I need your guys opinion. I was thinking about building a long tail, so I bought those plans off of Ebay. They look ok. But I also found where guys have built home made surface drives. And they really don't look too hard to do. The area I hunt is on the Snake River in Idaho. Most of the river bottom is either sand bar or rocky bottom. It also has heavy vegetation. So is a long tail the best option for this? Or would the sd be better? Of course I wait till hunting season to decide to build a new motor.

well they each have their advantges and dis-advantages in different places, for sure a surface drive can go alot faster than a long-tail, also i fine that my go-devil can go through alot more hard bottom then a surface drive, so i would choose a long-tail

I know that a sd is faster. But I don't really have too far to travel. Also forgot to post before; how does a long tail do in swift water? Possibly a little rapid action too, not like crazy chit your pants rapids. Go-devil 15 thanks for opinion.

well long-tails have alot of torque. sometimes they can be difficult to turn. hell mines only a 13 h.p and it almost threw me out the boat a couple of times. also a grab bar in your boat will be your bestfriend with a longtail

I plan on putting a grab bar in, regardless of the style of mud motor.

well from the info that u gave me, i would chose a long-tail

Alright then, oh and mine will be a 13 hp one also. So hopefully it will run good. The engine won't be stock at all so hopefully that helps a little.

my rig is a 13 h.p long-tail. on a 14x38 fiberglass boat. im 15 and weigh 125 and it does about 15-16 mph with just me in it

Ahhh to be 15 again. I don't think my boat will do that. I'm 28 and about 200 give or take. Boat is 12' aluminum not sure how wide 36" maybe. Talked with a go kart place about the motor I have. Could possibly get up to 18 hp out of it. Will take some work but thats the fun part.

a 14x36 or 40 would perform waay better than a 12 footer.

Well when a 12' boat is basically given to you, you run with it. If I had the money I'd buy something bigger but as usual I don't.

Be very carefull when stopping to avoid backwash and get some weight to the front. Make sure you have enough transom strength to stand the abuse of a mm.

i understand that if u just get a boat for free your gonna use it. but they say long-tails perform the best on longer narrower boats, just thought that mite help.

Hopefully this boat can get me thru a couple more seasons and then I'll up grade to something different. Would really like at least a 16' boat.