Never owned one, but looking to buy a used longtail for my old flatboat, 14' long and I believe 48" wide.
Nothing fancy, just to get around small lake at home.
I'd like to stay under $500, but is that unrealistic for a motor like this?
Appreciate and info on what I should be looking for in terms of hp, brands vs. homemade, places to look for ads, typical problems to beware of, price ranges for motors of this type.
Thanks very much

Gona be hard to get one under 8-1200
If you did a Thai kit and a higher horse power single cylinder engine you'd come out close.
I just built a Thai kit for the first time. 6.5 predator on a swamp runner kit on a 12 foot Jon boat. Really scoots along solo, but is no comparison to my big block Sd rig as far as speed and power.


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If you have time to wait you might be able to find a beat up go devil for that price range within driving distance. Keep a close eye on craigslist. If you get a chance to look at one, see if the shaft has any play in it, or grease coming out of the prop end. I've bought several used longtails, most needed new throttle cables and seals and random engine parts (coils, wiring harnesses, solenoids, etc)

On Craigslist there is an option to search nearby areas, I've had my best luck using that feature. If you would like to use it this season one of the Thai kits might be better versus trying to find one that needs some work. If your are going to be hunting more than two people you are going to want a twin - 16hp-23hp. Honda builds a better engine than Briggs.

This is good info thanks very much guys.
Question: you mentioned the twin - 16-23hp. Is that engine classification strictly for engines of that hp and higher?
Also, how to know what size engine/Thai kit to get for this size boat?

No, I figured you weren't going to slap a big block on there. I would think that the 16-23hp (2 cylinders) would be good for that boat if you were going to have more than just you in the boat.

What's the horsepower rating for that boat? I've got a 14x32 with low sides made of old beer cans that I would not put more than a small kit with the Predator 6.5 on. I think my boat is rated for 10, but I'd have to feel pretty froggy to try putting a 301 Predator on that little boat.

On their website Swamp Runner gives an idea of what engines fit which kits.

I run a 14x38 with a 25hp kohler gdlt.
Runs good but requires weight to keep the nose down,turning too sharp going slow will make water come over the sides as the rear sits low with the 200lb machine and my 165 lbs in the middle of the boat.

If I had to use a 14x hull I would say with the 16-18hp vtwins,20 hp max.I say that because the recoil start can eliminate weight by not needing a battery.
However if you are alone,extend battery leads and move to the front with gas tank.

25hp I travel about 20 mph alone and 16mph loaded with two people and gear.
I suspect a 16' boat would move faster.

I bought my longtail without having a hull,it was a great deal.With proper pre planning either a longer hull or smaller manual start motor would have been my better choice.

People with a 16hp keep up with me.

In my area a 16hp vanguard lt can be had as low as $700

Guy that hunts with us had a 25hp kohler lt on his 1442. It wasn't too much engine, but it rode low in the rear. Granted, he was well past 250. We ran a 24hp honda on the back of a 1546 for many years without ever an issue. I would say as above, 16 or higher, and with it being a 48" bottom, you'd be fine up to the 23, easily.