Hello all, I use t o be a member here for years and disappeared for a while. I know guys probly get really tired of answering a bunch of questions, but I could really use the advice from those of you who have been around these rigs. I have owned 2 mudboats, my last was a 18X44 Go-Devil with a 29 mudbuddy long tail. I loved the rig, but really got screwed over by mudbuddy, and don't think I will own another over the way I was treated. I sold the boat in 2007 and have pretty much spent the last 12 years deployed, so got rid of the boat, couldn't stand to see it sit anymore. Well I am pretty much done with the deployments, may have 1 more, but am pretty much done. So I am going to purchase a new rig this year. I will have about $14,000 to throw into it that I have saved over my last few deployments. The boat will primarily be used in S. Florida. I live on the saltwater and hunt it a lot, I love hunting the salt, but will also be spending lots of time in the glades, and on lake "O". I am hoping to stay with something in the 16, to 17 foot range, simply because I hunt a lot by myself. I have been reading a lot on the surface drives this past year, and just don't know. It just seems like they are not reliable, every time I read something it seems like the motor is broke. I really had my heart set on a new surface drive, but there are no dealers around me, and I really don't want a motor that I have to work on every time I take it out. I'm hoping that someone can chime in and maybe give me some advice on where to start. I'm not sure whether to have a boat custom built, or look for a production boat, and like I said, I really need some info on buying a surface drive, just don't want to make a huge mistake. Some of these boat builders on the site are freaking awesome, these boats are incredible. Again, sorry for the long post, but really do need your input, I don't know anyone down here to ask. It's good to be back on the forum, and damned good to be back on U.S. soil.

Appreciate your service man and welcome home. I love my sd, my longtail was a solid setup but for the area i hunt fish the sd is the best option. So i guess you really need to look at what terrain you will be running and weigh the differences. Yeah sd's do seem to have to be worked on more frequently but that's just because they have more accessories to tear up trim, clutch, belt drive, etc. and as far as the custom builders yeah there are allot of top notch boats being turned out

Other than regular maintenance I have only had to work on a couple things on my GTR35. I had to replace a faulty clutch that blew up at @40 hours, but was still able to limp in to the boat ramp. The other was replacing the tach which crapped out at @25 hours. Both were covered under warranty. I hunt lake o and very happy that I went with the 35GTR. The mudbuddy 35SLT would be interesting on Lake o due to our sandy bottom. There is a spot holding a few hundred ducks that I can't get to unless I'm in an airboat, but a longtail just might be able to access them.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

You always see the bad stuff that happens on here. I have been running my rig for 5 yrs & have only had one major issue & it still got me back to the trailer. With limited maintenance you can get much use from the sd. You need to get with someone in your area that came take you for a test drive & run as many as you can.

I really wish that I knew someone in my area that had one, I would love to have the opportunity to spend some time in some different rigs. I am glad to hear some of you say that they are more reliable then I have been hearing, kind of scared me! Does anyone run theirs in the saltwater? I'm interested in hearing if there are any special procedures used to keep them from rusting up, or better motors to buy for the salt. Also, is there any certain boats, motors that I really need to stay away from? Please feel free to pm me if your not comfortable throwing this out in public. Again, I really appreciate you guys taking the time to respond, It's a lot of new information for me, and like I said I have nobody local to help.

Go to the United Waterfowler website. I think you will find mud motor dealers in miami, Melbourne, and deland. One of my buddies just sold his flats boat and uses his mud rig in the salt until he gets a new bay boat. He just sprayed the engine and electric connections with corrosion block and rinses immediately when out of the water.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

