I have a new Excel 1760 F4 Viper Duck Boat with a new 60hp Envinrude Etec. I go about 33 mph with the V/acceleration hull. The boat is rated for a 70 hp outboard. When the money and time is right, I want to buy a mud motor for this boat. I do not know much about mud motors...What are some of your general opinions on name brands and engine types as well as specific opinions on HP and length of shaft for my boat...I would appreciate all other feedback...Thanks

all the motors will work on this boat, but the excel boat was designed to work best with mudbuddy. go with a stock 35 horse if ya want or go bigger to 2 MB 5500 or something like that.

Thanks for your reply. I tried to find the 2 MB 5500 on Mud buddy's site and couldn't...or maybe 2 MB 5500 is a short phrase for something??
For a new guy like me, should I go with a short or long tail for this excel boat?

Give me a pm! Glen Just gave me the word the other day the 5500 will no longer be built by mud buddy, you have to build it yourself. This may sound strange but it is true!!! PM me anyhoo!

Call (409) 736-3999, tell him I sent ya, ask him all about the new 5500, or any other motor ya interested in. As far as short or tall transom, that depends on ya boat's transom. Keith is also an Excel dealer & can help ya out with ya boat too.

10-4, i appreciate the contact. Should I mess around with finding a 5500 or stock 35 mph used or should I look into a new one?

Depends on what ya really want. You can always find a 35 hp motor for sale, whether it be MB, GT, GD, or PD(36). All falls back to how much ya want to spend. I picked up a used 35 and built my own for less than I coulda bought the equivilant motor for. Sent ya a pm.

Dats like askin what the best condom would be for prom night........

10-4

Cattail, do you know how much longer they plan on building the 5500 because I can't find anything on Mud Buddy's web site that they are planning on not offering it anymore?

They are discontinuing the BD motors from what I understand. They have too many backordered already and can't keep up. Said they should bring them back in 2011. Posted on the forum over there this week.

Do you think you could post a link to the site? Just went on there and couldn't find anything. Thanks

It was posted on the forum. You have to register to get in to certain areas, and we cannot link from this site...

Just went and looked again. Said black death frames are sold out. They are too much work. Won't be available again until summer 2011. I don't know if that means they will no longer build the modded cdi motors, or if you just don't get the special black frame. If its just the frame, I don't know why anyone would care.