WOW just picked up my new 1854 GT step deck. Man am I excited. Have lots to do to get it ready for fall fishing and duck hunting. The Guys at GT are great and helped me a lot. Thanks loads to the entire crew. More as i get this beast rigged and ready. Oh by the way I am going to commit a felany with this boat. I am planning on mounting it with a Mud Buddie.
I know to many of you that this is a sin, but that is what I want and that is what this is all about. IMG_7693-1.JPG

I'll bet you gonna have the bestest MudBuddie rigs that ever hit the water !!






'Course thats just one of mines opinions .....

Thanks Brooks. I like the Gator Tail Boat. Got the motor mounted today will have to tweek the transom some the tall transom on the step deck has to accomodate the mudbuddy short transom. I mounted it to get a better view for the cut. Came with a 21" transom on the step deck. The transom angle is a little more extreme than on my boat so eyeballing it will help. Any opinions will help.

Congrats on the new rig.

congrats on the new rig, lets see some pics

Going to cut transom down for Motor. What do you think??

I think you are going to have to take at least 5 inches off or you will have yourself a useless combo. The only way you will even get the prop in the water right now will be to trim all the way down and you won't go anywhere very fast that way.

I take it that this was a boat that someone had in stock and you decided to jump on the deal right away instead of having one built with the correct transom height and having to wait on it to be built??

Very nice looking boat though. Just make sure you know what you are doing or let someone who does do it the correct way.

you are gonna have to cut the transom to make it work. at least 5 ".

If you cut 5" off that transom, your pivot for the trim cylinder is going to be almost even with the bottom of the hull. It seems that it will snag everything, gather weeds, and ultimately get screwed up.

I would seriously consider trading or selling that motor and starting over.

or you could have a stroke of genius and call your MB dealer and get a tall transom kit for your motor for 300 dollars.

You guys are great. I called Mudbuddy yesterday and they confirmed what you just said. A longer belt housing is the way to go. $617. The longer Belt housing would extend the needed amount for alignment. I will post pictures when I get the chance. I know that this seems to be somewhat of an experiment. I like the Mudbuddy motor and I am very pleased with the Boat I have purchased. Great advise and help. Thanks

you see I dont like to work as you can see by my picture and the day before it was taken the master had me in the fields all damm day. gots me a baaad sunburn that day....