I've got a 20hp longtail and have been running it on a 14' Jon for a year with no problems. While in Florida this week I was introduced to two brands of boats I'd love to get my hands on.....gheenoe and riverhawk.

Anyone ever seen one of these with a 20hp longtail? I'm running solo half the time, but sometimes either two kids or two other adults (so obviously the larger versions of the boats I mentioned).

I can only comment on the gheenoe. The 15' model, IMO, would be better matched by a smaller shortail motor versus a longtail motor. They are limited in carrying capacity though they are quite stable and light enough to traverse shallow water. For bayous or areas with stumps, beaver dams, and rough running, I don't think the hull would be a good fit- you're better off with a .125 skiff or jon or true mud hull. I would look at getting a 16-18 x 44 or 48 hull to run a longtail on, for a better performing hull. I would say that for salt water, estuary type fishing the ghenoee would shine with a conventional 9.9 HP outboard. Wish there was a one boat fits all marshes type but that is simply not so. The Ghenoee Super 16' has a 20" transom which can be a problem for the LT, though the newer BackH2O SS motor might fit. The 15'4" model is rated for 10 HP so a 20 HP LT's weight would be a problem. If you go to the Ghenoee site, you can see how narrow the rear driving area is and that would be a problem for turning any LT motor. I have my 27 HP LT on a 1648 jon and even that is not so easy to turn at times. That's why my gut feeling is that a smaller SD, say, a 12 HP Copperhead SD, might be great- but that would be a two hunter max duck boat.

I had a drunk old guy in a gheenoe with a LT run into my boat two teal seasons ago at 5AM thinking that I was his friend. I was shining him off and he came to my light like a mosquito. Seemed to bounce of my hull really well.

I am putting a 6.5 HP GDLT on my 15'4" Gheenoe for this fall hunting season. I researched first and I don' think I saw anyone with anything bigger/heavier on this model of Gheenoe.

Sounds good, pinepointer! Let us know how that Gheenoe performs with the LT! If my yard and wallet were big enough I'd have plenty of duck rigs! Right now it's the 1648 grizzly/27 MB LT and a 17' old sea nymph alum canoe I am restoring.
RootSumn, how do you like that 35 GDSD on your 1754 grizzly? Are you geared up for teal up that way? The water levels are way up down here, but I am sure north Florida is still low. We get mostly teal with an occasional woodie now and then.

Glades, Yeah the lakes are still low but rising. I live on a lake and there hasn't been more than an inch of water within 50 yards of the ramp in the last 3 years.

Please check out widgeon boats out of tallahassee, those boats are way better than ghee noes or river hawks, I wish I had one.

I have a riverhawk b-52 with a 13hp hot rod long tail. Adding a v twin would definitely be questionable. The top of the transom comes pretty close to the water as is and I swamped it once while launching. I do 18mph now with my modified honda gx390.