Ok so with the introduction of the electric reverse option on center console GTR and having owned MB and PD I may be getting a little thirsty for some cool aid. Any ways my question is, can I get a short transom motor on a GTB with a 21" hunt deck? The area that i use my boat requires u to pass under very low bridges(lake boeuf). And a tall transom GTR is almost not even worth it because of the height of the engine, this area is not the only place that I go were this is the issue. But I do pass these areas regularly and would love the be able to get where I want to go without sinking my new boat are damaging a new motor. I have not seen a boat set up this way. And everyone alway says to get a tall transom because of the reverse trust. But with the hunt deck is it still needed.

Don't know if you realize it but a tall transom/ short transom the point to where the motor bolts vertical is the same on both motors. What changes is the distance the prop runs in the water. Also a tall transom is 20" and a short is 16". 4 " is not much.


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Yes I do realize this and honestly 4" will help significantly. If I would have to launch at a different location,that would take almost 1:30 to pick up and drive to the other launch plus 45min boat ride. That's huge. But the question Is will it work and will GT build a boat this way?

When I ask will it work, I want to know if any, is there something bad about running a short transom GTR? Swamping the belt housing is something that has me concerned. I'm pretty ruff on my mud boats. I mean extremely ruff. WFO through everything ruff. So what if u didn't make it, I'm going for it RUFF. Lol seriously though

I have seen pics of one on here somewhere. Been a year or two ago. They said they didn't have any problems with it. With the hunt deck you should be fine. I'll try to find the pics.

Here ya go. Haven't seen him post in a while, I think there are a few on here who know him and maybe you could get in touch and ask him how it did.

Here is one more you may can ask.

Thanks for the pic!!

That is the only hunt deck that I have seen with the recess places for the bolts. I guess the deck height on that one is a little taller than the rest. I have been places where an extra 4 or 5 inches clearance would have been a life saver.

I think TGUNN had a hunt deck with short transom GTR on his instagator. you may message
him, I know there are pics of it on here

This boat belongs to bdavis.

Same thing here, never had any problems with the mudbuddy are pro-drive, however the trim on those motors works completely different and trimming the GTR down doesn't make much difference in clearance. I mean look at these GTR's, thing got a lift kit on it lol. The last lake ride Jamie b. Had to get people to follow him to the launch so he could make the bridges. I want to set my boat up with center console so the tiller problems won't come into affect. And from what people have told me the tiller height is the only downfall to running this set up( tiller being to low for stand up driving)

I have a shorty gtr on a 1854 custom with hunt deck.
I've never had a issue. I never "swamp" the bell housing either.

And I'm about as rough as you can be on the gtr.

Tiller height is perfect when sitting on seat and when I'm standing up I just tilt it up a hair.

There is only one time that I could think of that swamping the belt housing could have happened and I've never seen it personally happen, just experiences that make me question these things. So about 2years ago we hunted the wax lake delta and when we went to sleep the water was almost even with the land and when we woke up to go hunting the tide dropped about 2 1/2 ft and we didn't leave any slack in the rope, so that made for an exciting and frustrating morning with the boat all jacked up on the bank lol. If you ever hunted this area you would understand, dont think a gatortail could have reversed of that but, in my mind th housing may have gotten sunk. But that was then and this is now! Really just want a new boat that works for my needs. And this site has enough knowledge running through it, I figured this would be my best shot at a real answer without someone trying to sell me something.

uncle j built me a high side boat with a 16'' hunt deck. Never was a problem and rarley had water on the hunt deck. Maby give him a pm. He's a very talented builder.

I have a short transom on my gatortrax with a huntdeck. Theyre right the handle is a little low for standing up and driving but im like you, i couldnt make it into some places with the tall motor. And i cant say that i have any more backwash with the shorter transom either because of the huntdeck. Only thing is that you have to kinda watch it in reverse. It will fill up the boat in a hurry if you have it trimmed all the way down.

So is it washing over the hunt deck in reverse? Mine will be center console, so the back of the boat could still be 21". Unless the trim would hit when going over a log?

I have a 16.5x46 Instagator with a short transom hunt deck. I can get water to come over the stern but only if I'm absolutely whomping on it in reverse and standing with one foot on the hunt deck and one in the boat.

I don't weigh 300lbs, though.

Only time I ever get water or mud into the boat is when I'm hammering it in reverse at a certain angle and trimmed up a lil bit to blow grass outta the way

So are there any advantages of a short transom GTR? Besides being lower to go under bridges and what not

What are the dis advantages?

With a hunt deck, there isnt much difference as far as i can tell. If it was a regular short transom without a hunt deck it would take on more water than a tall transom boat. A lot of that depends on the type of boat you end up with too. I have some friends with havocs and excel boats that could sink their tall transom boats in reverse. I would have to work at it and get ignorant to take on that much water with a full hunt deck