I'm running a 1856 weldbilt with a 35 backwater 72" longtail. runs well, but we now have some longer river runs along with sandbars that we cannot dig down into to get push from the prop. I've always run longtails. I'm wondering how the SDs run in hard packed sand, better than a longtail or about the same? Will I get myself in more trouble on sandbars with the increased speed? How do SDs compare in areas with little water and tight manuvers? Thanks a lot for any input--Jeff

A surface will definitely get you in trouble with a sandbar if your not careful. Neither will dig down in hard packed sand and if you try you'll burn a prop up in a hurry, which will kill your performance.

I second that I learned the hard way sand will not only chew up a prop but it will cause seals to wear out sooner. I'd say if you're running sandy areas the best thing is a jet foot outboard but you'll still end up replacing impellers and other parts due to how sand wears on metal

We have got sand and marl hard bottom here, sucks for both longtails and surface drives. About the only solution is either an airboat or a hovercraft. The benefit of a longtail in such a situation is you will bottom out sooner; a surface drive will get you in farther and worse stuck in sand. Even a winch may be useless in such a situation. The suction the sand/marl produces on the hull bottom, even with gatorglide/frogspit/steelflex, is tremendous. I love my 26.5 EFI Backwater in most situations here, but I avoid the sand at all costs. Get you some spare props for the holidays!

I run about 75% sandy bottom rivers. I run a sd on an 1854 mud hull and as long as there is 2-3" of water over the sand bars I can run right over top of them because of the speed the motor gives you.

When you run over them you can feel the boat lift and the prop will be bouncing off the bottom but boat will actually hydro plane to keep you up just off bottom. After you reach the end of the bar you can feel the boat drop down. So in my opinion my sd's have been better than either of my longtails in the same situation. Nothing is good in the sand no doubt, because i've had numerous outboards and a jet drive on a 40 merc. and the best thus far has been a modded sd. I go through at least a prop a year, but that's cheap compared to not being able to get where I want.

Been hunting the same river and area for 38 years.

Air boats can go over the same bars and don't wear out props, but they are so noisy and hard to hide once you get to your spot.

Thanks for the input

tunnel hull and a jet

I'm having the same issue. I run a shallow sheet rock river with some random ledges and boulders here and there. I used to have a 1536 with 18hp long tail. I always got beck to where I wanted but wasn't able to carry the load I'd like to. I ended up punching a nice hole in the boat and moving toward a bigger one.

So now I have a 1754 with 35hp Gator Tail. I get there ALOT quicker and can carry the load in looking to but I've noticed that I do not get through the shallow sheet rock bottom as easily as I did prior. The LT was nice bc if I was coming over a hump, id just pull the prop from the water, the SD I have to trim up (which is slower than pushing down on a LT's tiller handle) or let the skeg ride over. It may sound weird too, but I also noticed that If I got hung on a rock the LT was easier to get off bc I was able to swing the weight of the tail and push from much different directions. The SD doesn't really allow me to do that.

Both motors have their pro's and cons. Id stick with the SD if I got the option to do it over again.

Make sure you have a skeg exstention or you'll go through props in a hurry

Steel flex or the like also helps and a winch with a 4 foot earth anchor when ya over do it

^ yes I like the SD better than the LT overall. There are certain instances where the LT was better but 95% of the time the SD takes the cake. I added the Sand/rock guard from Gator Tail and in not busting bottom anymore.

now my only issue is that bottom is too destructive on my 0.100" hull.

thanks for the info

What russ said.

When I get to a sand bar or small section of matted vegetation, just push the Tiller down and allow the momentum of the boat to carry me over the obstacle. This helps on prop wear and keeps me from bouncing off the rev limiter.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

^ didn't know that, but makes sense lol.

I've found the longtail can get around at low speed and get up on plane easier than a SD in a hard shallow bottom, but as far as running over shallow sandbars is concerned the SD does do better. Like said you can feel the boat lift and you pick up a few mph when going over a sandbar as long as there is a few inches of water I can run over it.