Hey Guys,

I just requisitioned a Beavertail Stealth 1200 sneak boat. I am contemplating purchasing a Predator 79cc engine and use it with the Swamp Runner mini LT kit. It would be used on the side mounted transom these boats come with.

I hunt in and around the Delmarva Peninsula – which for those not around this area is a Salt Marsh – and it has some very unforgiving mud. Had a fun time last Sept where I was up to my stomach in the stuff.

My concern is that the little motor won’t power me through the mud when I hit it. I will have a push pole and paddle with me for the small tight areas, but I was hoping to use the mechanical power the majority of the time. There are times that the impounds and tributaries can get very shallow (1-3 inches of water). My buddy has a 14ft Mod-V john boat with a 6.5HP LT setup. It was enough to get through some of the mud.

Thanks for the input.

Be prepared for crap talk on the Thai Longtail.

I have a small Swamp Runner kit. As far as Thai kits go, its the best one out there and Jon Dobbs offers great customer service.

Don't waste you money on the mini kit. Go with a small if you go that route. A stock 6.5 predator pushed my 14x36 12-14 mph with 2 men and a cooler. Modified the motor pretty heavy and could get 17/18 with the same load and almost 30 solo.

You'll be disappointed if you buy the mini and wish you would have got a small. The price difference is negligible.


Be prepared to break a prop. Carry a spare and tools wtih you. Its a easy and cheap fix, the aluminum will just break, but not as easy as some people here will lead you to beleive. Something solid will break it. This motor will push you through shallow water and vegetation just fine. Dont count on it to push you off or through a mud flat from a stop, but with momentum you can get through it.

I would love to go for the 6.5-7HP setup, but I am afraid the boat I bought won't handle it. The Beavertail Sneak boats are all solid plastic, and the manufacturer says not to go above 2.5HP. I assume it is the transom that won't handle the power.

I run the 6.5 on a 10 ft jon boat and it gets it pretty good with just me I got a small battery and a 26 qt cooler I do around 18 mph iam able to run most air boat trails with out any problems and even when I get stuck in the much I uselly can still move

Weight difference between the 3hp and 6.5hp is only 11 pounds. frame might be a few more, so would be less than 20.

I still think that would be the better way to go.

I bought a Stealth transom from SwampRatt mud motors and run a 7 hp mud motor on it. It does fine but the the Stealth hull isn't ideal. The transom that Swampratt builds is heavy and very sturdy.

Good luck