Finally a video of one of these elusive beasts in "action", it's only in deep water, no mud but is hauling ass! They claim they were getting 30 mph on a 18x54 gator trax. I want one!





Sorry embedding has been disabled for these videos.

Bet it's a bitch to drive

will be test driving a stock 35 cdi as soon as Boat Dr gets his demo in.

Hot dang! It's about time, thank you Paleo! I'll take the stock motor w/ the ss muffler. I'd be in heaven if it planes two hunters (well, make it three) and gear at 20 mph! I don't need mods just a reliable powerplant and the longtail is that. I've been running LT's since 1990 and though I have a touch of arthritis in the shoulder that is generic with the population over 50. Indawoods, I have always valued your savvy articulations on this site, so I look forward to your report. My only concern is the clutch feature, frankly I can live without it if it means less worry- that looks to be the only "Achilles heel" on this new entry. I've got a 27 right now and I bet the 23/27 entries will be real good. I wonder if MB will move the Generac 33 over to this design? Brasso, if you've driven a 23/25/27 LT, a 35 will only take an extra ration of eggs/bacon/pancakes/coffee in the morning! I said it before, I have relatively short runs, hard bottom, little or no mud, just floating mud rafts I go around, and the longtail is the ticket- you can have your shorty and all the fancy switches, bellls and whistles, mods and swagger, give me the a yeoman longtail and I am happy!

Not gonna lie! Looks kinda cool

That bigger prop ain't gonna help you in the hard bottom! I don't see the point.

Right from Muddy waters report
.
30MPH one guy shallow water and 26 to 28 with two guys and a fat arse lab

Looks like one hell of a longtail

OwenDickeson, the 1"/2" bigger prop may be a liability only when you run out of water. The sand/marl/coral rock we have here will shred the prop quickly. The slightly bigger prop means better push and speed all-around. I have driven my friend's 35 MB Hyper shorty as well as rode with him countless times and it is a great motor but in the skinny here the larger prop is not really a greater advantage- in deeper open water hell yes- it's faster, more maneuverable, easier to trailer and turn, easier on the arm less exertion, etc. However, that said, the Hyper and other shorties I've known have had more breakdowns and repair costs compared to my longtail. If indeed, I can realize 25 mph with two or three hunters and gear, that is the "promised land" for me. In most applications, the shorty is king and my hat's off to the mfg.'s and owners. The other point is we've run into shallow sandy areas faster and farther with his shorty- the problem is once we shut down it became impossible to get out except by stepping out and dragging the boat out to where it was deeper to be able to run and consequently by going so shallow his prop suffered significant wear and tear. In my longtail I would bottom out sooner and not get so badly stuck and not suffer the prop damage. To repeat, we have no mud, except rafts of dried mud that will stop almost anything except a blowboat, so the longtail is my and my friends' preferred design. Many have gone the shorty route because of longer runs, more speed, etc. I am glad MB and backh20 have made innovations on the LT design because there is still a significant market and users out there.

The prop will be 3" bigger than a 27 longtail, and 2" bigger than a 35 longtail. 3" more prop will be a big difference in a shallow hard bottom situation.

I knew about the "liability" of going to a bigger prop. I presently use a 9x6 (even though my 27 is rated for a 9x7) so the SLT prop will be ?? 10x8, 12x8?? Good point, I admit when it gets real shallow I have to keep the prop half out. The shorties already have the bigger prop. I understand your point and I think it the only drawback but a minor one, IMO. I am more concerned about the reliabliity of the clutch. I wonder if taking off the prop on the SLT will be easier?

The one and only thing I like about my longtail over a surface drive is the ability to take off in shallow hard bottom. I actually can go places that the surface drive won't and that's solely because of the smaller prop, and a little because of angle. This doesent even have that, which makes it pointless in my eyes. Neutral is nice tho

Only test driving will tell, as well as the field reports, about the prop and other features. I stated my concern about the clutch- I will take the bigger prop if it means moving the boat/load at 25 mph. I will also hope the belt adjustment (if any) and changeout will not require any costly tools or fixtures; I also hope the prop removal is somewhat simplified. I hope there is access for lubrication of the two hubs and top bearing (still not sure what that looks like). The squeeze grip throttle is a good idea with the added speed, and I am more positive than negative right now, because I like the longtail's simplicity, and this just might be a good thing.

Thought I read before that they were gonna run a 12. Prolly won't be the last time I'm wrong

Thank you , Doctor! I posed those questions because I currently own a 27 HP LT from MB. The prop removal question is because presently I can "cheat" by inserting a metal rod on the non-grease fitting yoke side of the u-joint to seize the shaft and then I can turn the retaining prop nut. I am assuming you have a hex or flat wrench area ahead of the prop to grap with a wrench and then use a flat bar to spin off the prop? By the hubs, I mean the "bearing wheel" from the motor shaft and the bearing wheel on the prop shaft (meaning where the belt is placed on). There is currently a grease fitting on the u-joint and one on the top bearing of my LT shaft. The only other grease fitting is near the end of the shaft housing on top and in the middle a thumbscrew grease relief "port". The threaded portion of the thumbscrew hole stripped so I put a flat gasket material strip over this and secured it with a ss pipe clamp. The drawings that MudBuddy put on their site shows a protective "cage" over the top bearing area so it is difficult to make out how it sits and if and where any grease fittings are located. I am eagerly awaiting any tests and evaluations of the SLT by independent persons. I am very happy with my 2004 27 MB LT, still running strong, and I welcome these innovations.

Very good! Just the fact the prop slides on and is not threaded on, is a relief. I typically take off my prop twice a season to clean the threads and apply anti-seize to prevent binding and rust.
I also like the safety aspect of the "cage" around the belt/pulley area. My MB 27 came with a cordura fabric cover over the u-joint area with snap caps and that held up for about five years but now is shredded and they have no replacements.
I'm not sure where they are developing the SLT but typcially in Utah, where MudBuddy is based, has much higher elevation than here in Florida, and the prop used (pitch, amount of cup) could be made quite distinct for better performance. I wonder if a 3 bladed prop will ever "surface", no pun intended, that is workable on the LT??
If the clutch proves reliable, then the neutral feature is a welcome bonus as well. I've learned to avoid snagging decoy lines but I can see it being a real help in that as well as launching near a ramp. Way to go Doctor!!

Ok. Another plus on the SLT, that variable gear reduction factor to optimize the prop! Doctor, you are living proof that this site is really good, filled with knowledgeable people ("mudders"), not just a bunch of vinegary types spitting vitriol. Thanks again!

the 33 Generac motor is already listed on the website as an option for the SLT, and at a great price, with a mikuni carb. I thought about possibly going with it, but the 50 amp alt on the briggs will probably win out. The only concern I have at all is tiller torque exceeding my rear end. But if I can drive it, I will have one for this duck season for a layout blind boat that I'm building this summer.

@ Boat Dr.. any idea when the 23 SLT frames will be available? I'm hoping to get ahold of one of those as well. I already have a 50 hr 23 Briggs motor on a standard mb lt that I'd like to upgrade.

I'd love to see what a factory 35 will run stock. Any videos out there? Any straight mud videos too?