Beavertail/Gator-Tail VS. Hyperdrive
Facts and Deception
The consumers Right to Know page
The Short Tail
False Claim: The Hyper is a unique mud buddy creation. It was designed, engineered, tested and was the first short tail mud motor offered to the American public.
The Hyper was invented 5 years ago. I would like you to read a quote from the Mud Buddy web site dated 5/21/2004. I quote "Last year, a bright and innovative new company released a new backwater design that was a combination of outboard and mud motor, quickly caught the attention of the sportsman and caught the attention of Mud Buddy and their designers."
Now, in a minute I will explain the truth about short tails. I would just like to know, did Mud Buddy invent this motor 5 years ago or last year? I think the next paragraph will make it very obvious. Also, we will take a minute to discuss the deceptive issue of the Patented Hyper drive.
The Truth: The short tail was the invention of mechanical engineer Kyle Broussard of Lauraville, LA. The Gator-Tail belt driven surface drive was engineered, designed 4 years ago as a University of LA engineering project. This motor was then put through extensive testing for 3 years in the most inhospitable environment I have ever seen, the salt-water swamps of south LA. Kyle was the first one to bring the motor to the American public. This is well documented. At last years Louisiana Sportsman show Kyle and his new invention where on display and for sale to the general public. At this show the owner of Mud Buddy Mfg, Glen Foreman got his first glimpse of a Gator-Tail surface drive motor using gear reduction and belt driven. Look at the quote from the above paragraph.
The Gator-Tail is in the patent pending stage. Now, you may have noticed that in the past Mud Buddy has been reprimanded for falsely advertising his equipment as patented, when in fact it was in the patent pending stage. This fact is well documented. That activity was and still is a federal offense. What are patented are the seals and the bearing housing. The belt driven surface drive from MB is not patented, even though it says it on the back of the frame in bold letters. It should be clearly stated that it is a surface drive with patented seals and bearing housing. This deceptive practice is just the tip of the ice burg. You will see this pattern of deception continue through this entire page. Why is this done? We will answer that later.
Better Performance
False Claim: The Hyper is faster and easier to run than other mud motors. The hyper 23 HP runs with our competitions 27hp.
The Truth: The Gator-Tail 27hp Kohler is exclusive to Beavertail Mfg only. The motor has never been run by anybody in the Mud Buddy organization. Also, the Gator 27 has reached speeds of over 28MPH on a GPS with a 17' all welded Beavertail Custom Jon. I personally went down and visited the Boat Doctor in LA. For those of you who don't know, he was the first dealer in LA to have a Hyper. I asked him the top speed reached with a 29 Kawasaki Hyper on a 17' gator trax boat. His answer, I quote "I ran a maximum speed of 26.3 mph on a GPS." Now, who's kidding who when Mud Buddy claims there 23 will outrun our 27. I suggest Mud Buddy better tell his best dealers about his false findings, because they will need to get in on the deception also if it is going to be effective.
Let's talk about ease of running. The Gator has a 2' shaft and does not put leverage onto the driver like longer shafts do. Now you don't have to be an engineer to figure out that the shorter the shaft the easier the motor turns. So the MB claim of having the easiest steering and fastest motor is another deceptive half-truth.
Drive Length
False Claim: Overall our 3' drive is the most effective short tail drive available.
The Truth: The Gator-Tail when originally developed by Kyle B. used a 3' shaft and after years of running he has found absolutely no benefits to the longer drive shaft.
In fact, the longer drive shaft simply put more stress, leverage and fatigue onto the driver with no added benefit in the mud. As a matter of fact the Gator-Tail reached better top end speeds than the 3' shaft that was tested. Once again we end up with the same conclusion, a false and unsubstantiated claim by the Mud Buddy organization.
Power Trim and Tilt
False Claim: The Hyper power trim and tilt is standard on all models. The larger models get electric T&T and the smaller motors have a hydraulic assist T&T. It is the fastest electric tilt and trim available. Now, which one is it? Power trim is standard on all or some get hydraulic assist? I guess power trim is the same as hydraulic assist at Mud Buddy.
