I have a 1644 GD Boat. I curently have a 27 HP LT and want to move into a surface drive. I am kinda stuck on Mud Buddy because, I like the motors and I have a dealer in Jena. I was looking at the Black Death 5500. I am wanting to be able to haul a full hunting load and be able to move. I do not want to have a motor that would be over kill, but I do not want a motor to pussy out when 4 people are in the boat. Any motor recommandations or anyone have a similar rig that could shot me some advice

i had a 1644 gator trax, i was running a stock 35 on it and if your gonna hunt 4 out of that boat your gonna want ATLEAST the 5500. when i loaded that boat up with 4 people it wasnt getting on plane at all. i could run 3 and a big load all day. that 55 should get you up and rolling

Would it be feasible to sell your entire package and start over? If you are gonna consistently hunt with that kinda load, you should really look into a longer boat. Then you won't need all that extra power to carry the load...

I think that the 5500 will be a good motor for you. I have one on order now that I'm going to be putting on a 1750HD Gator Trax and Kent (one of the owners at GT) and the guy that's selling me the rig both told me that I should be in the mid to upper 20's with a load. So your boat should be in the 30's with 2 or 3 people on it.

With that narrow of a boat and 4 people on it, you'll need quite a bit of power to get up on plane.

ok let me throw a monkey wrench. Mudbuddy sells a 35 vanguard, which is 60 Lbs lighter than my 27 Kholer Beavertail, Plus 8 more HP. I run probably 10-12 MPH with four people 70 Pound dog and gear. 800 Lbs to guess all together ( Just Gear). Also, fully loaded I have been able to go in water less than 2 inchs deep with soft mud. Would I gain enough with a 35 to get around 15-16. Thanks for all the advice guy, just trying to look at all the options.

How the hell is the 35 vanguard lighter than the 27 kohler? Is the BT frame really that heavy?

Nevermind, that is not even possible. I don't know where you got that info, but that is wrong...

Longer boat is gonna help tremendously with a load...

yeah you would probably get that speed out of it with a 35. i ran the 35 on mine and everytime i got a load in there i was wishing i bought a bigger motor. if i was u i would just get the 5500, at the price they are selling it at u cant go wrong. 4 people in that boat u will need all the power u can get. from the speeds u been running with that LT once u get that load on plane and almost double your speed you wont be able to stop smiling.

kapslock,

TeamCamo has a similar hull and motor I believe...

As long as yours is the newer .125 thickness and not the older .100
it should do fine with the bigger stronger engine...

4 guys and gear however - is bound to be an overload condition for
all but the very bigest hulls - so keep that in mind as far as safety....

I knew that was way off. I've swapped our motors around enough to know better. I can pick my kohler up by myself, but the briggs is a bear.

I can't speak for the 5500, but either way a longer hull is better for a load. Sure you could run good on that hull with that motor loaded like that, but the same motor will carry that load much better on a 18+ft hull.

If you look at the SETX videos where everyone is getting stuck - you
can see TeamCamo in the background still going... LoL...

better check see if the gd will hold that motor long tails like skinny and long but sd like wide they work better i have a 16 x48 gd and was told that the biggest i could put on it was a 27 transom would not hold a 35
mac

i can tell u a huntdeck on that boat would help out alot, it gets u a little bit longer so that would help out with your load carrying. i think if i would have had a huntdeck on the 16ft that i had i dont believe i would have sold it.

I'm sure it says on the hull somewhere, but you can call GD with the hull id and I bet they could tell ya.

That's right - it is stamped on the back right next to the serial numbers....

agree with cb5331 on this one. if you get a 18 foot boat no matter the width, you will be able to carry a 4 man hunting load around with no problem with a stock 35. i do it all the time, including this past weekend runnin 22 mph the whole time. just because your 16 foot boat may be lighter than the 18 foot hull doesnt mean you will go quicker. the shorter hull is not the way to go when you need to carry a load. unless you just have that extra money to spend, the MB 5500 is not needed for what you are wanting to do.

if you are staying with the 1644, i dont care what anybody says a STOCK 35 will NOT get 4 guys and a load on plane. ive had that setup and it aint gonna work. it may get the 18 foot on plane, 16 foot aint happening unless someone posts a video of it i aint believing it. with the price that the 55 is at right now is that even a decision? why get a motor that MIGHT get that load up or spend a little more and not have to worry if its gonna get the load up. seems like a no brainer to me. there's a reason they say buy the most hp u can afford it will be the one u wish u had gotten later.

E thuggin at it best!

I was tired and and in a bad mood this am... I feel better now. New rule, cb is not allowed to post until he has his coffee.

Kaps sorry to fork up your thread, get a lil wired sometimes. My "opinion" would still be to sell what you have as a package now and get everything you can for it. Get a longer boat, and whatever motor you choose to put on it. If you are gonna try to carry that kinda load in that hull, you def need all the power you can get...

Even if you decide you want a bigger boat I would still get the MB BD 4500 or 5500 for that type of load...a stock motor would still be limited in performance even with a longer boat...you can't go wrong with more HP...get all the motor you can afford is the general rule of thumb...

OK look, '99 model 1644 GD (.100g), 35 MB Sport with Mikuni & BPS Crossover, with 3 adults, 2 kids, & 2 coolers of drinks, I have run 26-27 in deep water. Take out the 2 kids & coolers and running 28-29. I'm not BONE Stock, but I aint all hopped up neither. Hope this helps, not tryin to stir the pot anymore than already has been.