I picked up a 16x52 aluminum haul and trailer, in pretty good condition. And exactly the layout I was looking for.
The boat has pods welded on. The owner had a long tail on the boat.
I KNOW pods are not the greatest thing for a mud motor.
I put my 2013 36 pro drive on the boat.
By myself, I'm only running about 25.8 mph. I'm just wanting y'all opinions on if I should cut the pods off or not.
They are not even with the bottom on the boat, I'm not sure if I should keep them on, or take them off.
Any ideas/advise would be great. I can't sell boat an get another, after this duck season, I will have a boat build for my motor. I'm just looking for any info.
Thanks again!

Cutem off also check your transom angle.

No clue bud, maybe on of the prodrive guys will chime in.

I believe the transom angle for prod rive is 12°

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I know everyone will tell you to take them off but I would leave them. Speed is not bad for a stock motor. I know a few people who have added them and they have helped. If you do take them off post your speeds and a review of the difference without them. One buddy had some added to his alweld and it helped the squatting and the hopping when riding solo.

I plan on cutting the pods off tomorrow. And before I boxed in the bottom on the transom, I also planned to put either 2 trim tabs in the back, or a full piece of alum. Plate across the bottom as a full trim tab.
Any preference between the both?

Full width but that can be done by making tge bittom plate of your box 2 long

For a prodrive you need a 15 degree transom angle.

Not sure I would cut those off.

Your speeds are good for that package.

I had a 16X48 with cut back transom and had to add pods to keep boat from squatting and backwashing....

I would not recommend pods in MOST circumstances with a surface drive, but yours seems to be working and I would not mess with it. They sit high enough that they are probably not effecting performance on top end and only helping you on take off and running slow...

Your biggest problem is the boat in general and if you are replacing it after this duck season, I would run it like you got it till then....

Mines got pods but if i had reverse they would come off

15*
As far as the pods, i would cut them off. I also have a taper transom. I boxed mine in as well because i couldn't stop the damn thing from bouncing at high speeds. When I boxed it in, I left a 1.5" tab all the way across. Now it runs great and don't have the slightest issue with reverse.

Took plasma cutter and cut it out.
IMG_2568.JPG

Cut out old plug pipe and welded another piece of 3/16 to bottom. Used a square to insure it welded straight to bottom and didn't hook.
IMG_2569.JPG

Welded in new plug hole. painted it back. I just had to sand off the gator glide at that point to do all the welding. painted it back normal with green cuz I didn't have anymore GG. Now I can fine tune it depending on the load. Doesn't effect it one bit in reverse.

IMG_2571.JPG

Forgot to add, I welded the splice piece top and bottom. Then I came back and used a flap disc to sand the bottom welds smooth with teh bottom so it wouldn't act like a hook. So if you get inder my hull, you cant tell where it was welded, and now its painted.

Gas tank is in the middle of the boat, I haven't moved it forward yet.
Battery is in the back. Even with another person up from weighing 180lbs it still hops a little. Nothing major.
But if the person is 130, it hops a lot.
I checked out the bottom of the haul, it doesn't appear to be hooked.
But I do know you can't always see it.

How is the boat running now without the pods? What are your speeds now, and do you like it better with them off or on?

One thing i am noticing is that the boat doesnt ride flat. (it didnt ride flat even with the pods)
And it feels like that is also holding back my speed a little.
and i noticed that my motor feels like its getting a better bite. May have been that the pods were somehow disturbing the water to the prop????
I need to figure out how i can make it run flat to help me a little.
Even with all the weight in the front, 9 gal gas tank, battery, and 1 person, it still doesnt put the front end down.
i havent had a chance to ride it solo yet, but i will has soon as possible.

I read lots of things on here about trim tabs getting hung up on lots of stuff with motors with reverse. So im looking for something else to help.
Anyone?

I guess I will try the trim tabs! Maybe it will work for me! I will be ordering my boat within the next few months. So I'm just trying to make this work for the time being. I'll be going with a 17x52, so hopefully that's all the boat I need. I'm sure I'll find something to get another boat built in the future!