I have a 1648 (648) war eagle with rear dual pod seating, dual gun boxes down each sides and complete wide open floor plan. Just like I would want If I had it custom built. I know slick bottom would be better, however, this is what I have. I need advice on what size and type of mud motor to put on it. The transom is 16" high and it has these scallops or cut outs on each corner of the transom. I had looked at putting a sd motor on it, I was wanting flotation pods for it so it sat better in water. I think the cut outs in the corner would complicate this. Has anyone ever put pods on a war eagle like this? What type of mud motor on this type of boat. long tail or sd? How large is recommended. Biggest load would be three men. 250#, 250# and 150#. One 55# lab. Most times it would be two 250# men and 55# dog. Need advice and appreciate all feedback.

Thanks bigritter70

Id get a 27 or 31 hp mudbuddy. You wont get great performance on a semi-v hull like yours, but thats what i have and it works ok. If you had the money, i would go ahead and get a true mud hull. If not, a 27 or 31 hp surface drive should be about right.

If it will float a 31, it will float a 35/36... Get the most hp you can afford, don't add pods unless you need em. A boat built for the motor is always the best option.

You gotta go with the 35 and if it were me I would stick with the GTR or a Mudbuddy. The boat will float just fine with both of those motores and still give you desint speed.

I would put a Gtr 35 on it its the lightest motor out there go big whatever you decide on cuz you'll want to up-grade your boat later!

I run a 35 MB on my beat to hell 1648 WE. I dont have pods on the back. I think that might limit your turn radius at slow speeds, but you can try. I had to move the gas tank and battery up front. With two guys and a hunting load (shotguns, 2 dozen deks, gear, and a dog. We move about 24 in the deeps and 25 in the shallows (2' or less).


If you are in the area, let me know and I will take you for a ride so you can see how it handles and floats yourself. We can shoot at some ducks too.

I run a 1542 war eagle with a 23 GT and had a 23 Go devil LT on it prior. I thought about doing the pods as well. With the AZZ end of the boat being the way it is I decided against it. Look into some trim tabs they may be a better option. My boat floats the 23 fine and the LT on it was heavier then the surface drive I am now running. I do not have any problems with back wash. I also have a hard sided blind on it that adds quite a bit of wieght. The boat jumps on step and runs fast enough. Go bigger if you can get away with it.

You sound exactly like me 3 years ago.

I run a 1648 War Eagle (short transom=15.5") with rear pods and a MudBuddy 35. I have a hunting buddy that runs the same setup. If you don't expect the performance of a mud boat, then you will be happy with the performance compared to an outboard. Performance: 1 man + light gear and i get 26mph. 3 men + dog + hunt gear and you need a long stretch to get on plane and I may hit 21mph.

You can't put enough weight (gas tanks, batteries, etc) in the front of the boat to balance the boat out. Therefore, the water level is about 3 inches below the top of the transom. If you put people up front, you will never get on plane.

However, it is a dangerous setup on these War Eagles. When you take on water over the short transom, the boat will sink! I have sunk mine once launching on a steep ramp. My buddy has sunk his 3 times...Once rolling off a stump, once parked on the riverbank (swamped from behind) and once launching at a steep ramp. There is not enough floatation in the rear of these WarEagles to float the boat with the weight of the mudmotor.

I am going to sell my War Eagle w/outboard and buy a mudboat. No need to have a boat you rely on.

Yeah the backwash can be a problem if you are not careful, or at steep boat ramps. However, I enjoy mine, and if it is what you've got, go for it and upgrade later. My .02

hey sbbrown you went out riding with a buddy of mine 3rd coasr killer the hull he was running is the one im gonna buy to put a 35 MBHD on it do you think it will do good the MB is a short transom so is the boat. if you dont remeber the boat is a 1544 i think

Get the 35 and dont look back

It might work. I dunno.