All the guys I know in Okeechobee have gtr's and mudbuddy surface drives. I have one buddy that still has a longtail.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Ibfishin, I have been a member of UW for over 10 years, that's how I found Lamar and bought my mudboats. But unfortunately I live in Ft Myers, and it's a 5 hour ride going there and back each time. Lamar is a great guy and really ripped into the owner of Mudbuddy for me when I got screwed over, and I will always appreciate that! I ran my longtail in the salt until the Army moved me the last time, and always hosed it down with corrosion X, and it held up ok. The paint that Mudbuddy used on that longtail was crap, and it was suppose to be for saltwater usage. But the motor, and internals held up really well. So based upon our area, do you recommend using a Gatortail over the other motors? I'm not real sure as to what size motor to buy for a 16-17 ft boat, but I figure that who ever I have build the boat can help me there. I hope you don't mind me picking your brain, pretty cool to be able to talk to someone that hunts the same area, heck we may even know each other!

Buy a go devil SD or copperhead no clutches, hydraulic tilt, or reverse to break. You can get them with some of those features but you can always (kiss) keep it simple stupid. Less to break and if you are used to a LT you will have no trouble adjusting to a motor with less options copperhead and GD both make motors that would push a smaller boat the size you are looking at with great huntable speeds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm running the Gd 1844 with a 5 year old 35 GDSD that is chewing prop
number 8 into scrap metal - nothing but gas and oil changes and one muffler....

Great setup... You can get a brand new one easily with that 14K budget...

I really appreciate reverse.

On a smaller boat, I went with the GTR because it's lighter than a Pro Drive. I kept everything very light on my build. When I do occasionally get stuck or somewhere I shouldn't be (it happens), I am happy it's light.

I just turned 50 hours this weekend.

TGunn, I live in Ft Myers. I love the boat that you had made, would you mind if I called you and talked to you about it? I would love to have a similar boat built, it's perfect for what I want. Drahthaarunner & Gigafowl, do you think that I could run a gdsd 35 on a boat similar to what Tgunn is running? Tgunn, if you don't mind I will pm you my #, I would really appreciate your input.

I don't know anything about the GDSD35, or its weight, etc.

I have never tried but based on how my boat runs and sits in the water, I'm 99.5% certain than a 35GTR would be fine. And 100% sure that it would be fine if I had a tall transom.

Shoot me a PM and we can speak about the boat all you want. If the timing is right, maybe meet up halfway across the Alley for a test run.

Sounds great, I'll hit you up ASAP!

Well if weight is an issue the copperhead 23 would be a great motor they don't have specs on the 23 for weight but the 18 only weights 135 and the 23 can't be much more about 100 lighter then the GD and gtr and the 23 puts up some really good numbers. But if you want a big block it's a GD or gtr. I would really give copperhead a solid look even for a 17 foot boat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1. Many thanks for your many years service.

2. Go see Lamar Cox at Florida Mud Motors in Melbourne.
He sells and services several brands,
Also sells and services new and used mud boat motor packages.

There is a gator tail dealer in central flat

Mcranger I'm over at lake O a lot your welcome to try my rig. I know after the season ends were probably going try to make a run somewhere. You should go and check out some of the rigs.

TGunn.... what is your tow vehicle? Not sure but might have seen your rig. We usually do a marsh run from Scott Driver ramp to Roland Martins, stay the night, then run back the next day. We do one in the spring and one in the fall.

Mcranger... My rig is a barge. 1860 Alumitech with a GTR35. It is heavy, but sure is comfy to hunt out of. It runs great as well. With a 3 year old prop I can still hit 25 loaded down with 2 and only lose @ 1mph for each person added to the boat. I've had it pretty shallow also. I found a spot with about a foot of muck and 3 inches of water covering it. I had no problems stopping and getting back on plane.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Let me know when you guys are going to run. I sold my MB but can run with you in my airboat, I like to see how your rigs run. I'm going to be building a new MB this year also.

Brian/IB,

We're in the subdivision behind the Countryside Cafe on the north side of 78, across from North Lake Estate RV Park.

