Hi every one need some advice here

Building a new plate boat this summer going run a long tail

My question is I'm looking at a back water 35 ss model
Or a go devil 35 long tail
I have experience with long tails but been out of the loupe for a few years
So need the Pros and cons of these newer mud motors
I want to buy the best strongest and one that will last
Thank you for your advice

id go back water inc myself

Best and strongest? Definitely Back water.

Since you are alot closer to Back Water than I am (Texas), I would take a hard look at them. I have never owned one, but only read good things about them. I wanted to buy one, but there was too many unanswered questions. Such as, who would work on a warranty issue (no dealer or rep. anywhere near me). Can't afford to ship it back and forth everytime there is an issue. Next, they have been in business about four years. How does their product hold up over the long haul. They do not make a galvanized frame and where I hunt (brackish) I need that. Even after all that, I was still intrigued by the looks, like its has a beefier frame and may last longer than the others? But my main hang up, I could not look at one in person. I only had pictures on the internet. The company needs more reps and dealers down south (probably easier said, than done). Maybe they have enough business up north and are not concerned. I spoke with them on the phone, they seem nice and I like the price, but because of the above mentioned hang ups I went with Go Devil. They have Outstanding customer service and make a good product. If anyone with BackWater is reading this, ship me a unit and I would be happy to pimp it for you once I run the dog out of it and know it holds up. Just my three cents.

For the longest time, the only mud motors that anyone here in Tennessee had were Go-Devil longtails. I've ran several (a dozen) longtails from GD. They are a product that has been around forever and that do what most people need them to do. Customer Service is fine so you can't fault them there. Still, this time last year when I was in the market for a new motor I kept looking at the motor from Back water. I loved the design and the passion and commitment that Arlon, Jake, and Larry had about their product. I had never actually put my hands on one but I decided to pull the trigger on one anyway. I couldn't be happier with my decision. These motors are truly in a whole other class when compared to other longtails.

These motors are a mile or two per hour faster than a GD with the same horsepower, same boat, same driver, etc. That's due to the setback transom mount and surface tracer cavitation plate. The motor is amazingly smooth running. No crazy excess vibration or anything that I've experienced on GDLTs. The sealed bearing system is great. If you're used to a GD and having to keep a grease gun in the boat and grease everything every time you put the boat in the water, you can forget that. Literally this bearing system needs only one or two pumps or grease every 25 hours. The way they're designed, the bearing can actually be ran with zero grease in the driveshaft tube. The real only purpose of the grease is to prevent driveshaft slap. The housing that contains the bearings and seals doesn't constantly leak grease and its designed to keep fishing line or anything else from working its way up into your lower seals and causing seal failure. You couldn't get sand, dirt, or anything else into the lower seal assembly even if you wanted to.

The guys at Back water have done their homework and are no stranger to the longtail game. Arlon built the first Beavertail motor and all of the Harley powered Predator longtails. Last time I talked to them in February they were about to sell their 1,000th motor. I have no doubt that this is a company that is here to stay. People who have always ran a GD are used to them and they figure that is just how a longtail is supposed to be: vibrating, greasy, difficult to drive, simple machines. I even thought that and I was fine with it. All because I didn't know any better. I say anyone who is in the market for a new longtail mud motor would be doing themselves a great injustice to not try out one of the motors from Back water.

Yes I heard all the same things I am leaning heavily toward a new back water ss
Thanks for the input

No contest.
Backwaterinc.com makes the new cool foe the LT world.
Seen 2 in action now and both have impressed me.
I ran 2 x GoDevil - a 9hp and a 20hp

The BW are more robust and run very smooth.

I have the SS SWOMP and it is a great machine. I have ran them all and this is the Cadillac of longtails. If you are near west Tn. I will let run mine.

WHOOPS just saw the Michigan, Guess we are little far.

Back H2O. I have the 35SS and it is beast. I picked mine up at their shop and they were great to deal with. They even supplied refreshments while we got it mounted.