I've had a 4' wide jon boat for years that I would put around the canals in with a trolling motor. This year I decided to put a mud motor on it. I found a reasonably priced used deal from a guy on craigslist and slapped it on. I'm wondering if I made a big mistake. The tiller comes up on my right side so if I am making a right hand turn my body is in the way of the rotation. The only way I see around this is to steer behind me which I find very uncomfortable, and really impossible if I am making a sharp right. Unless I 'm missing something it seems to me you need a boat with enough beam and stability that you can move your body with the tiller. Am I wrong?

You are driving it with your left hand, arent you?

Post pics.

What side of the motor is the tiller attached (port or starboard)?

Move the tiller to the other side of the engine. Sounds like some kinda jacked up home build.

post pics.

As cb said, you need to post a pic of it. On all production made motors the handle is mounted to the port side, but also they are bent in a way that allows you to make "normal" turns with ease. If you intend on making a sharp turn, yea, you must swing the handle behind you, and there is nothing you can do about that.

You are supposed to swap sides to make turns. They are all that way because of the long handle, to deal with torque. In your case, your handle is just opposite than normal.

If your boat is 4' wide that is not small just get out in open water and practice driving it ... I've got a 20 hp gdlt and I'm still getting used 2 driving it

so how are u doing driving the mud motor? u can install a handle (grab bar), that will h elp with ur balance. but a four foot wide bottom boat should bbe plenty stable i got a 1436 with a 20 hp. btlt