Is anyone running a 16hp long tail on a 14' flat bottom? What kind of speeds could i expect with two guys and decoys in the boat?

I have a tracker grizzly 1448 with a home built 16hp LT. I am taking it out for the first time this Sunday with the new motor, I'll let ya know what it does.

Did you use a kit or build it completely from scratch? I know there are mixed reviews but i am thinking about buying either a swamp runner or beaver dam long tail kit and marry that with a 16 hp harbor freight motor. Would love to go with a go devil or other name brand but this college kid's budget is extremely tight....

I built my motor from scratch. I tried to duplicate a swomp series and bought there cavitation plate and prop. I do not have any personal experience with any kits but I built mine for 1200.

I run a 20hp beavertail on a 1436. I know I lose some speed due to my boat sitting too deep in the water with two 220lb+ guys and gear in it, but it gets the job done.

With a NEW 9x5 I run about 12-13 mph under load (17 mph solo) and with a worn out (hair less than 8" left) it runs about 6 mph under load.

If you run in sand - be ready to replace the prop every duck season....

awesome ptuck thats about my price range. Interested to see what kind of speeds you'll get sunday. What did you do for the shaft? did you buy one or machine it yourself? did you use a U-joint? Bushings?

boudreaux you only get 6mph with two guys and a 20hp beavertail in a 1436? is it a flat bottom?

I can't say what you will see with that set up but as a point of reference, on my 1448 mod-v jon with a 23 hp Swomp I get about 18-19mph with a couple 230 lb guys and fishing gear and 14-15mph with same 2 guys and 4 doz decoys, blind and hunting gear.

I used a 1 1/2" OD 1/4 Wall DOM tube. The seals are just stretch to fit rotary shaft seals.( i am not that worried about seals, my old 6.5 hp has no seals and ive never had a problem) The bearing are pressed in pretty tight but i also have set screws on both sides of the bearings.

^^^^ A 1448 is not a chode at all with a properly matched longtail. Unless, to you, chode means able to get on plane with 2 big guys and push 18-19 with a light load. I've noticed a lot of guys putting smaller motors on 14 ft boats, which is probaby ok if you run empty. I can't imagine I'd be happy had I gone with a smaller motor, but my 1448 performs very well with the Backwater 23 Swomp on the back.

1448 tracker 440 lbs about 100lbs of gear and me 250lbs with a 16hp did 12mph up river and 15-16 bumbing 17 down river.

I just put a 6.5hp swamp runner on my 12ft flat bottom, and im getting 14mph with me and my dog in 6-9 inches of water and the alum props that th come with this kit will last a long time in sand. the boat only weighs about 85lbs and it will go anywhere with just me in it. for the price you cant beat it

I run a 14x48 riveted flat with a 16hp go devil. On Fridays headed to the camp its a bit slow but does plane out. I carry myself (230lb), a 6 gal tank full for the motor, a 5 gal tank of fuel for generator, clothing duffel bag, gun, shell bucket with shells, camo netting, blind bag, and yeti-stlye 55 quart ice chest. I didn't gps it but I would say im going at least 10-12 mph. With just me I did gps it at around 16 mph. Not really fast but it gets me there.

Also, I will say this, I have taken that boat places that I never would have thought it would go through (sloughs that were barely as wide as the boat) and it surprised me.

If I had to replace the boat I would be happy with a 15x42 and the same motor.