Man this is awesome, I really appreciate all of your help guys. I would love to go on a run anywhere, and would pay whatever to do so! I've never been in a surface drive, and would love to spend some time in a few so that I actually know what I'm looking at, and for. That's pretty crazy that you only lose 1mph per person, I would normally lose about 5 mph with my LT. I'm getting really excited to be so close to having a rig again, I can't wait!!!!

I'm in Tampa and run a 1554 GTB extreme with a 25 GTR. Love the reverse. Boat is perfect for hunting alone or with a buddy. 3 people is doable but not really luxurious if you know what I mean. I hunt, fish, and booze cruise the salt - it cost me a muffler this season but I'm not convinced the salt had anything to do with it. Corrosion-x and an immediate wash down and your set. Any SD will get it done on Lake O. Coming from an LT you will be loving life.

50 hours on my GTR as of Sunday and no issues other than the muffler

I'm in Tampa and run a 1554 GTB extreme with a 25 GTR. Love the reverse. Boat is perfect for hunting alone or with a buddy. 3 people is doable but not really luxurious if you know what I mean. I hunt, fish, and booze cruise the salt - it cost me a muffler this season but I'm not convinced the salt had anything to do with it. Corrosion-x and an immediate wash down and your set. Any SD will get it done on Lake O. Coming from an LT you will be loving life.

50 hours on my GTR as of Sunday and no issues other than the muffler

usfgeology? so you run the salt a lot? Did you buy a aftermarket muffler this time, or did you just buy another stock? I am still not sure of what size boat that I want, I normally hunt by myself with my 2 labs, and occasionally bring along a friend, but normally hunt alone. I love hunting the salt, I'm alway's alone, and can normally limit out on ducks, and have a keeper snook or redfish in the boat by 9! If you don't mind me asking, what kind of load speeds are you get out of your 1554?

Ibfishn seen you pull in to okee-tantie last Sunday.

Gfowel... That was me and mucknaked in my rig.What were you in?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[quote="ibfishin"]Gfowel... That was me and mucknaked in my rig.What were you in?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk[/quote

I had just launch out of the slip you pulled in and was almost to the river when you started backing down. Your rig is easy to notice even in low light.

MCRanger - I have a Seaark 1854 with 35 GTR, and center console. I run creeks off Homosassa river, and crystal river, and the mangroves in the Gulf. I am in salt every time out, but I may run fresh back to the launch. So far it's holding up well - no issues. Love the setup - it gets me where the only other boats are airboats. I didn't buy from Lamar, but he did say he would meet me half way - nice. Lamar used to patrol these gulf coast waters and knows what he's talking about.

IB,

Did you say your neighbors in laws own Twin Palms or some of the other place in the subdivision adjacent to twin palms?

I've known the owner of Twim Palms since '83; her grandson Ernie taught me to duck hunt and was in my wedding.

My boat has been at TP quite a bit this year when I stop by to see Helen or Cliff at the store, and Ernie just bought a house there next to 78. I know the Excel you're talking about behind the store and I've been putting in at Dyess Ditch and Harney Pond all season.

The ringers are gone for me; all the shooting sounds like it's in ankle deep water between IP and BHR.

I'm winding it down this weekend; going to hunt Saturday and then hit the DU dinner at te Duck Pub Saturday evening if you want to get a beer.

Also, is the Fast Break the one that sells 90 Rec at the pump? I've fueled up there a couple times this year

My neighbor David Diehl is married to Candace. Her dad goes by Slick and owns the Twin Palms store and the park behind it. Her mom owns a park just a little west of Slick down towards the Petersons camp. Fast Break sells the 90 rec fuel. The pumps are open at all hours there which is nice. My wife and I will probably hit the Duck Pub for the DU Banquet.

I was hunting BHR in knee deep water on sunday. Saw about 30 birds but not near us. My buddy managed a teal.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I have only met Candace' s mom. I know David will be there. Candace (Davids wife) has been the ticket girl at that banquet for years. That is how he met her actually. I'll PM you my number so you can shoot me a text and we can meet at the banquet.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk