Just ordered a 35 HP Backwater 71" LS for my 1756 Alweld flat bottom boat with a 21" transom. Is there any do's or don'ts I should be aware of. Never drove a long a tail before so it will a new experience for sure.

Grab bar, kill switch, cold beverages, plenty of time, plenty of fuel.

-you'll figure it out

Always drive facing backwards using your right hand, look over your shoulder to see what's ahead.


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Lots of practice in open water.

ALWAYS wear your kill switch tether. Use or install a grab bar because it will help keep you from getting thrown out when you tag a log or stump. (I'm talking from experience). Practice tiller control in the open water or marsh before venturing out in the flooded woods. Use two hands when motoring with a side wind. You'll understand why when you get into a stiff side wind. That long shaft will act like a lever and it will take both hands to steer.

They are beasts in the swamp, but i'll never go back unless its a smaller crawfish model on a single man specific built boat. I run to much open water traveling to spots to go through that again.

Do y'all sit or stand? What do y'all find to be more comfortable and safer?

I prefer to stand.

Do any of yall run pods do they make a difference and do any of yall have gatorglide on your boat?

I stand proudly in the marsh, I sit during canal or open water runs, don't want to tempt fate. I get there early and leave late.

All you guys driving backwaters comfortably have got to stand to see over the grab bar.


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Are you two girls still measuring your.... Transoms and handles??

Why reinvent the wheel?! Prolly because more often than not, new designs and technology improve things for the better.

My bearings are sealed and the grease in the driveshaft housing only acts as a suspension agent to prevent driveshaft slap. You keep greasing away.

It only sucks for people with tiny arms.

After all the research that I have done I would consider GDLT to be the dinosaurs of LT. I'm not saying that they are no good I just don't want to feel like I've been arm wrestling all day. Have you ever seen the video of the guy driving his LT and take his hands off of it while running wide open? Customer service with Backwater has been outstanding to this point.

Also.... Research? so you looked at some pictures and you were dang those look old theyre probly hard to drive. Without actually ever having driven one?



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flint87 I've read enough of your comments on other threads to come to the conclusion that you're the one guy in the room that's going to do just the opposite as everyone else.

I've owned both GD, MB, and now a BW longtail. They all have plusses/minuses. Both the GD and the MB had a better tiller design for me (6'4"); GD even suggested to bend the tiller if needed. Both GD/MB were more "neutrally" balanced, to which I was accustomed, until I bought the present 26.5 EFI Kohler BW SS 59" drive format; the BW is definitely more back-weighted, and this has taken some getting used to but this new effort is offset by the easier handling on plane. Both the GD and the MB designs utilized and leaked more grease- this is not the case so far, as after 35 hours running I have only used a couple of pumps of the grease gun-but my MB only required a seal change after 10 seasons- with the GD I carried a full grease gun and it was constantly oozing out. Coco told me back in '87 that he'd go through at least a couple of sleeve bushing/eal changes a season...I know they advertise this system will not leave you stranded but I have only heard of a couple of cases of a roller bearing type failure- surface drives have historically been more problematic because they are more complex but they have reduced down time recently.
My new BW definitely has less vibration and the new EFI thus far is great. Despite the back weighted/ tiller deficiencies, I am happy with my BW purchase. I will say that all three designs are very viable longtail platforms, and the diverse marketplace is good for all.

I'd get an ice pack for your first month, you're face may hurt from the stupid grin you get ripping around.

Kill switch 100% (I've been tossed out from a submerged log and was in the water before I knew I hit something)and grab bar have been covered.
A nutsert tool from Harbor freight is a godsend for attaching a stand up bar easily and quickly.
I usually run with my hand open so if I hit a log or rock the handle just drops without me my fingers going with it. I also keep my legs clear below the handle and don't let kids ride near the handle or they'll get smacked possibly over if you hit anything unless running deep open water.

Remember the tilt switch for starting the motor- the prop must be out of the water a ways to start- everyone forgets this at first in all the excitement.

I keep a 50 cal. ammo dry box in my boat with a crescent wrench, pliers, a couple of screwdrivers and some fuses for the boat, in case anything comes up or works loose as well as a can of brake cleaner a rag and some gorilla tape to dry off holes and patch them so I can stay out. I used it once when I hit a piece of steel post in the Mississippi when there was still ice coming down the river.

I run a lot of nasty rocky spots, so I actually keep a spare prop and shaft on hand at home which has been handy and saved the weekend.

I have a basic bench running down the center that is nice for keeping everyone's weight centered and it keeps my kids close and low when going through grass and trees.

I'll join in and take flints side. I had both the backwater and a go devil Longtails. Imo the only thing that backwater has "improved" on is driveability. I could let go of my backwater and it would drive itself in nice open deep water. I could do that with my go devil too but not as easily. In every other aspect the go devil outperformed the backwater where it counts, in the shit. And the go devil had 10 less hp. I got through more stuff with my 25 go devil than I ever could with the 35 backwater.

No doubt! That's exactly what would happen. It would also blow out when you started getting shallow to ride the bank for that extra speed where the GD wouldn't.