Hope I'm putting this in the right forum. I'll be hunting north/central Texas lakes mainly and dealing with a lot of stumps, and thick mud of course. Some lakes will have sand like Texoma.. I want something reliable, and any special safety features please tell me about that, I'm pro-safety.

Dixie

Few years ago when I was looking at Momarsh Fatboy DP, they were selling Mud buddy 5 hp Honda, and 6 hp Honda. Now they don’t. I also noticed Momarsh fatboy DP is coast guard rated for only 2 hp and 70 lbs, is that something new and maybe the reason they do not sell/promote those motors?

Anyways, I been also looking at Beavertail, Stumpjumper, Copperhead, and Orions, all look to be oversize for that boat. Stumpjumper 7hp looks to be the best fit, 63 lbs is the lightest anyway. And they lowest price. But from what I’m reading, still too big for that boat. I guess no one makes small light weight long tail motors out there for a boat like this???

I have not call Dixie, looks like they are going through a management change, no product info on their web page.

I would recommend both the Dixie MM and the Stump jumper mud motors for the style of layout boat that you are running. I've used both and I purchased a 6.5HP DMM for my Four rivers refuge runner (13'6) boat and it will push me and a load over 9mph. It also has enough torque to haul that load and me pull my other two layout boats with almost 800lbs of either people, gear, etc... through the marsh.

I think either one that you choose you will be ok with.

In regard to the coast guard ratings - I'm over the ratings but I can tell you that as long as you do most of your hunting in true "layout boat" conditions - marsh or shallow rivers than you will be just fine. I would absolutely not recommend using that boat/motor combination out in open water where you can't touch the bottom. I also wouldn't run it in open waves much more than 6-8" tall.

build one of those thai kits....theres a great review on here of one......

Right now I run a 2hp honda air cooled outboard on my FBDP. It isn't a mud motor, but it does fairly well. I too have shopped for a mud motor for the boat, but did not like adding the weight of the mud motor to the transom. I have to cross 1/2-3/4 mile of open river and I like to keep the rig as light as possible.

Best safety feature you can add to a marsh style layout boat that you are going to use to cross open water is a survival kit. PFD, PLB, strobe, dry clothes, fire starter, space blanket, flare kit, first aid kit, hand pump, bailing scoop, and a waterproof case for your cell phone.

Look into rickshaw mud motors. The biggest advantage on layout boats is the lower profile. A lot of that is lost when you hang 5+hp motors on the back of them. One thing to keep in mind is weight. Their is a big difference in the way those boats handle/ride/draft with a 160lbs and a 260lbs hunter in them.

Here is a good review on that 2hp honda motor, looks like it does have safety kill if you go over board, and the Centrifugal Clutch model looks like if you let off the throttle, the propeller stops spinning..

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewhondabf2d.html

Anybody try crawdad motors? 2hp 15lb long tail. Looks pretty good on paper.

http://www.crawdadmotors.com/products.html

Unless you are dead set on momarsh, look at four rivers! Ebads is the newest model and is rated up to 13hp. I have the ebad and just ordered a 10hp Lt from backwaters inc. The boat is rock solid and did awesome on large lakes last year with 9.9 merc.... ready to get the lt!

I went ahead and bought the momarsh. I always wanted one. And I think I'm gonna put the 2.3hp Honda air cool on it, it replaces the 2hp they do not make any more. I have not bought the motor yet so if you want to try and talk me out of that post up ASAP. lol.

http://marine.honda.com/outboards/motor-detail/BF2.3

I ended up getting a stumpjumper Subaru 7hp. And I'm glad I did, I was extremely happy with it, it was perfect. Below a couple pics





I tuned the transom around, and then I moved it up closer to the middle of the boat. This is it with the motor install on the transom stock..



This is it with the transom turned around, I read about a lot of people doing this...




I took an extra step to move it up closer, I had to drill another hole in the boat for the one nut and bolt, but you really do not need it to test it, I did a few test runs with out. Once I liked it, I drilled another hole.. Pic below is no hole drilled yet, and I ran it like this just fine for a while...



I also cut down the transom at the first bracket..



With all this, it is perfect. With the motor moved up closer to the boat, the weight of the motor is really non-factor, floats level you can see with no one in it... When I get it in it, prop drops a few inches.



Also with the motor closer, you can swing the tail around for better travel on the trail. The transom stock, the motor hangs off the back and is not stable... But this way it is just fine...





I appreciate everyone input, maybe this post here will help the next guy...

Cool setup. I keep thinking I want a small marsh boat..

Thanks for posting your follow-up. I always wondered if you turning the bracket around would be a good way to get a long tail motor closer and not have it hanging off the back...thanks for settling that!

Did you shorten the transom bracket to make the motor more comfortable to operate sitting down, or does it make the motor perform better?

Good choice I was going to tell you to check out the ppf wood duck or a backH2O glider kit with a 6.5 hp predator both can be had for under $1200 and I feel are build very well.


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Thanks for the additional info. With that setup, do you find it more comfortable to operate standing up or sitting down?

What a great looking set up!