Need some info , advice or just what you got to say. I am going to buy a surface drive , wanting to know how important is reverse ? I am hunting on a very stumpy lake with large grass mats . These mat are so big the nutra rats walk on them as if on dry ground . They are also 50 to 100 yds. long . I am looking at a 15 to 16 ft. long , 42 to 48 in. wide boat with a motor in 25 to 35 hp range . Any input would be helpful , this will be the first surface drive for me .

thanks

you hunt millwood lake too?

I have had my MB for 2yrs and love it, dont know any dif about having reverse (I have push pole rev) The only thing I would suggest is go with the 35 no matter which one you choose

Go wit 35-36 HP. 18' long will be much better than 15' or 16'. 42" - 54" is da best width to stay between. And would you buy a truck wit out reverse?

Dis is just my opinion.

i have a 1648 wit a 36 pd on it. it handles really good and get some allright speeds wit two people. as soon as u load it down wit another person and deeks your holeshots magically disapear. id do like quack. said and get a longer boat if u gonna be runnin wit heavier loads

18x48 with a 35/36. And the only ones that negate the reverse option are the ones that were not smart enough in the beginging to buy it and are now wishing they did........... Seriously, those floating grass mats (floaton) can give anyone fits when you run up on one and are pushing around a 1/2 acre of grass. But that is were my reverse really shines. Thick veggies and Giga can't handle the Truth, FPR.......

Would you buy a motorcycle without reverse ?

ha ha ha

Get a big'un but test ride first to see what you like....

Matter 'o fact - yep I would !

And my ole 4x4 which ain't got no crawfish gear too !

I wouldn't buy any Mud motor that didn't have reverse. But thats just me. I'm not real fond of the push pole.

Ever try push poling off a floaton mat in 6-8' of water?

I wood not embark on anythang less ..... what you just described ....


follow mines wake and don't be skeered ....

Spell it fo you ???? .......

Gator-Tail ..........

He's baacckkk,with the same old chit

i have an 1846 gatortail boat and 35gtr. i love it. i hunt and ride in the mareapaus swamp area so i know allabout the stumps and weeds. i have no problems where im at. and the way i see it is if my reverse dont get me out, my push pole will. but its all ur preference.

If my reverse don't get me out its time for the winch.

If you are truly "stuck" reverse ain't gonna do chit for you! Id take a winch way before reverse. But thats just from personal experience on the sand flats.

I don't care what they say... ProDrive FPR is the one and only in the floaton. IF you are worried about busting a trail through thick grass to get to your spot, that's what you need. If you're anywhere near NE Texas, come ride with me... I'll show you.

I would say test drive or demo everything you can get your hands on and go with what you are most comfortable with and what you can afford.
Just my 2 cents

I have a 35GTR and for me the reverse option is most usefull at the boat launch. I don't use it much other than that, but I would not go without it. The same goes for having power trim. I can adjust the motor with a touch of a switch. I guess I'm just lazy like that.

Threads like this are just unproductive BULLCHIT

go test out motors and buy what you like

just for the record, hitting stumps is a way of life up here where I"m at, and the ProDrive handles it fine. I used to own a GDSD, and still have plenty of friends that run them, and I really don't see and advantage a GDSD has over any other motor when it comes to smackin' stumps. jLight impacts mjay be a little easier with a floating tiller, but when you really smack one, it's still going to yank it out of your hand when it gets to the end of it's travel. Plus, if you leave it floating, you can't hold it up in the grass to keep the motor from popping out of the water.

Not talking trash... just stating facts. GDSD gets the job done just fine, but you have to put a little more work into it.

Thanks to everybody for all the information . Guessing reverse is a must have, I don't hunt on Millwood lake but have heard of it , I live in shreveport, I not sure about the larger boat , getting bigger than 16 ft. could get hard to run in trees , there are lots of tight cypress stands . For me very productive.