I am trying to decide whether to buy a PD or a GTR. So i am coming to yall for suggestions. I will more than likely be running it on a 1748 Phowler boat. I would just like to know the positives and negatives about both. I appreciate any input. I know yall run these things day in and day out, so i know that you know what you are talking about. I would just rather hear your opinions instead of a sales rep that hasn't even driven one before. Thanks again!

it all depends on were u running at and what u gonna need it for r u gonna need the intense reverse that gtr has r the more better full power reverse that prodrive has to offer i mean ur best bet is too demo both of them and see which one u feel comfortable with i run a long tail i feel good with it and it gets the job done but thats me so ur best bet is to demo both of them like i said and just which ever one feels better to fit ur application

Not to be too blunt --- but why are you buying a Phowler boat ???

The factory only had one motor in mind when they built the boat....

If you doubt their choice and the engine they built it for maybe
you need to do some test rides.....

giga fag u done ****** up this man threads maybe thats the boat he wants he asking bout motor not boats so thanks for niggering this thread up infact this site was ******** up when ever u logged in

Seems a bit silly to trust half of a design and doubt the other half...

Are there were any Phowler boat dealers suggesting anything but a PD ???

Call a few of them or contact one of the several Phowler sponsors here...

None better than MR MUDD --- IMO
_________________
http://www.AllMudMotors.com
Phowler and Geaux Custom Boats
Pro Drive and Mud Buddy Motors
B.P.S. Dealer

M.M.T. Sponsor

B.W., I see you are new here. If I were you I would start another post and ignore this one. We already know this one jacked up and know where it is headed.

Phowler should be able to hook you up for a demo. You need to drive both and then you decide. And Giga don't have a clue or run either brand. Lot of money for either one and both are great motors. Get you a demo lined up, we have folks up your way on here that may be able to help you out.

And bundy, I think you meant " instant" not intense...........Intense is the other brand. Aka FPR...........

oh good catch but at least i was trying to help the guy out unlike giga fag !!!!

i appreciate the suggestions guys, i might look into different boats but i just liked the phowler so far, i've only looked at a few different companies. since we're on the subject, i'd like to read your thoughts on which boat would run the best with each motor.

and i hunt in flooded timber which is 4-6 feet deep, but we also have holes further back that we'd like to hunt, in the back of this place the lilys and grass gets pretty thick and eventually gets into about 6 inches of water with pretty hard bottom, also has buck brush that is a pain having to navigate around, i just want to run right over all of it without having to worry about messing something up,and this is where a hole is that has great potential i just need the equipment to get in there. keep in mind that i'll be running up on numerous logs out there too if that helps any with your suggestions.

thanks again guys

we also pick up and throw out decoys every day, this is one reason why i think i might lean towards the GTR because of the instant reverse, but i am still going to keep an open mind on this, so your comments are still welcomed.

thanks again

Man i take back everything i said bout prodrives those motors look damn good. I really wish i had one now just so when i get all grassed up i can just throwit around in reverse and do it to it. anynoe wanna trade

oh yeah on your thang i would go with prodrive. sorry bout my last.

Just told the man what he was asking...

You could help him out by telling him about your PD combo hull / motor....

At least help him get the best possible combo for whatever brand
he ultimately chooses....

I would call Hoyt & Kyle over at Gator-Tail, flooded timber and picking up decoys with boat/motor you'll need/want instant reverse... I do the same thing besides flooded timber and the instant reverse is a lifesaver!

Gator-Tail would be my direction I would lean. Call them up and just chat with them great guys over there!

thats what i was thinking, the whole instant reverse is probably going to be the thing that throws me to one side on this deal. thanks i appreciate the info.

B.W., Prodrive has instant reverse too!!!

well if you were coming in too hot on a dock or something i just don't know if it would have the time to turn around before engaging.

Damn Giga you really can't help but try to piss everyone off on dis site.
I mean really, take da GD 3 blade prop out your ass and think before you type.

Go demo a pro drive and a gator tail rig. You will like em.

either one of the motors will do what you want to do, based on your conditions that you listed. you would be happy with either one. You might not be happy with the two that you DIDN'T ask about. I can tell you I own a ProDrive and I"m very happy with it, and it would go where you want to go without a single problem. The very best advice is take your money with you, and drive to Loreauville and test them both out. I'm sure there will be a clear winner after you drive both of them. I bet there's someone from your neck of the woods that has both of those motors, that would be happy to take you for a spin.

cutt down lives in west tennessee, shoot him a PM, i bet he could hook you up with a Pro-Drive demo.

I run a Phowler 1852 flat front with a stock 36 HP Prodrive. I ran this motor on a different hull prior and it runs better on the Phowler. I am pleased with the performance and you should expect even quicker speeds on a 48" wide boat. I have also owned mudbuddy motors on GatorTrax, Excel and Legendcraft hulls.

The Phowlers are solid boats that do run well with the Prodrive. I would take with caution the advice of many of the self-proclaimed "experts" on this board who say that motors and hulls can not be mixed and matched. That said, the Phowler / Prodrive combo is a good one.

You have a good resource for info in this combo right in you area. He goes by the handle of "cutt down" on this forum.

I switched from Mudbuddy to Prodrive because of the availability of the full power reverse for it's promise of extracting me from tight situations and it has not let me down. I don't miss not having instant reverse. In four years of running short tail mud motors without reverse, I learned not to go hell for leather into the dock. It doesn't require much IQ to figure that out. Now, for picking up decoys, I just shot our opener last Saturday and I put the motor into FPR to pick up dekes. It's a quick process. I always liked pulling the boat toward the dekes, especially in windy situations, when I had my outboard. The Prodrive in FPR mode, in addition to letting you back around to pick up dekes, puts the prop close to the boat so you don't run into the cords as often as you would with it sticking out farther.

I can't speak to your situation of running stump fields...not our environment up here.

I hope this helps.

i appreciate the info guys, i will demo both before i make a decision for sure, for one thing it is just so much money and i want to be able to use which ever i choose for atleast five years hopefully longer before having to buy something else, so i think demo-ing both of them will be to my advantage for sure.


i have one more question hope yall can give me some insight on. i have talked to some that say a 60in wide boat doesn't cut down on their performance real bad, i was wondering what yall thought? 48 or 60? 17ft or 18ft?

I have owned/ran three different phowlers: 2060, 1848, and now 1866. the 1848 was def the fastest and best handling. That said, i can put seven adults on plane with the 1866 without much trouble. The 2060 ran around 28mph and could haul a pretty big load. i think it depends on how much gear you haul and the places you run. You mentioned you run flooded timber, so the 1848 would prob fit your needs nicely.

depends on what you call "performance"... performance could mean going fast unloaded, or carrying a load better, or fitting through trees, or whatever! I think the 18x48 is a pretty good size for most folks... but then again, I've never been some of the places all the good folks of mmt go to!

I run 60" wide boat and I can tell you speed is not that much different than a 48 " bottom. Stock I can run 28mph. a 48" will run around 30 mph.
put a load in the boat and i promise you that a 60" will carry more aof a load and do it going faster.
but if you run timber, I would go 48" (at most a 54").
length I would go 18'. better load carrying with more surface area, and whats another foot, the benefits out way the bad.

ok thanks guys, 18x48 it is then. just have to get around to demo these motors and boats and i'll be ok , i appreciate all of the help yall have given me. hopefully soon i can have a pic on here of me and a mud rig.