Hey guys,
New to the forum and also looking to buy my first mud motor rig this summer,but really stuck on what to buy as far as long tail or surface drive.I live in Michigan and we don't really hunt much mud usually just shallow water marshes with logs and thick weeds.Also hunt a lot of smaller lakes,not long run times.As far as load is concerned usually me and my dog and one hunting partner.My concern with a long tail is that I will also be using the boat for fishing with the kids as well.Any info is really appreciated.Thanks

if you can afford a surface drive buy one, they act much more like an outboard motor and don't get in the way as much a a long tail.

^^^^^ x1000. After riding in a sd boat it'll make you want to go to the middle of the lake and unbolt your lt.


Sent via telegraph

I would say LT all the way. Cheaper, don't have long runs, Logs, and grass, not much mud. But then you said to use for fising as well.

One thought would be to get the LT, use the money you saved to get an outboard also. Best of both worlds for your applications.

If your stuck on one motor, probably SD because of fishing.

Sd all the way i dont think ill ever go back to a longtail.Just get as big as one as you can.

Your personal preference I guess. Pros and cons to SD and LT

thanks for your guys input.the fishing part is, like you guys said the tricky part.I probably will just buy an outboard for it as well and go with the lt.So is go devil the lt to go with or are the mb lt good.I have a buddy with about a 8 year old godevil that he swears by,but not familiar with any other lt.

If I were buying a brand new LT I'd be buying a back water.
I have 2 GDLT a 9 and a 20hp
Both work very well.
BW seems to be the 'new cool' in the LT world
As soon as the finances appear - back water for me. Love them.

The backwaters look cool but are new I have a gd it's tough as nails


Sent via telegraph

I don't understand why fishing with a lt is an issue.

I use my LT rig for everything on the water and in conditions alot like what you mentioned, it does everything I need it too.
Granted, a SD is faster, easier to drive, and more user friendly a lt will suit you fine if you don't want to break the bank. Just be sure to get a 23+ hp

Backwaterinc all the way!

Stick with the go devil, we have an 8, 20, and 25 all are great motors, the customer service can be alittle annoying with always wanting a part number, but if your shit is ever stolen they cant get parts without giving that number and you just might get your shit back. Go devil has been around for ages they have made a long tail that works, and works great at that. Give backwaterinc a few more years to get what they have going now into a better motor.

Thanks again guys for all the input.Checked out a few backwaters this past week,seem really nice and there are no gd dealers around here.Still playing it by ear,but thanks for the good feed back.

did you decide?

lt or sd?

if lt, then gd or backwaterinc?

If you are a sissy or a city boy I would say SD. If your a real man and hunter and fisherman go with the LT.

this guy

Test drive one and make your selection based on your needs and budget. Get the most horses you can afford and your hull can handle. I've been running an LT since 1989 since we have shallow water, no mud, and hard bottom, with relatively short runs. With the savings on the LT you can get a good trolling motor to assist your fishing, or as was said, a small conventional outboard. LT repairs are generally significantly cheaper than SD's. A good friend bought an MB 35 Hyper five years ago because he wanted easier tiller control and more speed and he got both but he also got three major breakdowns and in the marsh he's got no real advantage over me. All marshes are not the same.

I was one of those guys that didn't know what a sd was capable of and blew them off for a few years until I ran one. I was a die hard lt man but after seeing what a sd could do in thick hyacinth compared to my lt I was impressed. When I ran a sd I was sold.

Like I said test them all out and make your decision

I have decided on a backwatersinc 35 lt.Set up a meeting at a local dealer,drove 3 hours to go get prices and decide on what boat.Got there and they said nobody could help me with prices because the owner was gone.Called back on monday talked to the owner about getting prices on 3 different boats with the options I wanted.Waited a week with no call back.Called them and left messages on the owners phone for about two weeks everyday with no returned call!WTF guess they dont need to sell any boats!Freeway sports in Fenton Michigan Sucks Ass!Now looking at getting a Phowler boat.

35 swomp?

lucky guy! thats a really nice LT - bit jealous over here

been running long tails for 30 years they are the only motor i will run. they are a tool you can use them to cut trails clean trails. have had to use my long tail many times to push out surface drives that have become stuck. they are harder to drive and require more room to manuver but if ya run them enough it becomes second nature. if i want to go faster i have a 70 hp outboard on a 18 48 tunnel hull that takes care off that.

Good first post, loudog! 98% on this forum (I made up that number but I figure it's close ), are shortail users and promoters looking for a piece of the commission or a free camo hat. On that 2% marsh (higher number of course) the longtail is supreme. Look, I'll be sincere: If I could convince my wife, I would have had a shortail AND a longtail together for years. When I hunt the big lake, I would use the shortail. When I hunt the big sheltered marsh, the longtail would be my choice. I think it is revealing how many whiners there are about how difficult it is to drive a longtail. I'll bet they never drove a manual steering vehicle in their life without A/C either. I think mudfather made the right choice for where he hunts and fishes.