Will you guys please settle a debate between me and one of my buddies please? I live in East TN and I am looking into buying my first mud motor. The river where the motor will mainly used in has shallow rock shoals with water maybe 6"-8" at the most shallow parts. I am currently on the fence on which motor to choose. The only option that is a deal breaker is I want reverse. Anyway, the debate is my buddy says I will never be able to run the river with a mud motor and that I need a jet outboard. He currently runs a 20hp Mercury jet on a 1460 jon. I do not want a jet simply because of all the maintenance involved and the pump always being clogged with debris sucked in. In your guys' opinion, could I run a mud motor in these conditions and what would you recommend as far as a motor? The motor will be going on 1648 Tracker Grizzly side console. Thanks in advance and sorry for such a long post.

A mud motor will work, but be prepared to buy a new prop every year.

A mudmotor will work and I am guessing you are trying to decide between the GTR and the Pro-Drive since you commented about having reverse. Either one will work and I would suggest the 35 or the 36. If you read on here it is better to buy the bigger engine the first go around. I would suggest trying to find a dealer near you and test drive both of them.

Yeah I can't decide between a GTR or Pro-Drive. I'm leaning toward a Pro-Drive right now. The problem is there are no dealers for either one anywhere remotely close to me.

Shit a Minn Kota would run faster than a 20 jet. Talk to me about the rivah. Is it cobble bottom, shallow riffles or sand/clay or random boulders. Unless you have random ledge rock or boulders the MM is great. Jets do clog on grass in the summer and leaves in the fall. It sucks. Get some UHMW and a Pro-Drive rock guard and you will be OK. You will learn a 250 dollar lesson your first year. It's called stay out of the sand dumbass. I'm sure there is a PD dealer in West TN somewhere.... I know it's a big state cross-ways but you can do it.
Here's the kicker....jets don't run at max performance on the hull you're running anyway. You need a flat pad in front of the tunnel. 3-6° v and minimal runners. Longitudinal bracing works the same on jets as it does in MM hulls.
I run a Rhino 1760 (sig is wrong) with a 90/65 Merc 2-stroke. Had a PD rig and used it a lot in the James river even in Summer flows. I wouldn't hesitate to go back. I'd have UHMW on any rig in the rocks. FO SHO.

u said you lived in east Ten... dont know how much these will help but here ya go...

TENNESSEE

ABERNATHY MOTORCYCLE SALES
1704 West Main Street
Union City, TN. 38261
ph# 731-885-1792

ILLOWA PRO-DRIVE
HUMBOLDT, TN.
CONTACT: TIM PRITCHARD
BUS PH# 731-784-6602
CELL# 731-571-3183
timprit@bellsouth.net
http://www.illowaprodrive.com

ILLOWA PRO-DRIVE
HUMBOLDT, TN.
CONTACT: BILLY WARD
BUS PH# 731-784-8166
CELL# 731-697-9585
bward22@bellsouth.net
http://www.illowaprodrive.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

THORNELY OUTBOARDS
PO BOX 1611
MONCKS CORNER, SC. 29461
CONTACT: WENDELL THORNLEY
PH# 843-761-6564

J&W Outdoors
1994 Zion Road
Lancaster, SC. 29720
Contact: David Ph# 803-320-4155
Scott Ph# 803-320-0782
www.jwoutdoors.biz

South's Finest Taxidermy and Sporting Goods
3418 W. Palmetto St.
Florence, SC. 29501
Contact: David Dewitt
Ph# 843-629-0771


ALABAMA

C&C SOUTHERN WATERFOWL OUTFITTERS

4200 KEENE DRIVE
TUSCALOOSA, AL. 35404
CONTACT: JASON RHOADS
PH# 205-239-8014
PH# 205-556-5800

SOUTHERN DUCK BOATS

7004 DICKEY SPRINGS ROAD

BESSEMER, AL. 35022

CONTACT: JASON RHOADS

PH# 205-239-8014

PH# 205-556-5800

GEORGIA

HUGGINS OUTBOARDS
922 RADIUM SPRINGS RD.
ALBANY, GA 31705
PH# 229-432-6831
PH# 229-436-7676

Not trying to start World War 3, but with a hard bottom you're prolly better off with the GTR between the 2 you have it narrowed down to.

From my experience the skeg on the pd makes it hard to get the prop down in a hard bottom.

You don't want to get down into hard bottom up here. It's all rock and sand. Trim it up and slide that UHMW off the cobble bar. Maybe we need carbide props like on a hammer drill.

thats what i run all the time. same prop for over three years. the gravel doesnt really hurt the prop that bad. that mother will cut you bad from ill the little knicks but the cup is still in tact. as for the pd i think i would stick with a belt drive. the belt seems to take alot of the shock when you do hit a solid rock. i fear the pd would break a gear or the housing. a rock guard will prevent most of the prop hits. bro-in-law has mb 35 w/ guard and prop looks new. my mini 23 still runs like new. i can run with a 40 jet and the bro can way out run me. i havent found where the jets can go that i cant. price per hp is alot better also. fig my 23 hp vs. 40 hp then add the pump.

i just reread your post. that 20 hp boat you mention is a slug compaired to what even a 23 would do on it. as for your boat i would do a 35 if you can swing the deal. if you do your buddy will be pissed, and i bet he will want to dump the jet. has he hit any thing with that pump yet ? if not hes not going anywhere you wont be able to. when he does he will be lookin at a trip to the welding shop if hes lucky, and a new housing if hes not. you might, but not likley, need a prop, or just pull it back into the water and hit the gas.

surface drive is the way to go.

Any mud motor is going to SUCK on a Tracker Grizzly boat.

Thanks alot for replies guys. I think I have made my mind up. Piss on a jet!

Go with square chins and a wide boat. You will draft less water.