a difference .
i run a 1860 tracker with a slightly modded lui special prob 40hp it pushes it with a load about 25 in open water and 27 or 28 in da shallow .i run big water like you then go into the the back bays except fo a land locked baCK WATER area we run and thats where i wished i had a mud haul . my buddy has a twin screw pro drive and were heads up in a few inches of water but soon as we hit da mud im full throtle and going like 3mph and that prodrive is jamming like seems like 10 mph so there is the differnece if you care

Thanks alot for the advice fellas! I pulled the trigger on the mud buddy and mounted it yesterday. I think I ruptured my spleen trying to get it mounted haha. With my hours and the sun setting when it does, I won't be able to run it until saturday after the morning hunt.



I'll be looking for a new boat once I get up there. I like the pro drive boats, they seem pretty nice. I also like some of the gatortrax models. Maybe I can get one custom made too.

hey just a tip all the guys that run a river boat (ie. tracker,lowe etc ) all have put frog spit or equivelant on the under side of the boats and they all claim it helps a crap load in the mud and skinny water . im going to do it after the season is over .. last time i was in luisiana i stoped by go devil and they make some real nice hauls as well . but know with uncle J and some others making custom hauls your choices for a haul can be wide spread .. next hull im getting is deffintly going to have a hunt deck im thinking of a 1660 or 1654 .
but these god ol boys know what their talking bout a mud hull is the way to go if you want all the performance your mud motor can give . i hooked my boat on a sand bar two weeks ago by myself running the shore line and it about took all i had to get that thing moved 15 feet in a hour with the wind blowing that is when i really wished i had a true flat bottom mud hull

Well, I took her out this afternoon and made a few laps. Found out she has to be trimmed down further than I thought to get her moving. It was a little embarrasing running WFO at 5mph. I trimmed her down about 2 inches and she snapped out of the water and topped out at about 27-28mph. (No GPS with me, will verify speeds. Quicker than I thought it would go though) No load, just 2 batteries, fuel, me, and trolling motor.

I found that it is harder to steer than my outboard was while on the throttle. It doesn't push or pull on me, just harder to steer under load. Also found that the motor loads up with fuel and idles a bit high after coming off step.

Kind of neat looking behind me and actually seeing the spinning propeller and it throwing water in a big roostertail.

Overall I'm impressed and think it will suit my needs for now just fine.