I'm picking up a Xpress HD15DB soon and am wondering which surface drive MM to put on it. I'm pretty sure I want reverse and need to stay under 25HP for hunging in the Arkansas WMA's.

So throw your thoughts at me I have never run a mud motor before.

Thanks,

Russ

Why an express?

If you want reverse it'll have to be prodrive (smallest is a 27hp) or a 23hp gtr.

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You better put a outboard on it,becuase that mud motor will take you places that boat can't handle in the stumps.

Putt'n a surface drive on a 15' boat is like getting married to a fat woman, it's OK at first, until you realize what ya could have had.

Wow that's really helpful guys so informing and intuitive no wonder he's only got 3 posts.

well if you are putting a SD on it and have to stay under 25 that limits your choices. PD is out of the question so that leaves the other 3 builders.The only motor with reverse under 25 is a 23 GTR. I really have no idea about that hull so I cannot tell you what it will do performance wise.

A 15' boat such as the Xpress is meant for a small outboard. It will not carry a load well, unless your a small guy with minimal gear. Speed will be another issue, it will either plow thru the water running heavy or porpose like crazy with a light load.

Thanks for the quick responses but since I am new to the mud motor and duck boat world I could use some explanation.

Med,
It doesn't have to be an Xpress but I have my eye on a good deal on one and like the open layout of it and that it has a full floor and the priced is right. I really don't like boats with the bracing exposed in the floor. Since I haven't purchased yet I'm open to other suggestions but was thinking 15 for being nimble and manuverable and 44 to 48 wide for stability. I have heard that SD's work better with wider boats.

MudCat,
What about the Xpress concerns you in the stumps? Is it the .080 hull? I've heard that Xpress boats are tough and thought maybe I could take advantage of the weight savings due to the thinner hull. As I said to Med above I'm open to other boat suggestions.

Robin2,
My wife is 300 lbs so ummmmm
Gotch ya Haaaaaaa, I don't know about heavy ladies or skinny ones for that matter?
I'm not sure I am following you with the Xpress made for an outboard comment. I'm learning here but was thinking that as long as you had the SD trimmed correctly it would plane very much like an outboard. Can you explain?

All,
Is having reverse that much of an advantage? It may be like a windshield on a Harley. As long as you never have one you will never miss it.
I'm starting from scratch here but want a manuverable boat that can cross some mud to get to the good back holes when water gets low. I'd like to have a full floor and have a rig for no more than $8500 with trailer. I don't need fishing seats, trolling motor or any of that sort of thing. I can add that later.

Thanks again please hit me with more info.

Russ

An 0.080 hull would be fine for mud, but if you ever begin crossing stumps/logs the bottom is going to get bent to hell. A 1/8" bottom will get bent up on logs after a while, so that should be the thinnest you consider.

u can al most get a new 16x48 23 sd gd new for what u want to spend

If your running in mud, idealy you want a flatbottom boat with no ribs protruding

The longer or wider the boat , the better its gunna carry a load.
A wider hull is gunna perform worse in mud and thick vegitation.

I used to run a 1650 xpress with a 35 mudbuddy. Xpress makes a great boat and mudbuddy makes an decent motor, but they are not made to work well together. First off, the ribs on the hull add a significant amount more drag, i have heard 30% more so that is a negative. .80 aluminum is thin. Put it this way, a boat made out of .125 of a stronger alloy will still not hold up well in a lot of stumps. My xpress was .100 and it dented way easier than i expected. Now i run a 3/16 bottom and dont really have to worry about it. my xpress would plow very bad when loaded down also. The positive think i can say about the xpress is that it did handle rough water much better than my current 1854 flat

Man theres a lot of factors to consider buyn a mm. I would get with somebody that has one and drive one. You have to decide if ya want reverse or if you want neutral. Its about what you want to spend and what options you think you have to have. Do some reading and searching on here before you spend money. If you want a duck hunting boat get a mud boat with a .125 bottom and be done with it. Ive had 2 1644gd boats and I really like mine however I wish it was an 18. I bought a gdsd this time. I dont need neutral and I dont need reverse. Dont get caught up on here thinking you have to go all out....get what you need. Some folks have to drive a new loaded out 4x4....i drive a 1997 explorer with 90k miles on it thats paid for. Holla back if you need to and ill help if I can. I gotta do some work now....damn

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Thanks Med,

Since the initial post I have been looking more at a slick bottom tripple chine. Are the Excell and ProDrive hulls pretty much the same design on the bottom. I can't tell that much on the ProDrive site. They sure are proud of them. I'm not opposed to going used as long as everything is in good shape and I'm not buying someone elses problems. I used to drag race and built my own car and motor so am mechanically inclined. I've also owned a couple lawn mowers I have maintained that had the 27hp Kohler on them. Those dude's took a lot of abuse and the one on the Skag is still impressing me.

Anyway I'm in the market for a new/first rig that doesn't have to be loaded out. I just want something not so big to have trouble in the stumps of Bayou Meto but will do well in the open water of Lake Fork and get me to the back holes of other WMA's in Texas.

Russ

suggestions....... prodrive, godevil, gatortail, or custom hull. .125 bottom at least. Look at the motors and decide what you want (gatortail is the only one with reverse under 25hp....a 23hp which also has a neutral) Your motor size will determine the best size hull for you. Maybe some other guys will chime in. The review section is also a good place to go look to see how different packages perform. Buying used is also a route to take if you take the time to look you can find deals. Just make sure you know what questions you need to ask when looking at one. Ive got less cash in my rig than a lot of guys have in their hulls where are you from?

The xpress is just not a boat designed for a mud motor. Will it work of course it will but like everyone else said your perforamnce is greatly reduced with that rig and you do have to be careful with what u hit. Their is alot of shat under the water u dont see. The .080 thick hull will get bent up like a beer can if ya hit stuff with it. Their are alot of great motors out their and boats. Your best bet is to test drive some and see what ya like. Their are only 2 with reverse GTR and PD. Go Devil is straight forward no neutral or nothing But MB, PD and GTR you can get with neutral. Its up to you and what you need. You can get a 23 and mod it out really carry a large load and it still only says 23hp

Thanks folks I'm taking my time with this I want to get it right the first time and need to sale my Harley Fatboy to cover the cost.

Med I'm just east of Dallas in Heath.

Russ

Hey guys us Arkansas people thought Express and War Eagles was tough until you bend them all up from moderate running.When I found this site and started researching custom fabed boats.I thought, now those boats would last longer than 2 years.I'm running a 18/48 3/16 5086 flatbottom Sportsman Fab with a 35 gtr.I run mostly Millwood and Caddo lake. Boat lanes are convenient but, its nice to go any where you want on step.If you can't see it don't worry about it,if you can plan on it.