let me know what and were your thinking id be up for a ride...

Yall are probably gonna call bulls**t on this but I bought a Ron hill prop off eBay it turned out alittle heavy for my motor and they basically said you are sol if I wanted another size I had to buy another prop
I called backwater told art our duck season was in 3 days and he mailed me a prop before he had my money I have nothing but good things to day about them

What prop did you get from Hill?

I have a feeling there is alot of confusion on here. I may be wrong but I think Blackwater Inc who makes the motors and the Black Water that is selling the props for $159 shipped on Ebay is 2 differant companies. I believe this post was started to help clear that up and so that Blackwater Inc would not get the bad wrap of the prop dealer on Ebay.
On a positive note I picked up my 27 hp Blackwater engine last week, and it is build like a tank, handles great. Still tweaking for the right prop on my set up but think I am very close. AS of last run I was making 17mph with just me and reasonable load, 2 guys and the same load I was down to about 15mph, but still a little short on the RPM's at 3400. It is pushing a 1548 Grizzly around. I am very impressed with the engine and set up, now just need to go get it stuck so I can get an idea what it is capable of.

X2 and read decal on motor BACKWATER INC.

I called Arlon for a prop for my 35 hp beavertail and received it in the mail the next day.I don't know how you can get better than that

I ordered a 9x5 prop for my homemade long tail and was very pleases with dealing with them at backwater. I called they didn't answer and I didnt leave a voice mail and they returned my call anyways. While talking to them Arlon ask me questions about my longtail and giving me very good advice and tips. Very classy I thought. I'll be buying another prop from them again

I ordered a prop from backwater for my 16hp longtail. It didn't get to my house super fast, but reasonable--I think about 5 or 6 business days. I did call backwater just to doublecheck that they had received my order because it had been about 5 business days since, and talked to an actual person on the first call. He was very courteous; said they get lots of prop orders and he didn't recognize my name offhand. He asked how many days it had been since I had ordered and I told him. He said if it didn't get there the next day to call him back on Monday and he would dig through the orders and see what the problem was. The prop did indeed arrive the next day. I've placed an order from them for another prop as of a couple of days ago.
Satisfied custumer,
JBJ

Ive got the 27 backwater and have used it for over a year now. i had a 25,27,and 31 gdlt over last 14 years and thought there was nothing better until i purchased my BW motor. By far it out performs the gdlt. This motor is so easy to operate its unbelievable. My wife has driven this boat while I sit up front and do nothing except ride without any fears in the world. No way she can handle a 27 gdlt or would i let her even try. have not had one problem to date and i use my rig fishing all year long. About one pump of grease in the shaft every month and its full. no leaky oily mess so far. the adjustable bumper is the secret to its easy handling. i marked where i set it for one or two people and only takes seconds to change. i run a 1654 seminole classic (fiberglass) and with two men and gear i run 16.5 to 17. i have had nothing but positive experiences with Arlong and his sons. Very nice people in my book. gd could learn alot from these guys. cant wait to tryout the 35!!!

kevinwings, yes, you should get more like 3600 rpm in the water under load. My 27 MB is rated for a 9x7 but I am using a 9x6 and it runs much better- it is a Ron Hill prop. I am glad we have mfg. competiltion and we benefit. I am glad Backwater is marketing an improved LT. I was happy with my GD LT for years but MB came up with IMO a better bearing system (less of a grease mess and less grease consumption) and overall improvement in the LT design. I did an oil change before the season started in November and I have hunted 20 times and the Kohler 27 oil level is the same and I pumped only few shots of grease into the shaft housing and that is all. I'd like to purchase the Backwater prop and try that. A little tweak on my trim tab, a new set of spark plugs, and I was doing 20 mph by myself today with all the requisite hunting gear and it felt great- doing 3620 rpms. With two hunters it drops to 17.5 mph.
jafman65, is that seminole from Paul Dixon/Airboats Unlimited? He is a great person and I bougt my second engine, a 25 GD Kohler LT from him. I love that hull design but I'd like to look up close at the aluminum 18' hull he also makes.

yes glades ranger it is from dixons. i would also like to try the 18 aluminun boat . i mostly fish the shallow flats south of Tallahasse FL and would like to try it out down there mostly because of the room. right now im hooked up as good as ive ever been . once i figure3d out how to set my BW motor so that the cav plate is completly out of the water while up on plane, ive been go to go. wide open in 4 to 6 inches of water and can hold my handle and steer my BW with one finger. runs a couple mph slower set like this but i can reach the hard to get to creeks this time of year hours ahead of any outboard and load the boat with reds and trout.

