Pods and surface drive.... I realize many of you on this forum say NO BUENO bc of "water disruption" to the prop and that a simple search on MMT will give you the same answer.

So I did that search and yes, indeed all the people of MMT do agree that its bad.... BUT it seems that maybe 0-1 people actually experienced the before and after of this on their personal boat. Are those 0-1 guys that formed their opinion on real experience rather than reading the same 5 people on MMT regurgitating the same info on each pod/SD post still on the forum? Do they have before and after pics of the work?

I realize only a few manufacturers make factory boats with pods, is there a reason why the "big guys" don't. (not the MMT reason, but a written reason from the manufacturer)

I'm bringing this up because I've read some reviews on other sites regarding adding pods w/ a SD and they have been positive with the only real concern that the bow of the boat rides lower on plane.

People who say pods are a good idea with a sd simply do not know any better. That's the bottom line. You should get a boat better suited to fit your motor. This is from someone who has paid to have pods installed on a boat and then later switched to a boat that was a better fit. A boat with at least twice as much bracing and a heavier transom and bottom outperforms the lighter, smaller boat with added pods in ever scenario possible. Better top end empty, better performance in the slop, better load carrying, better at everything there is to be better at. Only people who think pods are a good idea or like them only like them because they helped their mismatched boat perform better. Pods will help a shitty combo perform better in some scenarios, but will pretty much never be a better option than a purpose built boat.

The big players in this market do not put pods on their boats because its a stupid thing to do and totally unnecessary. A boat that's built correctly in the first place will not benefit from having them.

You brought up a good question, IMO. I hate to see people who have an opinion that is absolute truth and not posses any experience, evidence, or supporting facts.

Let’s make sure everyone is on the same page…what are you calling pods? What I know as pods are two individual boxes attached to the back of the transom. They are typically installed after building the hull to add displacement to a boat that is sitting too low at the stern. There are some manufacturers that build them into the hull from the very beginning. As we all know these are boats typically designed for outboards.

My first argument would be this. If you are buying a new or used boat - and you know what type of engine you will put on it – the best route would be to buy a boat that can support the motor. Either a longer or wider boat to create more displacement will help with the heavier motor.

I have no experience with pods, only an engineering background and ability to look at the theory behind pods, their cause, and their effect.

I'm talking pods like beavertail pods. I know they come factory on beavertail boats and they market for mud motors, both LT and SD.

SeaArk markets pods on a lot of their rigs, have for Jet Tunnel boats, standard outboard and duck boats.

I didn't know that Beavertail offered pods on boats. I know you don't run across Beavertail motors very often, let alone the boats.

I haven't heard much good about the SeaArk jon and mud boats either. I have a friend with a nice bay boat though.

That's why beavertail is way behind the curve on the mudmotor market. Honestly it's just laziness. They didn't change anything with the boat when they brought their sd to the market, same old lt hull.

The seaArk, you kinda answered your own question there...those are built for outboards and jets, not purpose built for a surface drive mudmotor.

As to the answer for all the 'Why Can't I" questions-it is pretty much the same.

You can do whatever you want to do. It is your money.

Will the boat run with pods, mod v, ribbed bottom, tunnel hull, jack plate. on a sheet of plywood, or any other of the dumbass ideas that everyone seems to want to ask about over and over and over? Sure the motor will propel the boat forward. If that is your goal, go for it.

If you are asking if it is a good idea. The answer is no
If you are asking will it perform to even decent standards. The answer is no.
If you are asking will it perform properly. The answer is HELL no.

If you are asking if I waste my money on pods will they help a little maybe. The answer is yes. Maybe.

Specifically pods are a VERY BAD Band-Aid to another problem. In some situations, it will help maybe, but that does not mean they are a good idea. Better idea is save the money, get rid of the WRONG boat, and get the RIGHT boat for the motor.

If you need water displacement, you need to get it with a longer wider boat.

Pods are a much better option for Longtails.

They even effect different MM (for instance-PD's don't like them at all) differently, and the boat has a lot to do with it.

Yes, some (or a lot) of the knuckleheads on here just spout off about that which they do not now.

