Hey guys new to the forum and mud motors. I built a 19x48 boat. I built the boat for a prodrive requiring the 15 degree transom that is 20 Inches tall. but the other day I rode in a buddy's gator tail and fell in love with it. Is it possible to make the gator tail work to its full potential with this transom on this boat. I was considering shimming and or using a step back plate. Just wanted to see y'all's view on this since alot of y'all are a lot more experienced than me or my buddy's on this topic. Also what paint should I use for this boat.

Not done yet but getting close

Not too bad, i beleive owen ran a 15* transom and said it did alright.

I bought a little fiberglass skiff with about a 5* transom and no way to mount a surface drive. I bilt a little motor mount that bolted to the transom and increased the angle to 15* (should have went 20*) Batically it was a piece of plate with two pieces of square tube welded to it upright for the motor to bolt to but they were cut at 10* where they welded to the plate to give a total angle of 15*

I don't have a good picture of it but you should be able to get the idea from this shitty picture.


You could always weld two pieces of 2X2 sch 80 square aluminum to the transom with the extra angle you need. With my copperhead I found that there is no such thing as too much angle as it can trim up for days and days but whatever angle you put int the transom will forever dictate how deep your motor will be able to dig. Not sure if the same holds true for a GTR though....

Yes it will work but not to its full potential. If the boat isn't painted it would be easy enough to make it a 20*.

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Shims will only work if you have enough space between the transom and the motor mount clamp. If you have a thick transom you won't be able to shim it much..........

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Just cut the whole thing out, and put it at a 20

Your best option is to cut the transom and rebuild it. Yes it won't be the easiest but it will be the right way to do it. Just think, why would you want to go through the trouble of building a custom boat then have to botch the transom angle up?

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It says 6061 just curious why you went with 6061. Normally we use 5052 or 5086. Are you somewhere where it's hard to get metal?


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All I know about 6061 is in extrusions. Never messed with plate. Anyone know what this alloy is used for?


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http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/6061_aluminium_alloy

I think alot of airboat guys use this for their hull construction if I'm not mistaken.


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There is nothing wrong with 6061 it's aircraft grade very strong .I have been using it for 15 year's no cracking it's bullet proof it don't like to be bent in presses like some other alloys. It makes killer ice braking hull's I have cut threw 2 1/2 -3 in of ice with my boat no problems.