Guys I'm new to owning a surface drive. I've had Longtails but this is a new beast to me. I bought a 2005 29 vanguard Mud Buddy Hyper Drive from a fella. It's on my 1652 Seaark. It runs really good. No tach yet so I can't give you rpms. The prop is factory he said. It measures 10 inches across. Took it out this morning and got 10 mph tops.
My 1st question is how can I be sure this motor is for a tall transom? He said it was but that's me taking his word. Next question is what can give me more speed? I know moving some weight up front will help but any other suggestions?

Prop is worn out. It should be around 12"

I figured on buying a big blade this week. Hopefully that helps

How many bolts are in the top cover of the belt housing

Then I hate to break it to ya but I believe that is a short transom motor

Yes four bolts is short, six is tall

^^^Agreed. The older motors don't have the same bolt hole numbers as the new ones.

Here's a side view

That looks like a short transom motor on a tall transom boat.

I can't tell.. I'm going to call mb tomorrow. When the motor is trimmed down the shaft/prop is pretty far in the water. It looks like to me the shaft is longer that the near surface drives. But honestly I don't know. It's trimmed all the way up in the pic here

I was lied to then. Guess I need to look into getting the transom cut down or getting a new boat or motor.

I guess this explains a lot of the performance issues too.

Thanks for your help guys

Shouldn't be too hard to find somebody to cut the transom.

Short transom frame someone has installed a 48" long transom out drive to. We built one similar using a 18Hp 2005 MB small block frame, which we modified to a 35 hp BB Van. MB 18 short transom frame came with a 32" outdrive and a threaded prop. We put the 48" long transome outdrive on it to get the prop back in cleaner less aerated water for better bite. Had to change the top belt pully from a 32T to a 36T. It ran great with a BB prop. Does it have the Thompson or Bear electric trim actuator, or the Air cylinder type trim? With the 48" drive on the short transom frame you may have to shime transom to get the right trim angle, to get motor to level out more, so prop doesn't run as deep. You probably need a new prop and should be able to turn a 11x10 BB. Top pulley should be a 34T bottom a 50T.

That sounds complicated. So this is a short transom frame with a tall transom outdrive?

From what I can see in pictures it looks like a moded short transom. It'll work OK if transom is cut down and shim put behind clamp.

If you wana sell it .....


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That looks like the Louisiana special that Mudbuddy made early on. Had a long tail with a short transom.

The 29 should turn the big blade fine. I have a modded 27 that's probably right around 29hp. Turns the BB 4200. I get the same speeds out of the stock 11x10 prop but better mud performance with the bb

That is the original hyperdrive frame and was made from late 03-early 05. That motor only came with 1 size belt box and a short transom model had a 36" drive and a tall transom model came with 48" drive...........that is a 48" drive.

Yes