I'm building my own longtail and being low on cash, bought one of the harbor freight 13hp 420cc predator motors for 320 bucks. Do any of you guys have experience with such Chinese junk? I was hoping it would last me a duck season since it does have a 90day warranty, and then, if I was satisfied with my design, replacing with a v-twin kohler or other decent motor of around 23 or so horsepower.
The motor is going on a 15-42 duracraft modified v-hull. I'm also wondering how many horsepower (ballpark) will it take to plane my hull with my 230lb. load and a shotgun with a couple of boxes of shells and a soda pop. I suspect the 14hp has no chance of planing, which is fine since I'm only motoring about 1/2 mile to the blind.
thanks,
JBJ

My 13 hp would plane with 400 lbs in a 1442 and run 11-12, but all boats are differnt so who knows.

Thanks! I'd be very pleased if mine planes out!
later,
JBJ

Bought a 16hp durostar from maxtool to build a longtail and she runs like a champ. Planes a 1436 boat with two people and hits around 15 but bogs down to 10 or so with 3 guys loaded with gear.

x2 on the duromax 16hp from maxtools.com 289 for electric start

Nothing wrong with one of those motors. Powerstroke runs one, and so do a bunch of other people, they do the same thing as a briggs.


Hell, my pump for blind poles is a cheapo clone, fukker started for the first time in a year with rust in the tank, 1st pull.

yeah i figured i could buy 3 of them for the price of 1 vangaurd