went out last night initially to just see how the hull sat in water/ where fuel tank needed placed/if battery needed moved. About the setup, nothing fancy at all just a poor mans 1436 2001 alumacraft rivet, swomp23, 2 x 6 gal fuel tanks, one group 29 batt, one little lawn tractor batt, a 45lb. backpack, and myself. So, about 350lbs, including myself and if i add mtr that's another 155lbs.
1am here i am at the launch, boat isnt sitting horribly low to my surprise. so i figure wth, why not see how she rides since it floats.
now mind you this is my first round with a MM, i smacked the port led nav light at the launch like an idiot, luckily the remaining strip stayed lit up.
the lake i launched on is is about 10.5k + acres and i would NEVER done a maiden run if it was daytime or windy out on such a tiny ass hull but it was calm and no boat traffic.
I had to download a speedometer app and after i was out in narrower water got pegged out at 21mph. she got on plane easily without struggle and throughout the rpms the prop never tried to walk on me, just a very slight pull to the port on the handle.
I did not set the cav plate yet as i just spur of moment decided to test the waterline only after i got the bilge hooked up.
boat did not plow really, i had the backpack (45lbs)on the front deck, 29batt (60lbs) under the deck in front of the middle seat, 6 gallons extra fuel in a stand up jerry just rear of middle seat, 6 gal tank in rear @ transom....
not complaining about speeds at all but after all the reading i fully expected to not have the coconuts enuff the open her wot, i am pretty sure the low speeds are due to cav plate angle, prop was biting a bit deep. and i could probably spend more time on load distribution.
anyways, about 3am i went down a lil path i never been down, thought it was a cut through, ended up being a dead end. 6'+ tall grass on each side and only a lil 4' wide swatch. ok, so i'll push pole myself around.....NOT, the 14' pole i had didn't even think about hitting bottom , *^@%!!
well, this is gonna take a while i think to myself as i begin the slow process of getting outta the mess i was in. i did ok for a newbie took about 10-15 minutes to make a big a$$ turnaround and get back into open water. decided no more playing in the field in a new setup, unfamiliar territory, wild turkey, and where there's about 420 alligators per shoreline mile.
tried the standing up thing, it was ok, not too horrible but i definitely need to make some kind of grab bar.
all in all i ran through 7 gals of fuel, and screwed around for about 6-7 hours and other than wanting a different throttle and more stable boat im happy with it all.

edit* added

Good deal man, you picked the right longtail for sure.. As far as your speed is concerned, I would reccomend going at least one or two pitch sizes bigger. I'm not saying that you shouldn't play with cav plate angles, but on that size boat that 23 has PLENTY of ass to turn a prop that would normally be too much. You have got to mount a grab bar in there, its something super easy that could legitimately save your life. I have been running the same size boat as you for a decade and the mere thought of not having a grab bar freaks me out. You will have to stand up to do anything but drive in a straight line, and in a boat that small, shit can go bad in a hurry. Congrats on the rig, you are going to have a blast with it.

Congrats, drive it like you stole it. The speeds your getting great. Where in Florida are you?


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They are fun! Wear your kill switch lanyard (check to see it works ) and your pfd and have a throwable at your feet. The learning curve is variable for all of us but you must exercise caution. Stu, since you are a pilot you will understand this...my father, a pilot, said the most dangerous time was after you had gotten a few hours flying time and got your confidence, but some get overconfident and that is dangerous. Get the grab bar, learn to stand balanced, and the turns are critical to do right. I had an 18 GD Briggs on my 1436 riveted jon, my first rig, and not much freeboard and I was lucky on several occasions not to sink it, and the 23 weighs a bit more so weight distribution is key, and not to overload that rig.

it is on my list to come up with a grab bar for sure. and yeah i wear the kill cord
Stu, i'm in volusia county by lk monroe/st. johns river.

dammit, i hate to have to reprop this thing already, maybe i can work some kind of deal out w/backwater.if not, then if im gonna spend $$ i might as well call Ron H. up.
i wont be able to take the boat back out for a while, it is in project mode and needs some finishing and trailer needs a bunk up near the bow.
fun for sure but im itchin to get out and do some fishing

went back out to launch w/o any 101 this time.....ok so yeah the bow doesn't plow but my wake is horrible. on the short list is to make a grab bar and begin by moving the tank in front the of the now rear split seat, i am hoping i wont have to move it up front, but i have the access panel already made if i need to. but that will mean i'll need a fuel pump and wire it in.
next step is to see how balance acts with me standing further foward on a grab bar and the tank moved up some.
i have looked, short of calling bkwater, i see NO data pertaining to prop included in the 23 swomp lite. does anyone know the spec? i cannot measure a prop spec.
kinda sucks cause ima itchin to set lines but not wanting to go out in the boat like this until set up a bit better.
i know i need a bit bigger hull but not a immediate option right now.
oh..... quick question, if i have to move my tank up front, anyone got a napa # for the pump???

I have the same motor with a mikuni sucking more fuel than stock , No pump needed. . Just run a longer. 5/16 line from new tank location in front to rear of boat and reinstall at pulse pump location , put a clear filter by motor. . I put my primer bulb inline about where I stand and mainly operate . So I can easily prime without moving .

H Finn

WHOA, sweet, i thought just by guessin that id need a fuel pump if i moved the tank up font, thanks man, i think i have some extra line to extend it, and yeah, keep the prime n filter near mtr right?
edit* 5/16 ID?

ok so i moved the tank to in right in front of the middle seat and i ran the 5/16 fuel line along the ribbing so it has NO sags in it. here is where i put the primer bulb(that is just in front of the rear bench)


and here is the line in the back by the mtr.

Primed the system, cranked her up, and i sat there and watched as all it did was empty the filter and shut off. So what did i do wrong since some of you can run mikunis w/o a inline pump?
any advice on what i could do to hopefully not have to install and rely on a inline?

First, check all connections to make sure they are tight. But, in my experience, 5/16 is too big. My boat is 18' long. Tank under the extended front deck. I'm running a modded 35' with a mikuni and no fuel pump. But I run 1/4 fuel line. I found that the stock pump can't pull the volume of the 5/16" line. Just a thought.


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Once you get your fuel problem figured out cut a piece of hose in half and zip tie to the fuel hose on top of the transom support as a chafing material and any where else needed to prevent future problems!

Send me your email and I will send u pics of a removable grab bar for that boat
ltomczykhome@yahoo.com

sorry for delayed reply..... the line DIA. is fine, i feel like a noob, it seems i had a huge a$$ air bubble in the line. been out a few times and pretty sure i got hosed from a Kangaroo station "down the street from my local ramp" . not sure if im ready to install a separator yet, but i sure am considerin it now.