Im starting to think about switching my LT for a outboard motor?

I have a 1448 Grizzly Jon all welded boat.

Men+gear weight total = 800lbs

Im running a brand new 20Hp Honda on a LT mud buddy frame with a brand new 9x4 prop.(Ron Hill)

I have been struggling to achive any real speed from this setup?

Motor is running WOT 2700 rpms. I know its a little low. I plan to replace the springs on the govenor to get rpms up to 3600 in the water.

Could I have to much weight in the boat for this motor? It seems to run nice and plan out well with just myself in the boat with gear. But with the total weight of 800lbs the motor is hard to handle. I need to hold it from lifting out of the water. It does not plan out either. Just plows through the water.

That's a lot of beef for a 20 lt to push on a 14' hull.

Not what i wanted to hear

Is it normal for the motor (prop) to want to lift out of the water with a heavy load? Just myself and gear it seemed to run nice. handle just floated without much effort? Im going to try just 2 guys and gear next trip out.

You will get more speed out of a standard prop drive motor of the same size assuming that all things are equal and both are running at top conditions. More speed at least until you whack the prop on the standard drive or get into the weeds. Sounds like you have a real small setup and a lot of weight. Get your RPM's up at least 3200 in the water under load. Not sure what sort of speed your looking for but it is a small setup and loaded it will never be great. A Grizzly jon boat is not a great boat for your motor match up. Try to get to a real mud boat hull if possible. Prop blowing out of the water with a full load. Bet you nose is lower when loaded and that changes the angle of the cav. plate. Bend the cav. plate up a bit more and see how it works for ya. Duckdon

Thats a good load for some full size rigs. Your kidding yourself if you think you will get any performance in that rig with that load.

Thanks guys. Would Pods help me at all?

No.

So my options are differant motor or longer boat? Id like to keep the motor. What if I went with a 1648 mod v hull?

nope, stay flat bottom.

What terrian do you run that justify's a mudmotor?

You can go to a 24 I know for a fact.

Mod the one you have now to get it close to 30 hp. and get a 17x42 flat.
You will run fast enough and go through some chit.

I keep hearing people posting mod hull boats are not good with LTs thats not entirely true. It all is deciced by conditions and what and where the indivual is using the rig my favorite rig was a 1648 lowe mod-v with pods with a 27hp BWlt 24mph shallow or deep running alone

well looks like everyone is clear that a 1448 is not really a great size for a LT.

Im going to look into some mods for the 20hp Honda. Anyone know what I can start with. Should I even consider modifing the engine? Or would It be cheaper to purchase a larger complete engine?

Mod what you have, it would be cheaper/easier to do that than modify your frame for the bigger motor.

Get a free flowing exhaust first, then re-jet the carb, rework the heads and get stronger valve train, then see if you can find a cam.

Should put you close to 30 hp