I currently have a 18x44 gator trax with a 35 hp mud buddy with carb and exhaust. I have been running this rig for about 5 years and looking at getting a newer motor. I was looking at getting a gator tail possibly since it has reverse. My question is would this motor perform as good as the mud buddy on this boat. It also has the slanted transom at the bottom so would that help or hurt when backing up. Thanks

Pm MNgunner. He's running what your asking about.

Ok thanks

Yeah, it'll work just as well and you'll be able to reverse! The transom angles are almost identical and the GTR35 now has 4 pin locations to adjust trim angle.

I have a tall transom and I did have to do two small modifications: (1) I had to get channel welded in to the hollow spot since GTR uses a different bolt pattern than MB (cost me like $125, but if you know someone it'd be super easy) and (2) I had to cut the spacer because Gtrax has an angled support that is in the way (this second point only should apply if you have a TALL transom).

Ok glad to know it will work right. I would hate to buy the motor and it not work. Mine doesn't have the hunt deck and I noticed the tiller handle is shorter do you have any problems with it being shorter than a mud buddy's handle

They are really not that much shorter. They look a lot shorter then the Mudbuddy because how the mount. I went from one to the other and could not really tell a difference. I would say maybe 3-4"

This measurment is like 41.5" (from inside of transom, parallel to handle)

BTW had I known I was going to put a GTR on my boat, Gtrax will build the transom accordingly for free.

I will measure my tiller tomorrow. do you think the reverse works as good on a gator trax as is does on a gator tail boat

I've never ran a gator tail boat, but reverse works fine on my gator trax huntdeck. How tall are you? I'm a little over 6'3" and have no problem reaching the standard length tiller.

I'm 6 ft 1 in I went hunting this morning and I think 6 in isn't going to make much difference. I have had good luck with my mud buddy have you had many problems with the gator tail especially the reverse

What speed are you running in your rig

I haven't GPS'd it in a while--when I was first starting to figure out trim level, pin location, rev limiter, etc. I played with a GPS and I got 26.4 in deep water with me (178), my son (55) blind, 7 gal gas. I'm also completely, out-of-the-box pure stock. I might get a little faster now that it's broken in and I know where it likes to be trimmed. I've heard from others that have run both that the GTR might be slightly faster than a MB... take that for what it's worth.

More important for me, is that I never had a problem getting on plane with me and two other guys (178,190,215), 80 lbs dog, guns, ammo, gas, 3-4 doz decoys. It was more than fast enough for duck hunting. When it's 4:00AM, pitch black and snowing, lots of times I would have to let off the throttle in tight areas.

I'm also in a 1754 Hybrid Hunt deck (18' 8" OAL) with extra stringers (.125 hull), so you'll probably have totally different numbers. I guess if I were you, I'd expect to get about what you are getting with your MB with a GTR with the same mods. You'll just be able to go backwards too.

My gator tail is ordered and I'm like a kid in a candy store. I can't wait to see what she will do on my 1644!

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