So I'm getting plans for Bateau's honker 15, basically a 15 ft sneakboat style that can be efficiently rowed or use a small OB(designer put max at 1.5 hp but he's super conservative on HP ratings....many people go over his max w/o any issues). I was initially looking at either a johnson seahorse/evinrude mate 1.5-2hp motor. the 1.5 is a rope pull start where the rope actually has to be wound around the flywheel every time...2 hp is a more traditional pull start. Both can be found online for $150-200, and after rebuilding everything I'd be in it for like $300 or less. engines run 25 lbs or less from my understanding. There's no neutral, and reverse is just done by swiveling the motor around. I was thinking about going up to a 3.5 hp 4 stroke but that adds more weight(2x mroe in some cases) and some of them don't disengage the pisser when you swivel it so it would be pissing in the boat in reverse! Its also starting around 3-4x the cost of the old 2 stroke option, depending on how patient I am for a deal. Parts are readily available.

Fast forward through my research to yesterday when I was on the water and ran up on a log on my big boat(14 ft fiberglass, super heavy monster from the 50's) Luckily I was with someone and was able to get off of the log, but made me thinking that a longtail might be better for the area I'm going to be using this boat at. I don't need a "mud motor" per se because there's not too many muddy areas to run outside of sandbars for flounder around here, but there are logs and stumps where I plan on hunting, and being able to motor through lilies when I start setting crawfish traps would also be nice. I've seen the "weedeater mudmotor" kits but it seems cheaply made. I'm not a fabricator. I can rebuild a small engine if needed, and have access to a couple small engines so could source the engine off of one. I'll be paying a friend of mine who's a fabricator to weld up the bracket, etc. I'm wondering what parts go into it. I'm thinking if he gives me a good deal, might be able to get the bracket done for $50, and then would need the prop, throttle, and driveshaft. Do you guys fabricate your own driveshafts or is there a good source for quality kits for small motors at a good price. I want to stay @ $300 or less for the motor and 30 lbs or less, so if this is not feasable, I'm sticking w/ the old 2 stroke OB and will make do, but the benefits of this motor would be great. Total budget for boat including trailer and motor is $1k, and motor/trailer I'm trying to get in @ under 150 lbs total weight. I am looking at a top speed of 5-6 mph. Not looking to fly.

Thoughts?

stick with the outboard, any decent kit is going to be around 500 or more plus engine cost. and at 5-6 mph you're not going to hurt anything on an outboard.

The 6.5hp honda clone engines weight 37ish pounds with no drive frame. That doesnt sound like an option you want.

HF also sells a 3hp Predator weighing 22lbs. You could pair that up with a Mini Swamp Runner and have good results. Total engine would weigh about 50 pounds, be quicker than the outboard, and allow access to more area than the outboard.

Check out their webforum as well for some good information and feed back on the Swamp Runner.

Only negative to this route is the price (in my opinion). The HF engine cost around 80 bucks on sale, and the Swamp Runner is 350. $450 bucks isn't bad though, and might be worth the patience to save.

I have played with this weight /HP question for years,
. The smallest reliable engine out there is the 49 - 52 cc chinese Haushing about 2.5 HP at 12 pound and around $150.00 to $200. It turns 7,000 and needs a gear reducer of some kind and a clutch to make that little motor work with a prop. The other reliable option is the 79 CC harbor freight motor at 22 lbs at about $100. Good luck

Mark F. Cheney

Thank you for the quick replies. I will be sticking with the outboard methinks. Even at 50 that is over 2x the weight of the outboards I'm considering. I know it's not a lot but I'm trying to keep everything as light as possible. I could spring for the predator if I weight wasn't a concern, but I want to be at 140-150 lbs or less for boat and motor together. I was looking at gheenoe forums as well and apparently closet rod push poles are fairly common. I figure I can make one for $20 and be in it for about $200 and 25-28 lbs lighter than the predator option

The predator 6.5 HP motor in a traditional long tail design made out of aluminum with a stainless steel prop weighs 62lbs dry weight.

In a aluminum frame and with the straight, no UJ design like a Back water kit, and the smaller 79 CC harbor freight motor would come in about 45 lbs. There is an excellent forum thread with this build either here or Duckhunting Chat in the last year I believe.

Mark F. Cheney

It sounds like you came in here some what close minded. Even though your goal is to stay as light as possible - 20 pounds more than what you want isn't going to be a make or brake factor.

It also seems like you don't have any type of distance to travel on the water? You should try to find someone local with one of these small long tails to have a look at.

Also...I just looked at Coleman, Tohatsu, Honda, and Mercury 2hp range engines. They all weighed 41 - 52 pounds.

I understand the older 2 stroke thing now, and I missed part of that explanation

I have a GatorTail, a Backwater SWOMP, and I’ve had two Swamp Runners (a 6.5hp and a 22hp)

Even though I'm just some random dude on the internet, I can attest that the Swamp Runner brand is not cheaply made, and is not junk. They don’t get the credit they deserve. The guys who actually have them – typically love them. The people that talk shit on them have likely never had one. Feel free to do your own research on their web forum. http://mudmotorkit.com/forum/ The guy who runs the company has just as good of customer service as any of the “American mud motor companies”

When given the chance, I try to help people understand that these things are a good option - especially for someone on a minimal budget. It is important to go with Swamp Runner though. The other brands are knock offs of what he has. I have no horse in the race or stake in the business.

Don't forget to get plenty of spare props!

I'll give you that you shouldn't leave home without a spare prop and nut. The prop is designed to be the weak link and give before anything else. I haven't broke one personally yet, and have several hundred hours on one. BUT I know they break. Stumps and submerged items will do that to aluminum. However, they do cost 6-12 bucks depending on size!

I have a 26cc 2 stroke weed wacker converted to an outboard. Don't waste your time. I switched to a 79cc harbor freight motor on a swamp runner mini kit for this year. Only tested it but it seems way better. I think it weighs about 50 lbs.

Used both on a 7 foot homemade hybrid duck boat. The swamp runner gets me 5 mph.