Over the course of the hunting season I've run into a few little glitches with my used gdlt. Nothing major, but made me wish i knew what all the motor had been through in its life. The motor runs great but I would be more comfortable with brand new engine that Ive been the only owner of. Im torn between a new gdlt or swomp 27 or 35. Im currently running a 25 gdlt. The boat floats it fine and has plenty of free board even when heavily loaded. From what Ive research the 27 weighs exactly the same as the 25 and the swomp is actually 10 lbs lighter than the GD. The 35 is only 30 lbs heavier than both the 25 and 27. Now the kicker, the boat is only a 1348 homemade crawfish skiff. I know its very small but it surprisingly floats the large motor very well and carries a three man hunting load plus a dog around 17-18 mph with the 25. I think the boat will float the 35 fine but I wanted some other opinions. Also im not sure about ordering a motor ive never seen or driven. But i love the look and reviews of the swomp motors. But I dont like the idea of not having a dealer around to do repairs. We have a GD dealer right here in town, and I know the GD is a good reliable unit. But the GD is actually a few hundred more as well. Just want some outside opinions.

35 is alot of motor for a 1348. I would stick with the 25-27. Don't know much about either lt but having a dealer close to you goes a long way.


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I don't have a dealer of either around.. After much research I went with what I thought was the best. I am very happy with backh20. There is not much to these motors. I keep a spare prop in the boat along with crap to niqqer rig almost everything to get me home.

I agree with North LA, the 35 on a boat that small might be fine, might not, but if you're set on keeping that boat, stick with the 25 or 27. If you want to upgrade the boat too, then it's a whole different ballgame. I think if the mechanical happenings of motor are the only thing that's got you uncomfy, but you're happy with the ummph and overall setup, just pick up a new motor (the 27 would be good for the same weight) and be happy. If you want more power, then I would recommend at least a 15 or 16 footer (44 or 48 would be fine, don't go any wider). Those longtails like length. I hear good things about the B H2O, and know the GD and MB LTs would serve you well.

^ x2 on the 35. Shouldn't have any problem problem with a 48" bottom.

I wish my old man's dog wouldn't do that. Drives me crazy.

Yea same here. Were gonna address that issue his summer.

A 35 not only is a lot of weight on the back of a 1348, but that is quite a bit of torque. I'd make sure the transom could handle that.

Had not thought about that. But the transom is pretty beefy it has two 1 5/8" square tubes running the width of the transom top and middle and the same going up and down on either side of another aluminum plate that makes up the motor mounting plate.

You're planning on reinforcing the sides of the hull, aren't you?

You're planning on reinforcing the sides of the hull, aren't you?

It'll be fine, been lesser braced hold modded 35's, yall act like the factory 35 is a torque monster or something. Plus he's planning ahead for a bigger hull.


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It'll be fine, been lesser braced hold modded 35's, yall act like the factory 35 is a torque monster or something. Plus he's planning ahead for a bigger hull.


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No. Would not be reinforcing the sides. The boat had side ribs originally. You can see in the above pic where we removed them to put in the double bottom. It's fully welded in all the way around. We also add 3/4" pipe at the top below the rub rails for fuel and electrical lines. The sides shake less than they ever did with the side ribs in place.

Roll with it man


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Will, I was talking about the sides not the transom.

OP, okay, if you say so.

Here's the boat floating the 25

Wow. That thing don't sag at all