The Truth: The Gator-Tail uses power trim and tilt on all models available. Not hydraulic assist, true power trim. The real difference lies in the design of the trim and tilt. The Gator has strategically placed the power trim actuator under the engine. This keeps it protected and out of the mud and water. This is not the case with the competitions; the MB actuator runs vertical and is more susceptible to the mud and water, unnecessarily exposing it to the elements. As far as the Mud Buddy claim about the speed of the actuator being the fastest trim and tilt. This also is a False. We us electric actuators from the same trim tab company, Lenco. There is no difference. Only, that the Gator-Tails trim and tilt comes standard on all motors.
Floating Handle
Claim: This feature was introduced by Mud Buddy, with a long list of firsts in the short tail world. Even the word Floating Handle is a trademark of Mud Buddy.
The Truth: The floating handle was invented originally by Gator-Tail, years ago. Every single one of Kyle's motor has had and will continue to have a floating handle this is no secret. When Kyle invented the Gator-Tail he thought out everything. This was one of the first things he addressed. Kyle called it a break away handle. So when you run a Gator-Tail with the floating handle, it will allow you to stand and operate the motor and match your height comfortably. This is if you choose to stand and operate the motor. I would recommend sitting its makes the ride a breeze and with the 2' shaft there is no stress or strain on the operator. So Mud Buddy was not the first to invent the floating handle. MB saw the Gator-Tail with a floating handle at the LA Sportsman show. As a matter of fact Mud Buddy read through Gator-Tails literature at the show. After reviewing the literature and being impressed with the term Quick Trim, Glen Foreman ran back to Utah and trademarked it. Kyle B, of Gator-Tail to explain the trim and tilt system on his motor, used the term Quick Trim. This is also well documented. What MB did was legal, just not very ethical business. We shouldn't be surprised.
Neutral-Simple and Effective
False Claim: Hyper drive does not require neutral, additional moving parts, its limited warranty, or its added cost. Most short tail drive failures with clutch resulted when the drive was engaged while up against a rock, log, or the bottom. Yes we have driven other motors with neutral and do think it has a function, but the Hyper frankly is different and doesn't need it. "Boy is this a myth of gargantuan proportion!!"
The Truth: First of all, the reason the Mud Buddy doesn't have a neutral is because the motor was rushed to the market without proper testing in the field. The result is that the motor's lower unit is cast out of aluminum and once a mold is made it cannot be changed without heavy financial costs. This is why there is no neutral; the electric clutch does not fit into his cast housing. Mark my word, the Hyper will have neutral in the future. However, he has to pay for his mold this year but will come out with neutral in the near future.
If you have never run a Gator-Tail with the electric clutch you are missing it. I have spoken with customers that have taken a Hyper for a drive and then the Gator-Tail with the neutral. The faces light up when they use the neutral. We won't ask you to hold your motor out of the water or shut it off when putting decoys out, loading the boat, warming the motor up, and loading onto the trailer not to mention the safety factor. The motor is only engaged when you the operator are ready. This should be standard on all long shafts as well.
Oh, and by the way, there has never been a failure on a Gator-Tail clutch due to being engaged while up against a rock, log, or the bottom. So be careful what you read about the neutral and forward electric clutch. As you can see the deception continues.
Aluminum Frame
False Claim: Mud Buddy offers the only manufactured cast aluminum short tail frame in the industry. It is stronger and is completely sealed, easy to disassemble.
The Truth: The Pro-Drive was the first and is still making cast aluminum short tail frames. The Gator-Tail frame is the only all aluminum and stainless steel frame completely CNC machined. The computerized accuracy of the CNC machining station leaves you with parts that are unsurpassed in quality and tolerances, making for the best fit and finish and the most durable machine ever invented. As far as the strength of the frame is concerned, let me ask you something; "Do you think there is more stress on a 3' shaft or a 2' shaft?" Our 2 ' short tail has more bracing than the Hyper. It's no secret that the longer shaft will fail sooner under the same conditions it just plain physics. So is it really stronger? I bet not.
Finish
False Claim: The Hyper is the only short tail with a two-part marine powder coat finish for max corrosion resistance. We etch the aluminum, apply a rich Zinc undercoat and then bake the parts twice.
The Truth: Fisher Beavertail is the only mud motor company to sand blast their frames for the ultimate powder coat adhesion. Also, it is well documented that Fisher Beavertail was the first to use a Zinc Rich undercoat primer on their frames. For Mud Buddy to make claims that they are the only company to use this process is deceiving and completely false.
