Hello. I've been "lurking" here for quite a while and now need info. I own a very old 18 hp Go-Devil long tail, bought it in 1987 or 1988, which still runs great. However, I'm pushing 60 years of age, have torn both rotator cuffs and truthfully, the more I run the thing, the more it seems to beat the crap out of me as I've gotten older. I still use it a couple months each spring for bowfishing but each year gets a little harder to take the pounding it dishes out. I primarily shoot in a flooded marsh area off the Kalamazoo River in S.W. lower Michigan and in the St. Joe river. Both areas are full of stumps, logs, mud, firm bottoms and some sandy spots. So, I'm seriously thinking of buying a shallow drive with reverse. I know Pro Drive, Gator tail and Mudbuddy offer a motor with reverse and was hoping to get valuable opinions from those of you here that are in the know as to the pro's and cons of the different manufacturers and models they offer. I have done a ton of research and am a little confused when it comes to making a decision about buying the CORRECT motor for my boat.

I own a Legend Craft 1548 custom boat with .125 smooth bottom and 16" transom, made in Arkansas. It has a full floor from front to back, a 4 foot front deck, a 4 foot and 6 foot long gun box, an angled transom to make it easier to "PUSH" backwards when you get stuck and the boat is HEAVY, ~900 pounds empty. My Go-Devil doesn't push it well. It runs well when empty and set up for fishing with my 20 hp Suzuki pushing it, but with a couple guys and all our gear, generator, front platform, lights, I'm pushing 1500# - 1600#, maybe more. I was thinking of buying a 25-35 hp motor mud motor with reverse but I'd like to try out one of these motors on my boat BEFORE buying one. If it won't push my boat very well, then I'd have to do something else. Any suggestions on which motor, hp size and where to go to try one on my boat will be greatly appreciated. I welcome any and ALL comments/thoughts on this matter. I am retired and we're in a deep freeze up here now so a trip down south sounds mighty good. (The wife even said a road trip south sounds good!) Thanks in advance for you comments/suggestions.

For a 1548, I'd probably vote a 25 GTR. For torn rotator cuffs, I'd recommend a center console boat with hydraulic steering. GTR or PD would be fine and you'll never look back!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shit put a 35 on it now and don't look back


Sent from my iPhone using

Thanks for the replies. Keep em coming.

Now, do any of you know of dealers or manufacturers that will let me put one of these motors on MY boat and try it out? If not, it looks like I'll be making some phone calls. Looking for suggestion from those of you who might know who does this. Thanks again.

Go look at the "EFI" thread as far as cold starts and other info. It's been blowing up the last few days.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks cootslayer. Will do.

If you have a 1548 with 1/8" bottom that weighs 900 pounds, you might want to rethink your boat before you do anything.

If tiller steer is beating you up, go with PD's stick steer or a CC rig. Clocking logs with any tiller steer surface drive will be just as bad as the LT.


Sent using Morse Code from my not so smart phone.

It's kind of a weird design/shaped 15 foot long boat. It has a 6 foot beam and has about 5 feet of rake. The front is about 4 feet wide at the bow and 52" wide where the rake meets the bottom, then gets wider as it goes towards the back, ending up around 5 feet wide at the stern. The transom is angled on the back to make pushing it backwards easier, which I've done more times than I care to remember. It has a full floor and 4 foot and 6 foot gun boxes.

I'll try to post a couple pictures if I can get around the back of my barn with all the snow. And MAN is it COLD up here right now. Less than 5 degrees with wind chills in the -15 range....

I also use the boat for fishing and it takes a little time to get on plane with my 20 hp Suzuki pushing it but moves real well after it gets there. That's why I was thinking a 35 Gator Tail would probably be a good choice.

That would translate into a 1560 if it is 5 feet wide at the transom.

If it has a 6' beam, then you only have 6" of flare on each side. Pictures would be good.

My rig is an 1854 center console. With the 36 HP Prodrive, 2 batteries, 55 lb. thrust MinnKota Riptide and 16 gallons of fuel weighs 1400 pounds. It has 1/8" sides (24" tall) and full floor, 3/16" transom and bottom.

Like I said, if you have a 900 pound 15' boat...you need to be looking at a new boat to go with your new motor.

Here's what the back angled transom of my boat looks like. The sides are 20 inches high.

Here's the front.

If you have hooks along the bottom like you have at the bottom of the rake, one more excuse to look at another boat while looking for another motor.

Here's another pic. I was incorrect about the weight. It weighs in around 750#.

Thanks Shamu. The rest of the bottom is relatively dent free. The bottom of the rake is what takes the brunt of the hits on logs and stumps when just putt-ing in shallow water with my long tail, chasing fish while bow fishing. The two lard asses I usually carry around almost make the front take on water at times, especially when they've filled the 55 gallon drum with carp. LOL... I was hoping to get a few more years out of the boat by putting a new shallow drive motor on it. It has a 15" or 16" transom.

750 isn't too bad considering 500 #'s of that is snow!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, we have a lot of snow up here right now. We're having a hard winter; below normal temps and above normal snowfall. Snow is over 2' deep in the yard. Would have to strap on the snowshoes if I wanted to go into the woods. As much as I like winter and snow, the older I get, the more I'm looking forward to spring and getting the boat in the water.

I was down in the Atlanta area (Newnan-spending time with brother in law at the Cancer Treatment Center) for a few weeks earlier this month and it felt like spring time. I was walking around outside in a t-shirt most days and all the local people I talked to thought I was nuts until I explained to them where I was from. Nice area to visit but couldn't live there. WAY too warm in the summer and WAY too much traffic... But it was a nice, warm, friendly environment.

Not sure where in the North you are but if you are anywhere close to Illowa Marine in Illinois I am sure Paul would hang a motor on your boat and take you for a test spin. He sells ProDrive.

