I currently run a Longtail on a smallish boat. It does fine for hunting where I normally run but I would really like more speeds for longer runs for fishing and to get to some of the more remote duck holes I like. I would also like a bigger hull so I can haul more camping gear and I have a little one that's getting old enough to go with daddy. I'm looking in the 17-18 x 52-56 range.... That being said, I'll be getting some type of surface drive to go with it.

While I typically hunt timber, I have to run some lily choked creeks and backwaters to get there. Hyacinths, grasses, duck weed, Salvinia are some of the normal growth where I frequent and they can get extremely thick. My Longtail makes it fine but it takes frequent stopping and cleaning out to get there. Plus, the way the lower unit sits in the water, the vegetation just piles up in front of motor between it and the boat. Nothing catastrophic, just a big annoyance trying to get somewhere at 3am.

I'm well aware of the major manufacturers out there and how they're built etc, but speaking from you guys' personal experiences, which one would give me the best service in really heavy vegetation without having to stop and clean it out every few hundred yards?

Pro-Drive!

Pro-drive. The lower unit has a great design to it

Thanks for the PM Pintail

I have actually had my eyes open for a Gen 2 with a blown powerhead that may need some work. Rebuild the lower, drop on a Kawi and roll on. A friend of mine has sharpened his PD skeg and leading edge of his prop and slathered the LU below the waterline with GG and it seems like he could run through damn near anything and never tangle up or get bogged. He just trims up, pokes the throttle once or twice to clean it out and keeps on going, usually never has to even get off step to do so.

I honestly kinda figured some of the first suggestions would be for a PD lol. Just by virtue of the rounded skeg and lower unit design. What say the Kool-aid crowd??

Would anyone happen to have first hand experience with more than one brand in these conditions?

Like I said in my pm I've only had experience with my gen 2 vs a gen 3 and I much prefer my gen 2. I think it blows they stopped making them bc there was nothing wrong with them

I'm very interested about thus kawi conversion, seems like quiet a few people are doing that to their PD

35. There are several different models. The one I have had a 4" shaft and took some slight modding. The others bought the 4 1/2" shaft and it's a direct bolt up. The bolt holes for the briggs line up perfect with the Kawi. They just need to be drilled out from 1/4" to 3/8". Same clutch. And best of all, no case leaks.

I'm assuming people are doing this bc it's a more reliable motor?

Just different. Stock to stock is no comparison. Kawi wins, but it's because of the stock Kawi cam profile. Now modded to modded, it's close. I've had my stage 2 bump 35.6, but the load carrying capacity is stupid. The Kawi is a 6 valve engine. The briggs is 4. It has 2 intake valves and 1 exhaust. But we all swapped due to the block design. It's different and for the pd, the block bolts to the frame rather that the oil sump cover on the briggs. So far so good.

Only other tip would be to call, beg, cajole, connive, coerce, manipulate or whatever the hell it'll take to get a weed cutter from Bayouboy for it!!! You won't ever have to think about it again.

Damn man, while I'll be doing that when I get every breath out of my briggs, so far I only got 168 hours on her, hopefully I got a lot more in her lol

Ha! Hope she treats ya good man! BTW see bout one of them fancy skegs also when ya get around to it...

There was a thread year or two ago that had video of bayou boys weed cutter design on it. I think it was someone from Florida who posted it

Ah

I'ma have to look into that

What it cost? Got a pic of this thing?

And what exactly is so special about that skeg? Can it take more abuse?

Well they should. Don't really know why they changed anything. I love my gen 2. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Fuk a 3 blade prop

4 dudes , 190, 190, 150, 220, 3 deep cycle batteries, bowfishing rails, load out 50 qt brute box, 20 gals of fuel, 120qt ice chest with 40 lbs of ice and a 40lb drum, I was doin around 23 plained off, now it took me a couple mins to get up to that speed but nonetheless I was gettin that speed. Stock gen 2 PD