Tiger Propeller
Claim: The Hyper propeller is a true surface running blade. Our proprietary stainless blade design is stronger and has excellent low and high-speed performance.
The Truth: The tiger prop was invented by a fellow name Glen at Hopkins Propeller in LA. There is no special stainless steel in it. It is not stronger than any other prop. As a matter of fact you can buy the same tiger prop from Hopkins Propeller. It's not a magical piece of steel because it has stripes on it. Come on folks. What we have done with the Gator-Tail is gone to a good friend of ours named Randy Pierson. He is the owner of GP International. He is a retired Formula One race boat driver and was the best in the world in his field. He is the man we use to develop the Gator-Tail true surface drive prop. Kyle Broussard has been clocked on a GPS at over 34 mph with a 31 Vanguard. As far as we know, no short tail of that HP has ever ran that fast. This is all due to the expertise of GPI and their gang of high performance racers. They have volunteered there time to help us continue to build even a faster prop that we will make available to all short shaft owners. We are just getting started. If you want to see Randy and the gang at GPI on TV look for him in the upcoming Discovery series Monster Nation. By the way, Fisher Beavertail was also chosen for the Discovery show Monster nation. The filming is complete and will be airing in late Nov. You adrenaline junkies out there won't want to miss it.
Price and Warranty
False Claim: The Hyper is less expensive than its competition. As a matter of fact, hundreds less, and with more standard features. Plus you get a better warranty.
The Truth: I would like to have someone explain to me how you can have more standard features on a motor, when all hypers don't come standard with power trim and tilt, electric clutch, and neutral. The Gator-Tail comes standard with all those things. So how does he get more standard features someone tell me? Plus, the Gator has a lifetime warranty on the bearings. Unless something has changed at MB he has a limited lifetime warranty on his bearings. So how is his warranty better? At Beavertail our equipment doesn't fail nor does our warranty and dedication to our customers.
Reputation
Claims: At Mud Buddy we are the official product of seven waterfowl associations, are a licensed DU product. We have long-term partners with the duck commander and the duck hunting websites and forums.
The Truth: Let's talk straight about reputation. You can buy your way to look like whatever you want. People are greedy, its human nature and if you offer them money they will say whatever somebody wants them to say. I am going to make this very clear. At Fisher Beavertail we do not pay DU, waterfowl associations, champion duck callers, duck commander, duck hunting websites or any other organizations in our industry to say that our equipment is good. It is a bias opinion and claims are stated because of the money someone has paid them. Not because they have the best product. All of us at Fisher Beavertail support Delta, DU, MN, WI, MI and a endless list of other duck hunting associations through our donations to there chapter dinners and advertising. We do not pay someone to say our products work and the reality is we don't have to. The longevity of our company and the quality of all of our products speak for themselves.
Beavertail has sat back and watched the false propaganda spread on the Internet websites and the forums for long enough. It is a shame that one has to force a competitor to tell the whole truth. But that's the world we live in. People do things for their own personal greed and its time they stop. I know alot of you out there are on the forums and you are not involved with Beavertail, Gator tail, Pro-Drive or Go-devil. But you may own some of there equipment. When you folks go on the forums you should be able to speak your mind freely with out being threatened with a law suit by the Mud Buddy organization for using you right to free speech. If you have something to say on the forums that you think will help a fellow hunter than say it. Do not be intimidated by these people.
Service
False insinuation: Mud Buddy does not rely on factory direct sales and wouldn't ask their customers to drive countless hours and hundreds of miles to test drive and service there motors.
Truth: The real truth to this statement is this. Beavertail has over 100 dealers from Alaska to Florida, Maryland to California. We have access to 1000's of Kohler, Honda and Briggs authorized service centers. However there are millions of acres of land that is not covered by our dealers. That is where we step in. We will accommodate any customer anywhere in the United States and Canada. So you don't have to worry if there is not a dealer around you. Beavertail will take care of you and ship anything you order to your front door with no hassles. Maybe Mud Buddy should stop and think why people drive 100's and even 1000's of miles to purchase equipment from us at the factory. It's because they love to come and see us and when there are treated with the utmost respect they can't wait to come back and see us again. We are proud of the fact that people will drive half way across the country to come visit us. That speaks volumes about organization.
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