I've got a 1548 Tracker Grizzly short transom and was wondering what backH20 would be best. Hull is rated for 25hp. i was thinking 23 briggs, 25 kholer and 35 briggs. 23 has pull start, the 25 kholer has more hp with almost the same weight but no pull start and efi I wonder about the reliability? The 35 I wonder if the weight on the transom would be an issue even though my transom seems fairly stout?

Anyone run a similar setup and what speeds you getting?

The 35 would be too much for that boat I believe.

The 23 briggs is a good motor and plenty of performance parts out there for it.

The 25 kohler is a good motor also. Not sure about the efi but I'm sure it would be fine.


Sent from my beeper

The 25 and 27 weigh the same amount so if you want to stay close to the rated hp go with the 27. The 35 however only weighs 30 lbs more than the 27. My 14' crawfish skiff has a 25 gdlt on it now and it sits very level in the water. Even with me and the dog in the back I can come to a dead stop and not take water over the transom. I'll be ordering a 35 swomp soon for the boat soon. It will be temporary until I have an 18' boat built but I think it will be fine.

Waiting on my 35 SWOMP to come in, it will go on a 1648 grizzly, keep us posted on what u go with.

Both the 25/27 Kohler motors are sound and will complement that hull. I am running a 27 HP LT (MB) on a 1648 Grizzly. I get 20 mph by myself; 17 two hunters and gear. It plows a bit but gets the job done. The 23 is fine, the recoil start is a great extra- but if you are thinking of going with a bigger hull in the future, the 35 is the ticket.

Can anyone explain why it says on backh20 web site the 25 is formerly known as the 27 kohler?

My understanding was that it was de-rated which opens it up to all of those boats rated to max. 25hp. same motor.
Go as big as you can the first time...or the second time. Nobody ever says I wish I had purchased a little smaller motor. We buy them smaller than we should have to save a few bucks and wonder about the next size up until we can't stand it start over and spend more money than we would have in the first place and then buy what we should have in the first place. Look at the classifieds if you don't believe me.

Call Backwater and talk it over with them. Really nice folks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the 23 on a tracker topper 1542. It hauls ass because it is a light boat. If I were you I would search hard to see if anyone is running a 35 with the same boat. If you are going to go with a bigger boat in the future get the 35. If you are happy with the size boat, the 27 will be plenty for that boat.

I run a 20hp Honda on a 1548, I wouldn't hesitate to throw a 35 on it. If you move your batteries and gas from the rear to the front, that alone is enough to make up the weight difference.