Hi all I've been lurking for some time.
I've been reading a lot and learning a lot. I'm going to build my first mud boat this year. It's going to be an inboard with stick steering. . I'm modeling after one I saw at wmart yesterday. The picture is on my desktop I hope. Anyway it was a double end canoe with a 6.5h Honda clone the shaft was fixed and went straight through the bottom with a rudder behind. I'm going to make mine a little differently. I'm going to use a drive shaft boot bellow so the shaft can be raised and lowered from inside the boat to keep a lower profile and center of gravity.
I got to come up with a shaft ,seals and shaft housing to go through the bellows.
Can I get some source advice on where to get these parts?
Thanks

really liked this outfit. Can any one advise sources for parts and materials to build an inboard mud drive?
I have a 5hp 2stroke snowblower engine. A 16hp carol stream. a 20hp Kohler command pro and a 24hp Kohler command . Right now i'm looking for a shaft, shaft housing seals, bearings, to get started. I think the 150cc 5hp 2 stroke with a reduction drive may be what I want its super light. Though the 16hp isnt really heavy. Its also new.
I'll get more pics.

This is the boat I want to build into a bud boat .
I have work to do to the boat I'm gonna cut the bow to create a more streamlined rack with a flat plate.
The boat will run in mud with that homemade long tail with a 5hp Briggs.
It will actually run faster in 2" water with with 2 adults "500#" that it will in 3' of water. It pushes mud but cavitates "spelling?"water.
Its very heavy. The boat boat is very light and strong built. I like to sit up front with stick steer and stick tilt.
A 16hp inboard stick tilt could be a fun ride I think.
any suggestions, pointers or ideas?