After reading tons of posts in the last couple of days, I'm sure there is no shortage of opinions to be found in here....so I'm opening myself for a grilling I'm sure. Let the comments flow......

I have managed to squirrell away about $1500 and I desperately want to start hunting where the ducks are. So here is what I have come up with so far....

13hp Honda gx390 on what I'm assuming you guys are calling the "Thai" kit. $600 for motor and $600 for kit gets me under my goal....but am I going to be unhappy next year?

Running on a 1436 aluminum riveted boat carrying two adults and decoys. I would buy a used one, but I've seen the way some of these things get abused watching YouTube videos for the last three years dreaming of one. I hunt coastal marsh down here southeast of houston and occasionally some flooded timber. I'm not worried about speed....you'll never beat me to the hole TWICE as I have no reservations about showing up the night before to whack a duck.

Haven't bought anything yet. What about duromax 16hp (saw several people say they like those on another post) and another frame? Open to any option as long as it doesn't require welding or cost more than $1500 or close.....

Not to mention....no used to be found within 200 miles from Houston in my price range....

Pm team camo and takem gator. Id bet one of those two can help source a motor in your price range. They both know a lot of folks in that area. I promise you there is a name brand lt in decent shape within 200 mi of houston for 1500 or less.

Couldn't find a takem gator, but I did PM team camo. Thanks for the help

There's a ' in there somewhere
Take'em gator or somethin.

I got me a 16 HP Go Devil LT for $700 earlier this year in H-town.... took me about 2 months to find it though... Keep lookin' and be patient. you shoudl easily be able to find on in that price range. I will say the week b4 the seasons starts isnt the best time to look. Good luck. You could always get the Boss Hog kit for $900 (ish) and a used motor and bolt it on... should be able to stay within your budget. No experience with the Boss hog kits though.

He'll show up if you say his name 3 times.

Take'emGator
Take'emGator
Take'emGator

Has anyone in here actually ever seen a Thai long tail or owned one? I'm pretty sure I am buying a used one I found, but I'm keeping my options open.

Every post on them Thai kits has been bad.They run a aluminum prop.Theres nothing good about that.Good luck.

99% of the people i have heard of that spent the money on one said it was a POS, I wonder why someone would want to buy such a poorly made product? I mean wooden bushings and aluminum prop?! WTF? You can about build one for less than $600 and it would run longer and hold up to abuse better.for the way I see it you go thai route and spend a fortune making that think run half as good as an american style, and probably end up buying an american longtail after the money pit finally bites the dust after a season or two. Or you buy the used american longtail that it proven to run with quality parts, not to mention parts that are available if something does mess up with it....