That is the key, accessibility. When the water is shallow here I have more use with my LT. I viisited your area years ago when I was in college, there was a place called Posey's around there that had great oysters and smoked mullet. I've shot a couple of redheads down here in the last couple of years- they are rare visitors in the glades, I suppose you see many up there? I would like my next hull to be that 18', maybe teamed up with a 35 LT. I managed two ringers yesterday, the wind was northerly which is not good for here, but saw good numbers of birds still hanging around and the report from the Big O was also positive.

Question for backwater motor owners that have had another brand lt before. Sounds like the cav plate is much better on the backwater motors. Can you dig it into the mud like a MB or GD or does the cav plate make that harder?

Yes u can diggem quite well check out the video of the 35 running on the BW media on there site thats my stompin ground the mud there is fairly stiff not alot of soupy mudd in that location Ive had other motors try to auger themselves to china the cav plate does real good about coming to the surface once you get moving

[quote="fullcycle415"]I'm loving my 27 HP Backwater, I'm pushing 21 mph on it with a 15X42 War Eagle. I've been running the hell out of it since I picked it up in July. I think it may be time for a new prop already!

That solo or with a load??

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Im about to order the 23hp backwater for my 1448 alumacraft. Tried bulding a 13hp myself and it was epic fail suday on the river everything but the engine and base plate fell off and sunk before i could get to it. Really like the design of the backwater and the fact that since i bought a prop from him last year he isnt goin to charge me shipping ob tge new motor. Super excited and cant wait to get it and run it.

The top brace broke off and when it did the shaft housing fell down breaking the side braces off and falling into the river. It happened so fast i didnt have time to throttle down and catch it. I was so pissed though i did all i could do put the battery to the trolling motor and started floatin down the river causewont no way that thing was gonna get me back up the river. I told my buddy that was with me that thebad part was i couldnt call a company and cuss nobody oit and him bein the smart ass heis picked his phone called mine and handed mehis and said here ya go cuss away.

I ordered two props from him when i was building my motor and got them two days after i ordered them. I also called him with some questions on my home build and he talked to me for 45 minutes an
d answered all my questions. If i was buying a motor today i would buy his motor. I called GD and they would not even talk to you without a serial number. I think you can not go wrong with his product.

+1

them boys will treat you right as long as you treat them right they are hell of good guys

So does anybody have one or run the 23hp from them?

i found it easy to control most like an out board but im a bigger guy?

I just got one.
Boat should be ready in a few weeks. Will put up some pics and reports of how it runs as soon as I get it in the water.

I have placed 3 orders with backwater over the last 6 months, and all orders have arrived within a couple of days, and have been as ordered. They are friendly, knowledgable, and willing to help. Good company, and good service.
Having said that I feel obligated to defend go devil, as others have made them out to be the "devil" in this topic. I have owned 2 gdlt motors, and have had nothing but great dealings with the company. I bought both motors used, and have had to replace multiple parts, seals, bushings, props, etc. As stated they do require a serial #, which I think is understandable as they are an established company that has been in business for many years, and they are not interested in helping someone build a homemade, or repair another brand motor.
Once you have a go devil serial # they go out of their way to help, and make sure your motor is running properly. They put your name under the serial # and keep record of everything purchased for that particular motor. If you have a difficult question, they will put you on the phone w/ Warren the owner who knows every small detail of these motors, and will talk you through any problem.
Bottom line if you don't own a go devil, don't bother calling them because they will not help. However don't hesitate to buy one because once you have your name in their system, they will go out of their way to serve you, and have extremely fast shipping, and a great product.

my gdlt 16hp on a 1742 gets 20 mph with just me and with 2 people i get 18mph