I am new to mud motors and I need some advice. I duck hunt on a lake with lots of stumps and lots of moss. I currently have an older 14x42 alum. boat with a 20hp outboard on. What would be a good setup for this boat? There are usually 2 adults about 225lbs each and a 75lb kid plus gear.
I don't know much about mud motors but they seem like "4 wheel drive" for your boat. I am thinking about building a good setup, so any info would be appreciated.

I have a older 1442, slow as old people fucking and gets hung up easily.

word of wisdom: buy a hull built for a mm with the biggest motor you can afford, you WILL beat the bottom out of that 1442 in one season.

Thanks for the reply, but I am just tired of replacing shear pins, because of moss. I thought that a long tail might be reasonably priced answer. Would a 16hp setup be a good size or should I use another size?

If you are dead set on a motor for that rig, get a 23 horse, it is the same block with different stroke. They wiegh nearly the same

You will have enough motor to push a bigger hull later down the road too.

Thanks for the help. I haven't decided which way to go yet. Short tail or long tail.

If you want speed don't buy a Long Tail especially if you need a maneuver around. I have a 1540 with a 16hp GD Crawfish Tail. I wish I had heeded advice to buy the 23 myself because the 16 and the 23 are the same block with the same weight. I usually get around 12 to 15 mph with two people and I am happy with my rig. There was a big difference in price between the 23 and 16 though. I do like motoring through places where other boats don't even try to go. As for Moss I can give no advice. I can tell you Hydrilla hangs on mine and when it gets too much I just raise the motor out of the water and continue on. Have not had any pin problem even though mine does not have one. The only issue I have had was loading the boat with the wind behind me. I usually have to hit the trailer faster than I like because the Long Tail (Crawfish Model) does not steer nearly as well as other motors. If you buy a Long tail get a bigger motor than you think you need. The only real issue is the weight.