I need un-censored advice of what you would do if you were me under these constraints.

I have read a million things regarding the copperhead mud motors (good and bad).

Good- Fast, Lightweight, runs well, prop is out of water, great customer service etc
Bad- No neutral, handle comes un-done due to vibration?, can't handle stumps?, bolts back out due to bad vibration?, belts slips?, belts go bad quickly? ....etc

I have searched and read so many things until I just can't stand it anymore.

Here is my rig- 15' war eagle (rated for 25 HP motor), after market transom with beefed up welded aluminum plate. The aftermarket transom is 15" tall from boat deck to top of transom.

I hunt in mainly open water muddy conditions along with a lot of rocky/sandy rivers that are shallow. I do NOT make a living from my boat and I am by definition your weekend warrior who is hitting the public areas hard. I do not like to be limited on where I can hunt due to not having the right equipment to get where I need to go...but I the same note, I am not going to try and be a hero and get my boat in places that just don't "make sense". I encounter the occasionally stumps and logs....but nothing major. I run mainly me and one other buddy with standard gear (decoys, layouts, gun, etc).

If you were me and you could get the "right" motor for these conditions and boat....what would you do?

I want anyone's experience with copperhead and how things run. I am anal about taking care of my equipment so it lasts a lifetime....so I want to make the correct purchase the first time!

Help please.

Cody

Got a buddy with a 23 copperhead, on a 15ft g3. She runs out great with 2 people. Little slower with hunt load but still running 20ish. With just 2 guys scouting id say 25-27. Didnt gps it. If copperhead made a 35. Id be all over it. Put 3 guys in it. 9mph.

25 gator tail has neutral and reverse... Just sayin...

The 25 Gtr is a quality motor and offers reverse but it is pretty heavy for a small boat. Don't think I would put on a 15 ft john boat unless it is 48 inch bottom. The Copperhead is simple, not quite as refined as GTR but it is a good motor sold by good people and the weight is a right for your boat.

I have a 23HP SD Copperhead and it runs well. I really do like it. It replaced a 27 Long Tail. In my opinion it is the perfect motor for a light boat. That said you really do need to think about what your real needs are. I have mine on a small duck boat which is all I've ever needed in the past. This year my two youngest sons are both wanting to hunt every time I go and now my wife is wanting to go so she can spend more time with us. She's said if she can't beat em she's going to join em. This leaves me needing a much bigger boat/motor. If your interested in a good deal on a like new 23 copperhead let me know. I'll let it go for good price. This 23 I have has less than 4 hours on it. I haven't even completed the break in or first oil change.

I read that post you are referring to and the area that guy runs would eventually destroy any mud motor. I suspect the faster you run there the faster you would destroy it. One would probably be better off with a longtail in that area.

I really don't think any motor with a prop is going to do well in rocks. That is why they make jet drive outboards. Mud boats don't really like sand much either - stops you dead in your tracks if you don't have enough water to float the boat not to mention eating away at your prop.

If you are not concerned about what I said about the rocks and sand, then my opinion is that Copperhead makes a good motor. I have owned more than one and currently own one. Out of 3 Copperheads, I only had one problem which was a bolt loosening, the remedy for which was simply adding more loc-tite and re-tightening it. That was on an early 12 (they made several improvements since then). Never had any problems with the ones I purchased after that. I am pretty sure you are going to find that they all GT, Prodrive, Godevil, and all the rest have vibration (especially when hitting stuff) which is why they all get broken aftermarket muffler brackets etc. Lack of neutral has never been an issue to me, you would have to decide yourself on that. Just make sure you strap it down well while trailering. That seems to be harder on them than jumping logs and stumps.