Any of you ever seen this combination before? I'm sure it will work fine, but I'm just curious if anyone knows what to expect - I've got a 2008 27 longtail going on a 1856 go devil short transom boat. If it's a disappointment, I'll just save for a SD for next year.

I wouldn't get my hopes up. That's a big boat and I've personally heard those 27 Kohlers are turds.

Whatever!!! But yea that boat is way too fricken big


Jesse
27 PD FPR 16x36 skiff - aka - DITCH WITCH

I read 10-13 somewhere, which is fine as long as I'm hunting public draw areas, but ya if I get the desire to go rogue I may need to ditch the longtail...

Big mismatch! The 27 Kohler is a fine motor, when properly applied. That GD is not only big, but too wide and heavy. It will get you there, but take some playing cards and some emergency six packs! Better off on a 16 or 1844 but even then limited speeds and carrying capacity. Like you said, save up and get lots of horses (35 minimum) on the shortail purchase. Sounds like you have limited patience and want speed and wide-ranging abilities- get the big block shorty, 'nuff said! Longtail users do not have attention deficit disorder, we're just SLOW.

The boat will be coming with a currently non-running 27 Kohler GD and I have the working one as well - might just get the other one running and sell them both for a 35 back water or move to a surface drive, but if I can squeeze a season out of the 27 I might.

Trade me boats. I used to run a 25gdlt on my rig and it ran very well. Now I have a modded 35GDSD on it and its to fast LOL.

Tailfisher, you have a good rig. Did you ever run into one of those mud rafts in the Glades or dried phragmite or thick bed of lily hyacinths on the Big O? I wonder if that stuff has ever bogged you down? Those mud rafts are demons.

I have hit all of the above. But with the new motor its unstoppable. I remember pushing a floating tussick at 2mph for about a mile. Boat was on top of hit and it was dark out and I idle into it not seeing it got stuck. Had to chop it all up with machette and push pole.

Lilly's (and Hyacinths) I got into them really bad once and turned off the blidge and fill the boat with some water to sink it down a little and then it parted them like a barge. Slow! Once past lillys just kick on the blige and go!. But at 30 mph now I worry about Tress and Cows.

The back bottom of the boat in Flat and runs the mud really well as long as you have a new(er) prop.

I REALLY love my rig but the Wife wants a bigger boat for fishing. 1854 or bigger. We take the boat out to the reefs from time to time and have been out 14 miles on it. (cobia, kings, Grouper, Snapper and False Ablicore have all been caught on this boat.)

I guess I should put a warning out before a bunch of people go and sink their boats. Be VERY careful and know what your doing if your going to fill you boat with water to get your boat deeper in Lillyes.

Better safe just not to do it.

That is funny! I remember years ago with the smaller 14' boat /25 Evinrude, man that could fly, and the boat leaked, so I would pull the bilge plug at high speed to drain the water out but I would not try that now. I admire that hyacinth style but I think I will just ride around the stuff. I have seen some small bass boats out twenty miles in summer when the sea is like glass but I would not attempt it. The rim areas of the lake can be dangerous with the tree stumps for sure. The GDSD looks solid- any cons besides no reverse? I mean I have never used reverse- just carry a stout push pole. How much water depth do you need to run the SD? A friend has one and you can sure get in deep to the skinny but are in trouble if you stop- I bottom out faster with my LT. The prop sure takes a hit in the sand/marl down here!

On my longtails I was avg 6-10 hours per prop during duck season.

My reverse is a push pole or Trolling motor if I am solo. If I am with the wife or a friend they are my reverse. I say B#itch get to the front and push us off. (wife or friend).

My SD runs a lot shallower that my LT's. I know need half a prop or less in the water and I would say I have ran it WOT in 3inches. enough where there is bascially no water under the boat but the water coming off the side makes enough for me to keep going. I think GDSD has a longer shafts..... But if you stop you are stuck! I have all salt/tidal and sand here!

I was stuck 16 hours once last season. Northwide and a Neg tide. It went out and never came back in. Ended up walking/swimming to the ramp and yaking back in the morning. All 6+ freaking Miles!!

I lake the Big Lake O I used to hunt it a lot.

I used to do the same, pull the plug while running but I cant with my mud boat..... the way the transom is angled it will still let a little water in. But my blidge can pump it out faster than it comes in. ........ know those days deep in the season where you have hunter 45 or so days straight and you drop the boat in the ramp, park the truck and on the way back you think. Thats odd my blidge is pumping out water.

My next boat if I do that I am F-ed! I want two 1.5 inch or bigger drains so I dont have to shop vac the boat out all the time.

O and yes when I am out 4-14 miles offshore. I get a lot of funny looks and people actually pull up and ask if I am ok. I always give them the same reply. Hell Yes I have a Go-Devil!

LOL no. But 30.5mph with 2 people 2 dogs and gear puts a on my face! I am REALLY going to miss my boat when it sells but the wife wants a 1754 gator traxs or bigger!

That is great! For me, getting up to 20 mph on my rig is like drag racing! I am definitely thinking of a 35 HP LT for my next motor (e.g. BackH20's for example or the MB SLT if available), so I can cruise at 20 with two hunters and gear. That will be enough. Although I admire both NASCAR and Formula 1 racing, I am actually one of those nerds who drives the speed limit.

I know GD makes a good product- they were the first mud "toy" on the block and my first two LT's were GD's. I actually helped tow a couple of SD's on the big lake and down here in the Glades...helped an airboat and bassboat as well and was rescued by both at other times. If I win a lottery, I will spring for MB's H drive with plenty of horses!

If I change over to the dark side I with get a Stage 2 GTR........