But a lot of the times they are just reciting what folks who do have the experience have earlier stated and the info is just as valid.

You have to read thru it sometimes to figure out which it is.

PODS have been covered so many times there is plenty of correct info out there.

The rare "they worked for me" is as already stated. Worked for me because I don't know any better.

Beavertail has pretty much always had pods on their boats. BUT, their boats were built for Long Tails. When they added the SD to their equation, they just ran with it. Not that familiar with their SD (which should tell you a lot) so can't speak to how their SD performs on that boat-maybe it is different with their motor, but doubt it.

Their boats are made of .100 gauge aluminum. So does that mean because they do that, it makes it ok? Not even close. Anywhere most of us run, that boat would be destroyed in days, not weeks.

And Yes, I have personal experience with pods. Been there, done that, made the mistake and got the tshirt. Tshirt was only thing that worked out.

Good luck.

I wouldnt trust a damn thing I read on another site. Also only trust half the shit you read here
But what these guys are saying is the truth.


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I enjoy this discussion every time it happens. My dad's boat with pods does better than the same exact boat would do without pods. The pods throw water correctly to the prop. It's a very rare thing. However, a 1752 without pods would do better. A 1954 thicker hull without pods does significantly better. My 1748 does better with the same engine, and its exactly 17 ft long, not 17 plus because of the hunt deck or whatever. Prime example of pods working, but not better than a longer or wider boat even with thicker aluminum would do. Spend your money how you want, argue that it's all heresay, but if you'd actually read the firsthand experience, you'd realize it's not just 0-1 people.
Caddobrook, cb, etc aren't feeding you a line because they hate the concept. They've been around this stuff a little while.

I believe that if you were to ad pods to get extra free board. Go ahead. Best thing to do is make sure that the pod is mounted above the bottom of the boat so they don't distort the water to the prop. And that they are made to accommodate your transom angle so they don't face down.


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I think pods are great. You should build a custom hull with pods....prove all these jack legs wrong! That's what I'd do if I were you.

I say build whatever u want to and be happy.

if it ain't a 20' skiff it ain't shit anyway. lol

I can speak from experience, I had a Beavertail boat w/ pods and probably one of the first 31 hp Gatortails ever made. The pods will hurt more than help....that boat was slow as molasses. I tried everything other than removing them because they were a cool place to get in and out of the boat. Ran the motor on my dads true flat bottom Alumaweld and it came alive. Learn from my mistake don't do it.

thanks for those who replied. I'm not looking to start a battle, but rather gain info. I'm opening this can of worms because I recently stepped up to a 2008 35hp gatortail on a 2008 beavertail 1754 (with factory pods).

I purchased this rig bc I was in desperate need of a boat. I wrecked my longtail rig 2 weeks ago and needed a boat for the season. The old rig was insured so Ill be getting the check soon.

The rig I purchased was a 2008 with 31hrs on the motor. needless to say everything is mint. I'm getting 25mph (GPS'd on snapchat) with 2 guys and the blind folded down. I think that's pretty decent speed for only getting a hair over 3600 RPM's out of the motor. This is my 1st SD rig so I'm only comparing my performance to my 2 previous LT rigs and the other LT rigs I've ridden in and it blows them out of the water. The SD has a longer outdrive to it, so im not 100% convinced that the pods are robbing it.

When you guys are talking performance being better, what exactly gets better? I'm asking bc I don't know and performance is a very vague term.

Top speed, speed in shallow water, ability to get on plane in hard bottom (when the boat squats, the pods actually create drag on the bottom).

All of the above are performance metrics used when defining performance of a mud hull. Your boat will float higher when idling or sitting still than an equivalent sized boat without pods, but as soon as you throw the fuel to the engine, all that goes out the window due to things mentioned previously, and in some of the threads discussing pods that you supposedly read. That engine on a 1754 without pods should run more rpms, which would translate to more speed. 25 is reasonable, and within the margin of differences in load and boat characteristics, but that same exact load with the same exact rig minus pods would be faster.

Speaking of horses....

This is what everyone here is trying to help you do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH6WJc_mxWY