Been watching vids an reading bout these mud motors thinking bout purchasing one but always have ran tiller handle outboard just wondering could u drive one wide open through a winding boat trail talking just wider than the boat to me just seems like need lots of room to turn them or your leaning way over to make it turn sharp just curious haven't rode or driven one an you guys are all about em so fig I ask

I cant speak for anyone but myself here....my 1648 and 31 GT manuvers just as good as any outboard I've ever driven. I can turn it around on a dime (just above idle) in a narrow canal and never touch either bank (doubt you'll do that with an outboard). If you're running a narrow, snaky boat ditch wide ass open, regardless of the type of boat, you're taking your health into your own hands, IMHO, and I'll guarantee you're gonna be needing a winch before long. Mud motors/boats, because they're right on top will not bite like an outboard skeg sticking down in the water, and will tend to want to butt slide in the direction of your turn, much like an airboat/sprint car in a turn. If you're not careful it will come completely around on you. If you know how to drive it, and dont over power it in the turns, it'll surpass an outboard's manuverability.

You need to learn how to use a period before you can drive a boat. Lol

I don't necessarily agree with the last part of that statement.... I happen to know a fella with a round chine GD boat and a GDSD (balanced, not weighted back) who had to reinforce his passenger seating because he kept throwing people out of the seat in turns.... If that doesn't fall into the category of "turns good" I don't know what would satisfy it. I have personally been in the boat and it will turn as good as anything on the water with a competent operator. I don't know why the motor being weighted or balanced would have anything at all to do with the ability to make a turn.

Comparing driving an outboard to driving a SD is like....

Comparing snow skiing to water skiing - different tactics are in play....

Also a certain motor or a particular hull design are not as important
as a "matched" package....

I run such a "matched" GD 1844 hull with GD GDSD and can easily
run a twisting trail no wider than my hull - yes from time to time
a good bit of effort is required if running wide open but at no time
driving any design or brand of MM have I seen anyone have to
hang over the sides when driving... I have seen a few run up on
the bank or T bone a tree attempting to keep up with me though -

I dare say most brands can through extensive research build a
good "matched" hull and SD but tossing together random combos
can give random results.

Turning is over rated I bought a tank to go over and through mostly because unless I've got Someone else in the boat it don't like to go left lol

But seriously i run just fine up and down the rivers the boat makes the difference but the motor IMO runs just about like an outboard when I'm running deep I sit and drives like all my tillers

Thanks for all the replies even the smart ass one period I have been looking into the mud buddy with the gears instead of belt period I also like that the handle is in the middle not off to the side period now the boat not sure bout have buddies with different ones was thinking prodigy period

I'm assuming you're referring to the Sport V?? If so, steer clear. There have been a handful without issues but I think the general consensus is that they were rushed to the market and have a list of issues...

Damn hate hear that . Really thought they had something there and is sport v only one built like that or can u get the 55 Black Death . In pictures an vids seems to be only one built like that

Look up Boss motors. They use a horizontal engine but Mud Buddy has supposedly sold the design to Boss. It's a gear driven lower unit (similar or the same as the V)

Plenty of folks running around with hundreds of hours on a belt... Three of the biggest mud motor manufacturers wouldn't use them if they felt a motors reliability was compromised by being belt driven. I know mine has taken some serious licks in the timber that I figured would have broken something but it kept right on going.

Also look at ProDrive if you like gear driven. Much simpler than the Boss or the MB V. If I ever change from a GoDevil, it will be to a ProDrive.