Gents,
This past week my new rig (23 hp mud buddy LT on a 1448 jon) was being towed behind me when I got T-boned by another driver. Boat and trailer are totaled, and motor might be, not sure yet but likely. The motor has a crushed in exhaust, iar intake was ripped off, batter (while connected) was thrown 30 ft and ripped electrical stuff some. I don't know what else may or may not be wrong yet and I haven't touched it because I'm waiting on the insurance appraiser to come look at it.

Obviously now I have to buy a new rig. I'm looking but not findin much I like and this close to season, I can't be too choosy. I found one rig that's a 1652 with a 25 hp tiller on the back that might be a decent buy. If the mud buddy I have still works after repairs, or if insurance replaces it, would the long tail work on that 1652 well? Or should I look for another? I run heavy tidal flats, oyster bars, shallow water, etc so I want a mud motor but not sure if a 23 hp will match up well. I imagine the boat is too wide and big, but I want to hear y'all's thoughts or experiences

wow , sorry about this brother !

I run a 23 on a 1648. I think that size of boat will run great with your 23.

post of pic of that disaster! A few years ago I purchased a 18 ft deep v, dual windshield with a Merc 150.. really nice boat. Before taking it to the water I went to a detail shop and they put customized registration numbers on it to match the black and gold paint. Two blocks away from the detail shop, in a school zone, a 21 year old gal, who didn't see the school or the stop sign as she was texting, crushed the back end..

Here is my advice for you and anyone that gets into this situation:

Don't let the other person's insurance company TELL you what they are going to do.. tell them. Hold out. The person on the other end is paid to get the best deal and not pay. I told them after 5 phone calls and two weeks of bs that they needed to get my motor and boat replaced... "I am not your customer, I have nothing to do with you, your job is to cover the 21 year old texter that ran into me". They tried to say something stupid about repairs and I told them literally.... "One more conversation like this and that neck pain I've had since getting whiplash is going to have to be taken care of also at a local hospital with both a CT scan and MRI. Trust me your getting off easy with the boat and motor but you won't when I enter ER". They changed their tune in a hurry. I had a huge check in the mail the next week.

The boat is a mod v so I'm not sure how bad that is for it. My 14 ft was mod v but it was smaller so it worked