Hi guys, i am brand new to mud motors and am getting and 23 hp beavertail LT with a 1648 utility jon boat tomorrow. I am wondering what is the break in period for the motor if there is one and what i could expect for speed carrying 2 guys both around 200lbs, a 70lb dog, guns and ammo and 3 dozen decoys. Im also wondering with this set up if anyone has experience with using float pods? Are they worth it? like i said i am brand new, never used a mud motor before... any recomendations qould be greatly appreciated.

Can u afford a bigger motor?
If u get 16-18 mph out of that I think u will be doing good

You don't want pods on a boat with a surface drive engine. The way is disrupts the water for a surface drive is far from idea. If it’s a light gauge boat, that boat size should be OK for that motor. Is it a welded or riveted boat? What brand? I had a 23 horse boat on 14x42 and I got it to run 17/18 with a 2 man hunt load and NO dog. That dog would slow it down quite a bit.

Are you already set and committed to this boat? Is everything brand new, or used? If it’s new I would consider some other options besides Beaver Tail. I don’t know anything about them (no personal experience). You don’t hear too much on this forum about them either. It it’s an option, look at Backwater Inc. SWOMP motors.

As far as pods, take a look at this search and read some topics. Should give you an ideal of what the consensus is on them. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ortalk.com

2x on the Backwater! Competitively priced, actually a little less than the competition! I know I have one!

If it were a 1448 I would say go pods....but with the 1648 I think they would not be much help. Gatorglid/steelflex on the bottom a good thing.With that load, 15-16 mph would be all right. I just get up earlier.

Im running a 25 kohler gdlt on a 14x48 rivited hull,2 adults in the 180lb range full tank of fuel we can hit 16 mph,1 person 20 mph.
Im only turning 3k rpm....im happy with that.

Hey guys here is an update. Took it out on the river this weekend gor duck opener. With just me my dog and all the gear for 3 guys, the boat cruises at 19mph. I was very very pleased with that. Once i added the 2 guys it dropped to 13-14 mph. I will still have to play around with weight distribution to see if i can get it to go faster but overall i am happy with the results.

There you go! Those are dang good speeds for the venerable longtail! If you get up a half hour earlier, you{ll enjoy the ride even more.