Help me decide, please. Been running 25 and now a 27 LT for years and they work good enough on my 1648 less than ideal grizzly. I am selling my 27 and want a new swomp. I've decided against a bigger motor, the 35, because I don't really need the speed, as it is usually just me alone, and it is significantly more $ and heavier...logic tells me to go with the 26.5 motor, but will I really lose much if I go with the 23? I like the recoil start option and the Briggs has been reported as reliable as the Kohler, and I will save a few hundred bucks. Are both the 23/26.5 motors EFI? They are not listed as such on the BackH20 site, but some have said here they are? Though I'd entertained the notion of going bigger (1848) there really is no need and the costs are prohibitive for a new hull but I do have the real need for a newer motor and I ain't getting younger.

Glades, I believe I would give Jake or Arlon a call they will give you a honest opinion on how each motor would perform on your boat. As far as EFI on them I am not sure. I wouldn't think the speed difference between the motors couldn't be much not sure on the torque. The 37 swomp is my first mud motor I wouldn't change a thing. Awesome customer service I called them alot on adjusting my cavitation plate. I had to take the 2 shims break them in half and stack them on top of one another. problem solved runs great.

Thanks, I will call them. I can see the need for the 37 on your big hull, and the usual argument for more HP is usually right except I don't need speed and don't carry big loads or travel too far, just want more user-friendly comfort and I am thinking the 23 might be just enough. I remember when I could heft a 25 by myself onto the transom, not any more, got someone looking at my 27 today and hoping to sell it.

I am 6' 4". No complaints on the test drive of a 35 swomp, and it was about the same as my MB 27 which I just sold. The buyer got a good deal and I now have a down payment! My only criticism was the spring-loaded throttle lever- I am old school and want the friction lever "set it and forget it" type. All right, so I will stick with the 26.5 then, feel like I am getting cheated 0.5 HP because my MB was a full 27 HP, or is it all make-believe? The upside is that the motor, according to the website, is EFI, and judging from all the past year's reports, the EFI is so far reliable.

EFI is f in awesome, I was skeptical at first and even a little paranoid for the first 12-15 hours. 27 EFI would be jam up, I have two of the Kohler carb motors (ch680/23) and they have literally thousands of hours with zero problems. One I had to reset a pushrod, but other than that it's awesome. I have a Briggs on my go devil, but in my opinion a Kohler is a better motor, people rave about Briggs because the mods are far more plentiful and the parts are cheaper. Enjoy the new motor whatever you get. By the way I run a 37 surface drive on my 16x48, I used to be like you. Oh the 23 is plenty it's light, yada yada yada. But man the torque and ass it now has in the mud is night and day from the small block.


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37EFI Longtail, hands down....

Just musing about the extra $500 to go for the 35 instead of the 26.5. The 37 EFI is just too rich right now, how much better push will it really have over the 35? Final question is if the 35 will be obsolete or will it also become EFI? Kohlers have been very good to me as well!

Coming from someone who started with a 23 then jumped to the 35, I will tell you to get the biggest motor you can afford. You absolutely will not regret it.

All right, Frank, you've got me leaning to the 35 swomp again, wish it were EFI! (the 37 EFI is about 1K$ more than the 26.5!)! Your 1648 WE is similar to my 1648 grizzly, where do you have the mid-bolt set at- the forward, middle, or back hole? How much shimmying did you have to do on the cavitation plate? I think you stated it before, but honestly, how much harder do you find the 35 versus the 23 (don't know if you drove the 26.5?)? With my 27 (just sold it) at 185# there was virtually no squat in the back- with the extra 40# of the 35 (or 37) I don't think it would be a major impact, I usually drive alone, I have already located the battery up front and can offset other cargo farther front if needed. Good thing also my left arm is sound, not so with my right. I am keeping my weight down to 205#, just add more ice to my cooler. So hell, should I just say dang it all and get the 35??

You wont regret it , I'm torn between staying here with a perfect little combo , or upgrade all around to a bigger hull and big block.

H Finn

I know it will be a Backwater! I can't to a smaller hull, and a new larger hull is out of the question, so a new motor is a better investment.

Honestly zero difference in driving the 23 and 35. I have mine in the middle mounting hole and did not have to adjust the cavitation plate at all.

You're overthinking it.... Get the 37, and enjoy. The low-mid range power stock for stock is considerable. I've never driven one on a BW frame but speaking about the powerhead alone, it's worth the $500 upgrade all day every day and twice on Sunday. Save your buffalo nickles and go get one. No drama starting cold, no loading up when hot, slower, more manageable idle speed would also be a big plus on a Longtail, I know it is on my direct driven GoDevil Surface Drive. It makes docking, loading, and idling around doing whatever you do while idling so much easier. Mine turns 725 RPM when hot. I see no downside if you want a stock motor.

Have to find an extra $1K around...does the EFI equipped motors have a fuel return line to the gas tank? I was reading about this, I know that the 29 HP Kawasaki that MB used for a while did require a return line to the tank. Budget constraints are restricting me to the 25.6 EFI...dang

Get the 23

Good to hear that, Frank. And good to hear both the 26.5/37 EFI don't require special tanks. When that time comes later this year, I will test drive and make the decision. If the 35 was EFI for the present price that would be it.