Okay fellas. I've been over on the EFI thread and after reading and trying to sort thru all the stuff there, was wondering what y'all think of the GTR 25? Anyone on here running one on their boat? How big a boat will it push?

I haven't ever saw one but the Gator Tail website says it has a Subaru motor with EFI. I like the EFI idea because of some of the crummy weather we deal with up here and want to test drive one on my boat sometime in the near future.

Anyone have any experience with Subaru and their service/warranty record? What are your thoughts on the GTR 25? Thanks.

There are quite a few guys here running the GTR 25. Everybody seems to love it. It's a very strong 25 hp motor! I believe there's one pushing an 1844 that does well. I'll see if I can find you a link to eljefe's build thread or get Swampnuts to chime in. They both have them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

El jefe is running a 1840 .. I personally run a 1744 .. And pushes the boat with a load just fine ... Lacks a little in the low end torque department but you learn how the motor likes to perform

The GTR 25 EFI does good for me, but I would like to get a 35 or mod the 25.
My boat doesn't weigh anywhere near yours, it pushes my boat good not sure how it would do on a heavier boat.
Also you have a 16" transom, I had my transom built up to 20" and reverse will soak you in deep water.
My new boat will have a hunt deck and probably a 35 stage 2.
My suggestion would be go to the SETX mud run, you'll be able to see any brand MM your want.

Thanks guys. How much do your boats weigh in at? Mine has a .125 hull, full floor, 2 storage/gun boxes, 2 built in flotation pods/seats in the back and a 4' front deck. That's probably why it weighs so much. like I said, it scoots right along with my 20 hp Suzuki. It takes a little bit to get it up on plane, but after that it moves. I haven't ever taken my gps with me to see how fast it's going but it probably does at least 20-25 mph, possibly faster.

Ditch the pods if you get a surface drive!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Coot; what would I have left to sit on? LOL.. Seriously, why should I tear them out?

You're talking about a seat. These are "flotation pods"...

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1391477585.767040.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yep, sorry I misunderstood. They are seats full of floatation foam.

Your wife is right.

If you and your wife need a little road trip!! Come on down to Gods Country!! South Louisiana!!

Loreauville, Louisiana!!

There are two major shallow water outboard company's within 3 miles of each other in a small town.

Go-Devil is in Baton Rouge Louisiana which is about 60 miles or so from Loreauville Louisiana.

You can visit, test run, eat great food, gain a little weight due to the good food LOL, meet great people that are called CoonAssess!!

The two major shallow water companies in Loreauville are Gator Tail and Pro Drive.

Just to let you know, I work for Pro Drive. When you and you wife are ready to come on down and test run, let us at Pro Drive know.

Just ask of Peck, KP, Brian or Dwayne @ Pro Drive.

^^^ I see u took your bipolar medicine. ..nice work. It seems u took Cb post to heart. :lol:

cb5331 is like a pimple in the crack of my ass!!! It shouldn't be there!!!

Sorry about this One Click Willie.

I just cant get rid of the dumb butts!!!

sorry for the harsh words, stt. Maybe we can be friends one day and hopefully you understand what i was trying to say. I deal with pd because of the extreme level of confidence AND professionalism they've shown since I first started dealing with them. Don't want to jack another thread, but you can pm me if you think i was out of line.

LMAO !!!!! No offense taken. You guys are funny! I read some of these threads and literally laugh out loud. You sound like the guys I run around with. We actually have a guy we've started calling Godwin, if you know what I mean. Or should I say "Gowin"? He even LOOKS like him. I know, that's pretty sad. LOL.

It's almost as if you guys actually like one another. I gotta feeling I'd fit right in down there. LOL. Hopefully we'll be down that way and get a chance to meet a couple of you. I had to cut through quite a bit of bs here, but I have to admit, I've actually learned a thing or two from you guys. Thanks for making me laugh while I was being educated about mud motors.

We all get along when we meet at rides. A lot of us have actually gotten to be pretty good friends thru the site. You still have a few douches now and again and one democrat (dguidry). We drive away most of the douches pretty quickly, but that damn gun grabbing socialist just keeps getting back in the saddle! Anyway, I hope you get to make a trip down. You and your wife will love the fresh seafood, especially if you come during crawfish season!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Now I know I like you guys for sure! Anyone who hates Obummer-roid is okay in my book! I can't stand that guy and his corrupt administration. Obummer, Eric Holder, Hillary and Harry Reid should all be tried for treason and taken out in front of a firing squad. I have very few friends that are left wing radical lib-turd demon-crats and that's the way I like it. I had some friends on face book that I went to school with that showed their true colors and I was forced to "un-friend" them. Good riddance.

I got on this site the other morning and had to stop reading and clean the coffee off on my laptop that came shooting out my nose from me laughing so hard. I've really enjoyed the time I've spent here and learned quite a bit. I sometimes have trouble reading the things some of the guys type here and wonder if some of them know what a comma or a period are. LOL... I've spent a little down south so I can pretty much carry on a conversation and understand what people are trying to tell me, but I gotta admit I sometimes have a hard time deciphering what some of you are trying to say without reading the post a couple times. But its all good. it's just a Yankee thing.

Forgot to ask - when's crawfish season? They taste anything like Lobster?

Taste better to me .. And it should be starting very soon

Already starting to get them a few places around, but not much size to them yet. It should be on in another month or so!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not very fast....at least not in some people's definition. With a fresh prop, it's pretty consistent 26-27 in deep water. I can gain/lose 1 mph with winds, currents and chop.

This is with the latest prop and turning around 4050'ish RPM's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBQFckzKfp4&sns=em


Sent using Morse Code from my not so smart phone.