Ordered my first surface drive and wondering if you guys use grab bars with them like the long tails, or if you sit down most of the time? My thought was the only time I'll prob stand is to see over other people and gear in the boat...do any of you think grab bars are a must have with surface drives?

Do you like your face? You will sit down, but the more you see what you can do with this motor the more you will push it and being thrown from a boat is not fun. Or having the handle kick and cold cock you in the nose.

I've never ran them. I personally don't need them. It's mainly personal preference.


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I've never ran with one in my boat and when I drive friends, it's comfortable when cruising but it gets in the way moving around the boat when turning sharp.

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Get a removable one. Even if you never need it, its there

Never had one either. I'm sure it is safer to have one but how much fun is that?

Havent had one in my last 2 boats.

A grab bar is a false sense of security, if you do something that would throw you down or out the boat, the grab bar won't stop you.
Kinetic energy wins over a hand on a grab bar every time. The best thing I've learned to do is if you are about to wreck or wipe out just sit on the floor and let it go. Also don't ever get between the handle and the side of the boat.

I did not have one in my last boat. I will never own a boat with out one again.
It is nice to have when you running in a shallow lake headed to your duck blind. When it is foggy you can drive standing up and see much better and not worry about getting knocked out the boat. I like to use them when frogging or crabbing.
I also will have an ATV spotlight attached to the grab bar on my new rig. You can move it any position you like while tossing out decoys or checking jug lines at night. You can also direct it to the bank while driving in foggy conditions when your headlights need to be pointed down toward the water. Gives you a better vision where to run.

Yeah running in the fog is okay as long as you have a grab bar lol

They help keep you steady when you've had too much to drink!

A grab bar is good if you don't have balance, but thats about it. My first boat had a grab bar, but I haven't used one in a few years. I never sit down to drive, just not comfortable. People buy these mudmotors and they wanna see what they can do, so they point it in a direction it shouldn't be pointed in, hammer that throttle down, white knuckle that grab bar, and bust that ass. The best way to keep from getting thrown out of the boat is to not act stupid in it. A few bruises and repair bills usually put an end to that.

I put a bottle opener on mine as well as a cup holder

Y'all have me curious now. I rarely sit and drive. I've always used the grab bar because I was always standing. Next few outings I may try standing without the bar, and also go back to sitting and driving.

And it's easier to drink a beer or look at GPS/phone sitting

I don't use mine much but at times I'm glad it's there

I like having mine. Broke mine off when hit a tree! Didn't know how much i liked it till it was gone

I never sit down when running. This boat has a bar in it. Last 2 didn't. I use the grab bar all the time. More to lean on. It is nice in real shallow hard bottom when you have to make a sharp turn.

I stand and drive without a grab bar..... never been dumped over the side.... hell I jump levees standing without a grab bar.....I mean your holding on to the tiller.....

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I use one, I drive standing 70% of time, nice to have something to hang onto when using body english to help boat turn tighter. Bad thing about them is false sense of security, need to be built hell for strong. Sheared a couple off when throwed hard into them. Have a bad habit of not always using my deadman switch. Had a friend get tossed out of his rig and boat almost came around and run over him. He always uses his deadman now.

Couldn't imagine not having one. If your running tight trails with a full load and need to turn sharp it really helps give you some leverage, plus it keeps the dog from knocking over my beer and drinking it, he has a problem...

See how he's looking at that beer...

They Gay

Steering wheels are gay jimmy... Lol

I highly recommend having one. I hold on to the grab bar more then I do the motor handle.

Grab bar is a must if you get out of the boat roads.
I use mine to duck behind limbs and vines when I'm in the woods.

I had the one Excel puts on their boats. It was okay until I ran out of water. Boat stopped and I didn't. Grab bar to the ribs and it ripped out out the t-rail. Never put it back on.

I don't have one with a Longtail... You just can't drive like a complete moron 100% of the time, you gotta cut it back to around 80-90%

I ran mine the first month I had the boat, made too much noise so I took it out. Just grab the side of the boat if u doing some Ricky bobby shit.

That's what I do....Grab a gunnel.

you drink the kool aid, id rather drink the whiskey and raise hell!!!!

Thanks for all the replies fellas! Looks like it's about 50/50. Guess I'll see what the boys at phowler will charge to add a removable one to my boat package.

How about some pics of your grab bars