Ok guys....need some advice...this is my first mud boat so bear with me.

Bought new this summer Prodigy 1854 MB HDR 44. Motor has about 7 hours on it. Prop still looks good with just a few nicks. Don't run a ton of mud but do run buck brush a lot.

So I built a blind for it...hard side type with conduit. Runs 28 just me.

I added 2 group 27 batteries, about 100 decoys, trolling motor, hunting gear, and 2 guys and dog. It still gets on step but takes it a few seconds. Probably running 24ish maybe a little less.

Yesterday I had the same load but added another guy and took out about 20 decoys. Now I couldn't get on step at all....probably maxed out at 8 - 10 MPH. I worked with the load as much as I could by bringing everyone to the back and then putting a guy up front etc. no help. I limped it around and hunted it but it sucked being such a slow poke.

Here's what I noticed. The back end seemed to just squat and was just plowing...I was driving huge rolling waves behind the boat. What was really odd was I would still get to 4500 RPM's or so....it almost acted like I was spinning my wheels on a vehicle. When I let off the throttle and got to about 1/4 throttle it almost felt like the prop would bite...I'd drop rpms and you could feel it accelerate...but if I gave it gas it would just rev and I wouldn't get the muscle. The prop wasn't coming out of the water or anything. I adjusted trim etc etc. no help.

So whats the deal...did I just find out what the limit of the boat is or is there something wrong with my motor.

I tried calling chad at Prodigy but no answer.

Don't know what hp that motor has, but that sounds like a big load in that boat. U have good speed unloaded. Try cutting load in half just to see what it will run.


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Soundso like prop

It's an aluminum boat with the a lawn mower engine not a cruise liner.


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Should be able to step that load

Prop


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Measure your propeller.

Sounds like you reached a level the motor cannot handle

First check the prop as stated above, also when trying to get it on plane, don't trim to fast. If it starts biting let it work it self on plane, don't add more throttle and blow out the prop. That boat will step a load, you just have to get use to throttle and trim, also when to go all out and when to not.

If your prop is good, then your boat and motor combination cannot step that load. I would look to a new boat and motor combination because it should be able to. Assuming the motor is running right.

Sounds like u need more hp to me not a new boat. If it's not prop or belt slip it just to much weight for your motor. Put cam in it be the next step if it was me, or slight pully change.

A 4400 is stage one right?

I looked it up.
Aren't dud buddy's a timing belt?

How damn loose does that belt have to be to slip? Very thats not it

It's the prop

A stage one should step 1000 pounds in an 1854

If the belt was slipping you'd know it. It makes a pretty nasty grinding sound.

That's a big load for that hull/engine setup.

As mentioned above, your prop could be shot or the boat was simply overloaded.

Put it in the water with just you and see what it does. If it runs normal then you were just overloaded.

II feel you contradicted yourself Craig

Let's itemize this.list.


Blind 150
Dog 70
2 batteries 120
4 guys 800
Gear 100
Decoys 60.


1300 lbs. Maybe be over loaded.


I regularly step in a 1848 with stage 1

4 men 800
2 dogs 130
Gear 100
2 battries 120
70 qt K2 75 ish* depending on the day. It much lighter Sunday

1225 lbs

Like we talked about bro... get those 2 27 series batteries out of the front and push ur weight to the back...........

i have customers running 4 guys w normal load all day long.......

I've got an Excel 1854F86 with a Sport V 55 now. When it was a 44 I had the same issues with big loads. I would just trim the motor down further and trim up while gassing on it until it hits a sweet spot then run 21 or so.

You are experiencing the same problem I have. Different set up and motor but exactly what my boat does when it's really loaded down. Back squats and any water over a foot deep (especially waves) it doesn't get thrust with my Prodrive. Trim all the way up I can only get my prop 3/4 out of the water instead 1/2 like a surface drive should be. Motor turns full Rpms yet but it just isn't biting and getting thrust. I was amazed how bad that murdered my speed dropped from 21mph to 8mph. What I think was going on is the ars of the boat squatting was disturbing water reaching the prop (air mixed in the water) that will kill ur thrust. Only thing I could do is find the sweet spot to balance the boat level more and or lighten the load


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Load placement? ??

I have an 1844 Geaux Custom and could step 4 man hunting hunting load with a BB 4500 and run 24-25 all day long. Sound like the motor is not producing the power it's capable of or the owner is a newby...

He's turning 4500 rpm.


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Just throwing this out there, I changed from a 32"out drive to a 27" out drive and could really tell a difference on my load carrying ability. I LOST quite a bit when I went to the shorter outdrive. Way easier to steer but it's not as far back so it is catching a lot more "dirty" turbulent water than it was before.

I believe you are correct. But if he asked for the 27" that might be part of his problem. Yet another detail he left out lol.

So many variables
Prop slip
Prop wear
Load placement
Water conditions
Hammer the throttle down or slowly let it bite and trim up
Trim up too fast or too slow
Wore the wrong underwear
Valves leaking



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The problem may be only 7 hours on the motor.


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So a 4400 take more than 7 hrs to be running as intented?

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