What would be a good first mod to help perform better. I know I'm not gonna get much more speed but I would like for it to carry a hunting load a little better.

When I first got it I was going around 17 with just me and my dad but with a hunting load it dropped down to around 12.

How much crap did u load in there? Those longtails are supposed to carry a load better than an sd.
Carb kit, exhaust.

So, Taylor, did you advance the throttle setting like I suggested? At a certain point increased rpms will not help because you don't have gear reduction on a longtail and can't effectively turn a bigger prop. Spending $ on mods for a surface drive might be more cost effective but head work and fancy carbs and muffler will not do much for the LT. The good news is your 23 has plenty of mods available for it, not so for my 27 Kohler.

I would disagree with you ranger. Heads and a cam would help with the torque to push a bigger load.

I believe we've covered this before, da go get'er, and I want to be a believer. How much of a MPH gain did you experience with your 23 HP LT AFTER mods? I know on the big block (35) SD models, mods can be as much as $1000 to realize 2-3 mph gains, as I've read plenty enough on the other forums. I suppose you can slash that cost plenty if you are savvy with these motors or work for a shop or like a local friend here, an engineer, who tuned up his 35 GTR himself and realized 30 mph on his 1854 Uncle J custom rig, which is a good 5 mph above a stock motor pushing his size/weight rig. I just wanted Taylor to understand there are limits in the longtail design; I would also counter alexm's assertions that a LT carries a load better than a SD- head to head a SD drive beats the LT- the LT shines in shallow water/hard bottom areas like we have here but everywhere else the SD wins out and because of gear reduction, can turn a much bigger prop and realize better speed gains via mods as well.
I have often coveted those shiny stainless steel mufflers for the Kohler, that retail still at or over $400. What would that one item give me in reality? I do believe torque would increase in hole shots with mods for a LT but what would be the real gain in planing speed? Right now I have the throttle out of the water at 4300 rpm for my 27; I actually run faster with a 9x6 prop than a 9x7 by 1.4 mph (GPS) top end. I also want Taylor to understand that with mods comes the liability for breakdowns because you are exceeding engine tolerances, etc. Label me a doubting Thomas and give me some numbers and make my head spin!

I mainly just hunt with me 200# and my dad #210 two batteries, 6 gal. of gas, 2-3 doz. decoys, trolling motor and the blind.

I have not increased my RPM's yet im waiting on my tiny tach to come in. I probably won't make it back to the water for another week or two.

Got to have a Tiny tach for sure! Hey, I get 17 mph with two hunters and gear on my 1648 and it's ok, though 20 would be ideal. I await to hear from da go get'er. The tweak to 4300 rpm won't hurt the motor. Mods do affect any warranty and there is more probability of breakdowns, I'm just trying to be practical and safe and money is tight these days but some can spend it and fine and it makes more sense for a surface drive shortail but no so much for a longtail is all I am trying to say. The one item that needs to work at any speed is the kill switch and wear that lanyard!!

Ranger I personally have no mods on my 23. However it's only logical that the correct mods would improve the torque curve allowing it to maintain the rpms with a load. Nowhere did I say he was going to gain significant speed. All I'm saying is that he can maintain his rpms from unloaded to loaded.

Btw someone on here in the earlier days had a 31hp lt the would roll! Not sure what mods he had but there was a significant speed difference.

Great response, da go get'er! I knew a fellow here years ago had a Beavertail/Predator longtail and got 30 mph but he sold it because it was too much to handle. Good explanation of torque gain. I wish I knew specifically how this could be accomplished and the approximate cost so I could tell my wife and hope she accepts!