New to mud motors and came across the forum. I've been reading a lot of the topics on here which have answered some questions but still need an answer to this one.
Im looking to put a Long tail on a 15' gheenoe. I have read a few different things where some said dangerous others said not.. etc.. My question is do any of you have any experience putting one on a gheenoe and if so your opinion on it, what size would you recommend and what speed were you getting out of it. Thanks in advance.
Justin

I am curious, are you a previous longtail owner? There is more involved to the operation and articulation of a longtail than other motors. Also to achieve the performance equivalent of an outboard you need to have a longtail that is of a larger horsepower rating. That's when the trade off comes into play. More horsepower equals more weight. And longtails weigh a bit more too. I love my Mudskipper, but it's on a 14 & 1/2 foot fiberglass skiff that's a modified v hull. So when I am running her I have NO worries of tipping. It's a Mudskipper setup with the 420cc predator engine from harbor freight. I have a small, light, outboard for my canoe that does excellent. If the outboard would work for you I personally would go with that on the Gheenoe. Not to mention the fact you would save some loot too.

I wouldnt do it with a long tail. Look at a small copperhead

Over seas long, narrow canoes are exactly what they use longtails for. It's probably the closest thing we have to what they use over there.

This year I added a Backwater Swomp lite kit 65'' shaft with 7" prop on my 15'4' Gheenoe -went cheap and put it on a $99.00 6.5 harbor freight predator.With just me in the boat it will move pretty good ad another guy and all hunting gear and decoys and it will get you there just not that fast. Did get in some skinny water and was impressed how it pushed threw . Just be careful trying to do a tight turn and putting motor 90 degrees to boat it will want to roll you out .

Just put this up for you to see

https://youtu.be/LOffjjTTUJc

Marshall. I have never owned one. It's def something new I'm getting into and don't want to spend the money on something I will regret later. The setup you have for the motor is exactly what I was thinking about and it would be going on a 15' gheenoe. It's not set in stone yet as to what the final boat set up will be but I'm keeping my options open as to the mud motor or an outboard. I'm not buying a brand new boat and have found some w small OBs already on them so that option is still a good one. I was just looking at the MM for certain areas I want to get into that the Ob won't be able to go.

For some reason this never was sent yesterday

This year I added a Backwater Swomp lite kit 65'' shaft with 7" prop on my 15'4' Gheenoe -went cheap and put it on a $99.00 6.5 harbor freight predator.With just me in the boat it will move pretty good ad another guy and all hunting gear and decoys and it will get you there just not that fast. Did get in some skinny water and was impressed how it pushed threw . Just be careful trying to do a tight turn and putting motor 90 degrees to boat it will want to roll you out .

Here is a small video I uploaded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOffjjTTUJc&t=14s

[quote="Dogditcher"]For some reason this never was sent yesterday

This year I added a Backwater Swomp lite kit 65'' shaft with 7" prop on my 15'4' Gheenoe -went cheap and put it on a $99.00 6.5 harbor freight predator.With just me in the boat it will move pretty good ad another guy and all hunting gear and decoys and it will get you there just not that fast. Did get in some skinny water and was impressed how it pushed threw . Just be careful trying to do a tight turn and putting motor 90 degrees to boat it will want to roll you out .[/quote

I have had similar results running a 6.5hp GDLt on my 15'4" Gheenoe Hi-Sider. Works best standing up because the tiller handle is so far forward. Add the grab bar or an Alaskan Bridle ( rope tied to middle bench with a loop to grab with your right hand)]

Capt. JW. The longtail setup will definitely get you into spaces that NO outboard can. I have researched Gheenoe boats, and you would do well to put a longtail on it. I went with the Harbor Freight motors because they are "Honda clones" and you can get bolt on aftermarket modifications from various sites. I also found that Mudskipper has kit packages for these motors that are user friendly, in different horsepower ratings.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I've been paddling a canoe to the areas that I have been hunting and it goes wherever I want it to but it takes forever obviously. I paddled a 12' jon boat out there today to try and see if I could slip through a few of the little trails that I have to use to get to the spots and I was barely able to make it.(narrow trails) I'm still up in the air on which boat to get. Then to add to that... the biggest motor I would be able to put on the back of either that will give me some speed and not sink the transom.

dogditcher:

I have a similar setup, 15' gheenoe with a SPS longtail. I am looking at the backwater motor to replace the cheap SPS. I think the shaft is too long on my motor (at least 72"). Also the prop keeps kicking up out of the water, so i have to hold up on the handle when running.

I know backwater offers a 55" and 65" shaft, did you think the 55" was too short? How does the 65" perform?

Very interested in your experiences as I am about to buy one of these and was leaning towards the 55"...

grew up hunting out of gheenoe's with long tails. just don't be stupid, but i never felt like i was in any danger