Wondering who you guys think makes the best long tail 13-23hp range and why you think so.

Nice, thanks for the replies

Take that BS off your cav plate. My MB never had that. I'd assume that's where you're losing speed. Take that off and tweak the actual trailing edge of the cav plate... I made a tool out of two pieces of angle iron and two bolts I used to bend mine. It clamped on the edge and I bent it with that on. It gave me a nice even brake in the metal. Worked very well and only took a couple minutes to make an adjustment. You want to be able to look down at the cav plate while you're running and see it under the surface. Only an inch or two.

Booner, in that HP range, I'd go with the 23, regardless of the mfg. That motor can power most hulls 14-16' long, it has recoil start along w/electric (unless there have been changes), it is light but delivers good torque and speed, and there are plenty of mods if you want to go that route (though I don't suggest that). GD was the first toy on the block- still sound and reliable and I have been told they improved their seal/bearing design- mine used to leak grease like a sieve, my motto was "have grease gun, will travel". MB came along and further refined the design- my 2004 was flawless until this past year but eventually you have to replace bearings/shaft/etc. The trailing edge "trim tab" works fine, I have only adjusted it when I have changed props.
BackH20 is the latest and greatest, according to most users/reviewers here, and from my intel it does indeed, merit that rating.

It was two fairly heavy pieces of angle iron, probably 1.5"X1.5"x3/16" and was a couple inches longer than the cav plate was wide. Drilled holes thru both pieces big enough for some good 1/2" bolts. Put it on your cav plate where you want it bent, clamp it down nice and tight and use a big crescent wrench over both pieces of angle and the cav plate together (all 3 layers) and bend it like you want. Gives you a nice clean edge and is consistent from side to side. I don't have any pics of it but I made it out of scraps laying around the shop. It could be done with some plate too I would imagine. I used 1/2" bolts to clamp it real tight so it wouldn't walk around while I tried to bend it. I used an 18" crescent to bend it. Could use a pipe wrench too Id imagine.

Another vote for Backwater. Burly frame, very low grease usage, revo-clean drive shaft, adjustable cav plate, very low vibration, easy to steer/drive, great customer service. In a nut shell, those are the factors that they beat the competition in.

Go devil takes the cake with long tails

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Ran a 24 hp mb for 18 years, sold it, it's still running with its third owner 4 years later. Gd with as many years on them having no issues. Backwater makes what seems to be equally as good a motor. Pick one. They all use the same engines, and each has some differences but all will do the job well.

Kc, pull that damn plate off or take a crescent wrench and get it bent right. I've never seen one of those in use, and ours never needed it to run right.

Backwater hands down. ive driven MB. Beavertail, cheap SPS, and no matter who made it, or how much it cost i cant find any company that makes a better, tougher LT than backwater.

Drive em all,"if you can" then decide. I've run my Backwater through plenty of thick veggies, sawgrass, and mud floats and it does just fine.


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I don't get how they can perform all that different on design. It's all gotta be in the prop. I went through some shit the other day with my 25 GDLT a lot easier than my buddy did with his swomp 23. I had a 9x5 wheel with heavy cup and he was running 9x6 backwater prop. He was walking off on me in open water though.


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Godevil has the best tiller handle design. Seriously


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hell any weekend is good. first this weekend, until the following weeknd ill luckily be booze cruisin in the Caribbean for a week. after that ill be for sure ready to get back in the swamp

Back H20 for me