Hi guys. This is my first post on the site.

Living in Eastern Canada. We dont have many long tails around. Most guys run outboards. But I have always dreamed of taking my boat up into those places that we just cant get to with a outboard.

So I made a 7 hr drive to pickup a long tail mud buddy 16hp Vanguard.

I have a 1448 AW tracker grizzly jon boat with a cabelas blind on it.

My question is how fast should i be going in this boat with a 16hp long tail on it? Im sure my motor is in need of a tuneup! I also had to have a muffler fabed up and am waiting for that before i try anything else.

2 guys empty boat with no batterys and little fuel I was not even able to plane out????

AM I ASKING TO MUCH FROM THIS MOTOR?

Heck no i run 20 by myself with my 20 hp. you should get 12 to 16 with yours im thinking. How big are these to guys were talking about?

longtails arent the fastest things, especially on a mod v boat.

Most of those small boats with small motors will just kinda plow. Most similar setup's I've ridden in run around 15 empty and 10-12 with a pretty decent load. Never really ridden in one that would truly get up on plane, but they plow along at a decent pace...

Im taking 2 guys total weight would be around 410lbs?

I forgot to metion that the boat is a 19" transom? Long tail seems to stay in the water with little problems? I notice on the first outing that the motor needed to be choked to start and staled out when not choked when I touched the throttle at all? It did not matter if the motor was warm our not. each time it stalled out i had to choke the motor and pull start it giving it throttle then push the choke in (off). Im guessing it needs a carb cleaning and a new fuel filter as a start. I just dont want to waste my time and money if im not gonna get at least 10 - 12 mph from it??

Just do a tune up. That motor is a hoss. Check your valve lash, clean the carb, new plugs, oil, filters... You should be able to run 10-12 easy

hoss??

HOSS= bad motha sticka, work horse, bad ma-ma jam-ah, bullet proof, bad S.O.B.

I have a 16HP godevil longtail on my 14-36 rivited boat. With me (350+) and 2 guys (probably around 450) plus dec's and gear I can get around 12 mph. With just me and an empty boat I have hit 17+ before. it was ALMOST scary fast for this little rig. lol. I would check the prop diameter and make sure it has good, fresh gas in it and decent spark plugs. Other than that, you should be good to go.


Gee

Ps- your prop diameter should be around 9 inches across. if it is less than about 8 1/2 you may want to think about replacing it. that will make a WORLD of difference.

New muffler is done. Motor runs and starts great now. I changed out the fuel filter. Tonight im going to clean the carb/plugs and change the oil/filter with 5w-20 synthetic.

Pro is hard to messure? I think im reading it to be 8 1/2 inches? Its not sharp of worn down looking? I hope to get the boat back out on the lake tonight with the gps and see what it will do. wish me luck

Ok test run number 2.

10kph which is like 6mph

Just me in the boat no gear. I think im having an issue with the shaft length? Motor is un balanced on the front handle side? it want to jump up out of the water? Mud buddy said the correct prop is a 8 x 7? should I go with a 9 x 7 as my boat is heavy?

The reason its jumping out the water is its on a tall transom and the trim tab isn't positioned correctly. Bent the metal plate bolted to the cav. plate up at until it stops doin it.

Didnt know anybody made a 8x7?
A 16 hp is supposed to run a 9x3 or 9x4. Less pitch will help a boat get on step and carry a load.

The best options would be cutting your transom to 16' and keepin that motor or goin bigger or get a 1442 or 1436.

I would run a 9 x 4. I run a 16 with that prop at work and it does about 17 empty and 13 two guys a moderate load. 1648 flat.

Yeah,, somebody is smokin crack telling you its a 8X7 prop. a 16HP motor recommends a 9X3 prop. Its no wonder your not moving. I went with a Ron hill 9X5 and it hauls some serious ass empty. under a load or in really shallow water it doesnt do as good as it should. but top end is nuts! get the right prop and you'll fly!

(I know this is godevils website, but its really 6's when your talking about HP)
http://www.godevil.com/16hp_VANGUARD.html
Says it takes a 9X3 prop...


Gee

Sorry guys. I was told the replacement prop size is 8 x 4?

I will purchase a new prop if you guys think that will be the differance? Im almost ready to sell and purchase a larger motor brand new!

I bent the cav plate up as much as I could without damage. Motor seems to be balanced now.

Im also having a fuel problem. Im not sure if the fuel filter is to large? or the fuel line to long or large? But the clear filter is almost empty and the motor run it self out of gas in a hurry at Full throttle? could be that i need to adjust the float/jet too? what are your thoughts?

I really think the boat is your biggest problem, a mod-v tall transom boat and short transom mudmotor dont jive well.

im running a 15x3 1/2 with a 16 vanguard and im gettin about 17-18 on it

Yes, a tracker grizzly is a mod-v hull.

Damn Canadians with thier supposed to be mod- v boats and tall transoms.

My bad

Dont forget our Geese too. Lol

That 16 horse is never gunna be a ball of fire, You may cut down the transom on that one or get a different boat but its never gunna haul ass.

Im not really looking for a fast boat. But 6 mph is a joke!

If I can push 2 guys and gear down the lake at 12 mph id be happy.

Jon boats here are almost as hard to find as mud motors. I was thinking maybe ponds might be an option to gain some length on the boat? I can have them fabbed up and bolt em on myself.

Did you clean the CARB??? COMPLETELY?? Jets, Check the float, check the needle valve etc??

how is your weight positioned?? tryin moving your battery forward our your gas tank.

Clean carbs. Jets and float bowl. Im not running a battery on the boat. small fuel tank 3 gal. 2 men (440lbs total) 2 dozen weighted decoys. 2 guns. 2 small 10lb boat anchers. and a blind.

Im going to get a tiny tach and check the rpms. starting to think its the prop? As it seems to run better half throttle. full throttle seens slower???

I'd put money on it being a prop issue. get the right prop and you'll FLY compared to what your doing now. even with an 8x4 you'r still going to be to small to push the boat effectively. trust me, throw a 9x3 or 9x4 on there and she'll purr like a kitten


Gee

Ps- when you do put a new prop on, let us know the difference.

SHIT, I'll even do ya a deal. if you buy a 9x3 or 9x4 prop for your 16 and it doesnt seem to help, i'll buy the used prop off ya for a reasonable price so you wont take it in the shorts if it doesnt work. I'm going to need a new prop in the next year or two anyways..

ok I just installed a Tiny tach. Motor was only running 3400rpm out of the water full out. I adjusted the gov to 4200rpms out of the water. I think this just might be why im only getting 6mph from this motor?

I dunno.. I only run 3000 under load, in the water in my 16hp GDLT and she purs like a kitten. give it a try and let us know how she runs.

Thought I would report back. Today I was able to get 10mph (GPS) 2 guys no gear.

I still think i need a prop as there seems to be lots of cavation.

You may have a problem with your fuel line
I have a 23 vanguard that had some of the same problems I went from a 3/8" soft fuel line to a harder 1/4" line because these motors have a fuel pump that is pushed by the vacuum of the motor and it is not very strong and the soft fuel line may not look like it but it collapses a small amount and the motor can't get enough gas to run at high rpm's that is why yours runs better at half throttle also a new prop can't hurt if it doesn't increase your speed then put the old one back on and keep the new one for a spare because one day the other one will wear out they all do