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Thread: Best Mud Motor

  1. #1
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    Default Best Mud Motor

    What is the best mud motor out these days? Things to consider: Price, Reliability, Function, ETC.
    "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

    "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

  2. #2
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    Surface or long tail?
    Haven’t had one in awhile but most use the same Briggs engines.

  3. #3
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    Price, Reliability and Function = a longtail mud motor.

    No gears, belts, pulleys, sprockets, clutches, etc that WILL all fail at some point and anyone telling you otherwise is lying.
    Listen to your elders. Not because they are always right but because they have more experiences of being wrong.

    "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give" Sir Winston Churchill

  4. #4
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    Number one factor is where you will be using it most. They all have their special niche.
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    I can eat a bowl of alphabet soup and shit out a thought process better than the vast majority of you clemmings.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Goin Coastal View Post
    Number one factor is where you will be using it most. They all have their special niche.
    Quote Originally Posted by cajunwannabe View Post
    Price, Reliability and Function = a longtail mud motor.

    No gears, belts, pulleys, sprockets, clutches, etc that WILL all fail at some point and anyone telling you otherwise is lying.


    This
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  6. #6
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    I like the looks of the surface drive. Those long tails look like they could be cumbersome.


    For sake of conversation, let's just say it will be used in SC only coastal and inland lakes and rivers.

    I know nothing about these things.
    "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

    "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

  7. #7
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    Test one out. I think you'd really prefer an outboard. I know I do and I have a mud motor.
    Listen to your elders. Not because they are always right but because they have more experiences of being wrong.

    "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give" Sir Winston Churchill

  8. #8
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    I’m on my second Prodrive rig and have had minimal issues with it . Whatever you buy , I strongly recommend efi it has been flawless here and out west . Long tails are simple and easy to maintain . Just leave a little earlier to get to the hole.

  9. #9
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    I had a mud buddy long tail that was fine, definitely more refined than a go devil as it had bearings instead of bushings.
    I still think I got there faster and quieter with an outboard and a push pole.

    Having been a previous owner of a mud motor in SC I found it to be more of a novelty than necessity and life was actually easier with an outboard.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by cajunwannabe View Post
    Test one out. I think you'd really prefer an outboard. I know I do and I have a mud motor.
    Quote Originally Posted by SouthernWake View Post
    I had a mud buddy long tail that was fine, definitely more refined than a go devil as it had bearings instead of bushings.
    I still think I got there faster and quieter with an outboard and a push pole.

    Having been a previous owner of a mud motor in SC I found it to be more of a novelty than necessity and life was actually easier with an outboard.
    I’m in this category.

  11. #11
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    This thread is worthless without a nab/ trashduck innernet fight

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by cajunwannabe View Post
    Test one out. I think you'd really prefer an outboard. I know I do and I have a mud motor.
    Quote Originally Posted by SouthernWake View Post
    I had a mud buddy long tail that was fine, definitely more refined than a go devil as it had bearings instead of bushings.
    I still think I got there faster and quieter with an outboard and a push pole.

    Having been a previous owner of a mud motor in SC I found it to be more of a novelty than necessity and life was actually easier with an outboard.
    Lot of truth here imo. My limited experience with surface drives has confirmed that I prefer an outboard. The way it goes in gear, speed, noise, lawnmower engine lifespan, setting decoys without reverse.

    An outboard has not hindered my access of any body of water

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sportin' Woodies View Post
    This thread is worthless without a nab/ trashduck innernet fight
    Those were the days
    "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
    I am haunted by waters" Norman Maclean.

  14. #14
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    Had a long tail on a different boat. It was a must for the area I was in. I used to try taking it fishing on bigger lakes.. worst experience.
    A surface drive rooster tail looks kinda cool when you’re cruising down the river but.. I’ve been fishing with an outboard in lots of shallow water areas just fine. A buddy does have one that we use to jump beaver dams and get over some thick crap. All depends on where your at. I don’t think anyone can really answer this.

    I prefer the outboard to get the best combo of everything I need now. Just depends on your area. If the boat is 80% timber and 20% fishing then maybe mud motor is for you.

  15. #15
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    Also keep in mind that it won’t get you through most coastal mud flats much further than momentum will carry you.

    You would be surprised what you can run in with an outboard up high on a jack plate.

  16. #16
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    I'll be that guy. I've running an outboard in the tidal marshes for about a decade. I've finally had enough. Duck hunting was pissing me off more than it was enjoyable because of issues getting where I needed to be with an outboard. I've known people with surface drives for a long time. They get where I want to go with ease. I finally was able to afford one and got a gator tail... With reverse. No regrets.

    Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
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  17. #17
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    It really depends on what you are doing. I have had a go devil sd that was a rock solid motor but it no good driving through tight quarters with any sort of current. Can't even imagine how bad a long tail would be. That go devil got me a lot of places I may not have gotten to otherwise, but it also got me more stuck than I may have gotten otherwise a couple of times. Just keep in mind that you will put the mud motor through hell, most likely, and the more moving parts it has the more likely they are to break. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

  18. #18
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    Gator Tail.

    Close thread.

  19. #19
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    get one of them fancy outboard style mud motors with the radiator in the boat, best of both worlds. Then give of an honest review on it

  20. #20
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    I've had a Mud Buddy (non HDR) and now have a GatorTail (non XD). I like the controls of the Mud Buddy, but overall I like the GT. Can't speak for the new GT but the trim at the throttle has to be nice and I think they offer a twist grip throttle as an option.

    Are you mainly wanting a tinder boat to get to more places and hunt from the aquapod? A longtail would do fine for the coastal marsh. It will give you more leverage in the thick, and is cheaper, but it doesn't have neutral and doesn't turn as easily. I would suggest trying them all out if you know people with them.

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