New to the forum. Did alot of reading prior to posting a new thread. That last Excel thread got hairy, so instead of hi-jacking one I just figured I'd open a new thread.

I'm looking for a new rig for duck hunting, fishing and the occassional shrimping trip. I duck hunt South Carolina, which has everything from deep water lakes to tidal marshes along the coast, with plenty of cypress swamps mixed in. Looking a good all-purpose boat to do everything in.

Really like the Excel's and how they're setup as far as the accessories (trolling motor bracket, front lights, side rails), space, storage(battery, gun/rod), placement of electrical switches, front deck, etc. I know many have said how heavy they are, but I've seen some other boats and their layouts and this one has the features I like. It will be hard to sell me on anything else.

As far as the motor goes, I was gonna go w/ an outboard, but after talking to some folks I've been leaning towards going with a mud motor. I like the ProDrive with the automatic reverse, but can't put that motor on the F4 Excels without major mods. So I will be willing to go with a Excel Viper hull to accomodate the motor.

I know many guys are biased to what they have. Hopefully the more experienced guys like "Mudd" will give some insight on what is best and why for what I'm looking to do with it.

P.S.- FWIW, I'll have an outboard to put on the boat for shrimping, as doing this with a mud motor is not even an option. Getting the boat that gives me the layout that will accomodate being able to shrimp is key.

How big of a hull are you looking to get ?

sounds like your mind is made up.... if you want input from Mudd try the Private message feature.

Just be carefull if you go with a Gator Tail. My good friend Joey has had alot of issues with there customer service. I know a few others who said the customer service needs some major help.

I own a Gator-Tail and the performance and the service has been #1!!Great products and great people that stand behind their products

The viper hull is a great hull but NOT for a mud motor at all im sure it would work in deep water but the turn down hull is gonna be like grip tape in the shallows I think just go with the old style excel SWEV it doesnt have to be the F-4 the old style is setup just the same just without the hunt deck thats what I ordered and with that said u could put any motor on it I would think

Met with the local Excel dealer and he has a 1851 that is demo, for a sweet price. Now just gotta get a motor for it. It has the triple chine and the tall transom, so I can keep a small outboard for tooting around the salt water for shrimping. I would rather have one boat and two motors. Plus my bro-in-law has a SeaPro that his Dad gave him that I have free access to for shrimping/saltwater fishing.

I may just find a used MM and try a few and see what works before I buy something brand new.

I'd like to have reverse on a mm, so what are my options? I know MudBuddy is working on one and slow-drive already has one, but its a slow-drive... Gator tail has one but I'm still not sure how its supposed to work.

Sounds like you've had your heart set on a mudbuddy since you started this thread, so what's the point? You can sit around holding your breath waiting on mb to release a motor with reverse, or you can go test some other motors. If you don't care about reverse, than go get you an mb.

The gtr and the pd are both great and both already have a tried and true reverse feature. The pd drives more like an outboard, and has FPR. The GTR has a more standard style of reverse and a longer shaft that is good for digging in that soupy mud in South LA. If you are running hard bottoms, or clay type mud, pd with fpr is probably your best bet.

Stock motors are gonna run pretty damn close to each other on a similar hull, within 1-2mph anyway. The excel is a heavy ass boat, hence the reason guys are runnin heavily modded motors on them, and still barely running 30 mph.

Do you run areas that you have to have a mud motor to get around in? I'd stick a 90 tiller on it and that bitch will roll..

i feel you on the marsh tides part i can run to a hole in 14inch of water and run out over pure mud in under two hours i would go with a pro drive only because there is no telling when mud buddy will make theres and maybe gator tail would have the power to back up but that is a really heavy boat you got there and backing up all that might be a power without full power reverse other then that i think both motors are great for going foward and mud buddy would be good to if you never plan on backing up cuss speaking from experience its a fight to get off a big stump without it

Kyle from gator tail motors called me. I know I had wrote some bad things about their company. I now feel differently about the situation. He called appologized about the situation and I now respect him and gator tail motors more. He admitted someone dropped the ball on not calling me back and he looked further into it. He answered all my questions. He admitted that they were in the wrong and it takes alot to do that this day in age. I have never seen his motors in person so cant comment on the performance but how he handled the situation makes me back his company hands down. Kyle thanks for the concern and the great answers to my questions.

Good stuff guys, thanks! I have a friend with a ProDrive thats gonna give me a demo. Its gonna be a little bit before I'm ready to buy. I have time, so I'm in no hurry. Although the regular duck season here in SC is fast approaching, with teal season already behind us.

I wouldn't rule out a custom builder, check out those options, u get more bang for ur buck and an all around better built boat.

like jordy said i would check out a custom boat his is not much different then mine and he spent way less money and the customer service is much better from what i hear some people get to big for their shoes i tell you this cause my experience with gotor tail thus far hasn't been the most pleasent

I edited my last comment. I now have more appreciation about gator tail. Please read.

I have a Gator Trax 1750 HD that I'm very happy with but I would check out the truly custom boat builders and get a quote from them.