Hello all, I'm new to the site and have never owned a mud motor/boat. I have several friends who have owned several different makes and models so you can imagine I am getting a "boat load" of opinions and advice. I appreciate it all, but I figured before I actually buy a rig for myself I would ask a forum and see what everyone recommends. I'm one of the least picky people when it comes to material things. I just want something I can get back into the hard to reach areas of the waters I hunt and fish. For purposes of this post I'll let yall know that I hunt Millwood (Arkansas) and Mercer Bayou and the Sulphur and Red Rivers also in Arkansas. They are mostly sawmp-like with mud bottoms and lots of coontail moss, lilie pads, and smartweed and other swamp grasses. Millwood and Mercer are also full of stumps, both submerged and visible. I am first and foremost a duck hunter but also regularly catfish (rod and reel, jugs/noodles, and trotlines) and bream (bluegill) and crappie fish, we are also allowed to use "yo-yo's" in Arkansas and they require you to be able to get under tree limbs. Last but not least, I do a lot of frog gigging and crawfish hunting/fishing (whichever you want to call it) I eat em! I usually hunt by myself....I'm close to 40 and all of my buddies have families of their own now so we only get together a couple times a year when our wives let us. I do have 3 children (12-3) and my wife goes occasionally. I do not carry a lot of gear when I hunt, mainly 18 or less decoys, maybe a wing-flapper (motion decoy) and a lab. I like hunting singles (trying to call in one duck instead of a dozen) so I look for backwater almost exclusively. I weigh 170lbs and have for 20 years. LOL I understand from two of my buddies that Mud Buddy is easy to modify, but I'm not really into racing to a hunting spot. I hunt public land and can usually find a spot away from the crowd. I dont want to travel at trolling motor speeds, but I'm usually not trying to outrun folks either. One of my friends has a Gator Tail and he says that reverse is critical for how and where I operate. I have had a 1754 side console Grizzly Tracker with a 40 hp Merc for 7 years and get as close to the spots I ike to hunt as possible then drop my pirogue off the big boat and paddle/pole my way deeper into the back water. Just looking for something to get me back in the stuff and make it a little easier on myself as I get older. Paddling a pirogue full of hunting gear and a dog gets tough half way through the season. Well, now that I wrote a novel, LOL, I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks. Oh, I'm currently in Afghanistan and will be home after February. I will be looking at boats then. I've driven one of my buddies Mud Buddies, but have never driven a Gator Tail. Thanks in advance for the advice!

....not sure why "back water" got *'s, I promise I didnt use a curse word! .....so I look for **** (should be back water)

Sounds like whatever u get u need a 3/16 bottom for sure.

A lot depends on your budget... My first MM rig was an economy rig cause I had
a nice G3 1860 tunnel w/90 - had a small hull and small 8 hp GDLT - she could crawl
thru wet cement to get to a duck hole... Next rig was a (salvaged) used true
slick bottom MM hull by Welbilt with a 25 GDLT then later a 27 GDSD - only had
pocket change in any of them.... But I was sold on the MM rig concept...

Priorities for me - USCG Approved level floatation on EVERY hull - even those
old ones above.... Truthfully the LT can do things the SD can't but is a handfull
to operate.... The SD has better speed and is far easier to operate on longer
runs.... There is a reason our Alaska members mostly run the 35 GDSD - reliability
and fuel economy on long hauls...

For under 12K new - my current GD 1844 with 35 GDSD and pirouge racks for my GD
pirouge is the most bang for the buck for where I hunt and how I hunt - IMO....

Bottom line - get a true slick bottom with floatation for safety and match it up
with an "appropriate" LT or SD from any of the major makers and you will have
lots of fun and find places you didn't know about right where you already run...

18x48 is an optimum size and 35SD or 23LT - will push quite a load anywhere...
Oh and neutral and reverse are highly over-rated - LOL

Good Luck !


PS - Thanks fer yer service in the sandpit ! You should be able to catch a few
test rides before you pull the trigger on a new one by posting back here when
you get Stateside.... If you get to Texas you can sure catch one with me...

All the major companies (Mud Buddy, Gator Tail, ProDrive, GoDevil, Beavertail, etc.) use the exact same Briggs&Stratton Vanguard 35 engine--they can all be modified in the exact same way with the exact same parts. MB just markets their modded engines (which you will lose the Briggs 3 year warranty on). Seems like a lot of people think they need a MB for more horsepower, but you can get the EXACT same mods (and parts) for these other motors.

If you want reverse there's only three options: Gator Tail, ProDrive and MB Sport V. Instant reverse, only GTR and MB. Full power-ProDrive. The MB Sport V's are new and have had a disastrous release (long delays, missed schedules, vague information, broken handles, leaking lower units, cracked lower units, they are heavy...). They recently reduced the number of models available too.

Stay safe over there!!

Thanks for all the help fellas (my apologies if one of you is a lady). I'm about done over here, and cant wait to get home! I appreciate the offer for a test run but I will get a chance to run my two buddies who own MB's and my buddy who owns a GT is already planning on carrying me out on the bayou to run his. I really appreciate the input and advice!