JUST BOUGHT A 13HP BEAVERTAIL AND WONDERING WHAT BOAT TO PUT IT ON? THINKING ABOUT A 14X36 TRACKER TOPPER OR A ALUMACRAFT 14X42 OR 14X48, ANY IDEAS? NEVER OWNED OR RAN A MUD MOTOR BEFORE AND BOUGHT IT TO RUN A STRETCH OF SHALLOW ROCKY RIVER IN NORTHERN WI

iv owned a few small motors 9 and 6.5 hp tryed them on a 12x36 alumacraft and they had very poor performance. just to heavy for my boat i couldent turn w/o water coming in over the oposide side of the transom and throttle up and slow down quickly and a wave would swamp me. id go 1442 stability but still will perform well. i had a 31 on my 14x48 so a 13 would be quite slow IMO.

ANY IDEA ON TOP SPEED WITH 14X42 WITH 1-200# PERSON AND MINIMAL GEAR? THE AREA I PLAN TO FISH IS VERY SHALLOW AND ALOT OF ROCKS-WILL THIS MOTOR BE OK FOR THIS? DONT HAVE THE MONEY FOR A RIVERPRO JET DRIVE

GUESSING I SHOULD OF WENT WITH A HIGHER HORSEPOWER, I MAINLY FISH AND TRAP BY MYSELF BUT SOMETIMES I WILL HAVE ANOTHER PERSON,WONDER IF I WOULD BE BETTER OF WITH A SMALLER BOAT-12X32 OR 12X36?

WHO SELLS THE SKIFFS? 12'X 36" WITH 3/16 BOTTOM HANDLE WELL WITH 13 HP LONGTAIL?CAN YOU FISH OUT OF IT COMFORTABLY?

I would get the boat that met my needs and not worry about speed that 13 wont be doing much plaining no matter what you sticker on.
I had a 14/40 with a 27 beavertail and it did well. I would error on a bigger boat to cut down on draft,and if you ever got a larger motor you would have the boat to go with. The motor should do good in the shallow river, if there is enough water to float the boat the 13 will get you there.

When I bought my 20 GDLT a few years back, I ran it on a 14x44 Alumaweld.
Performance was OK, but Warren Coco suggested that longtails did better on a LONGER rather that wider boat. I bought this 16x36 Carolina Skiff
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and picked up about 4 MPH with a HEAVER BOAT!
Try to fing at LEAST a 16' boat, as light as possible IMHO

Hehehe Forgot that I changed my avitar!

I would NOT suggest that you attempt to run your 13LT on a Springer Spaniel, no matter what the length of the dog.

Performance will be WAY down and it really pisses off the dog!

I've got a 13hp beavertail on a 1542 Alumacraft with flotation pods. I just got my prop redone and went out yesterday. By myself I got a steady 15.5mph against a light wind and almost 16mph going with it. With 500lbs of extra weight I got a steady 11.5mph.

i also live in WI and i had a 13hp lt. I had it on a 1436 jon, wiht me(160) and gear for duck hunting i could get to it plain and it was fine. But as soon as i put a buddy in the front you so a noticable difference in performance. Still got me everywhere i needed to go just slower.

THANKS GUYS FOR THE INPUT,I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN COME UP WITH FOR A USED BOAT AND LET YA ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES

FLOATATION PODS HELP ALOT?

I have been running a shallow sandy river last year with a Lowe 1440 and 13hp Scavenger. I would not recommend going below 40" wide for stability with a motor you stand up to operate. The difference between my old 1436 and the 1440 standing up is major. Speed is not great, I can get 12-15 alone but it slows WAY down with 2 or more people.

geez guys how are yall getting that speed out of a 13? I have one on an old 14x36 jon boat...not happy with the performance, I have to have at least 9" of water, and my top speed has been 12mph, however saying that my speed only drops to 10mph with a dog and bud.

Also think I have too much motor for my boat and the transom bows in the thick junk....it sags alot in the hind in..all the way up to the crimps on the side..

and im walking in when my bud with a 15x42 is on his way back to pick me up...
Any suggestions to improve the performance?

Duckhunter: You might try a set of "pods" on that 14X36.

I also have a 14X36 (but I use a small 5hp GD) and the boat simply sets too low in the stern, no matter how I try and shift the load to the bow.


Some pod builders here >>>>
and here >>>>
and here >>..