re: Looking for a surface drive after the season

IMO you are better off buying an outboard and if you really need it buying a long tail to put on it. The only real advantage I've seen a surface drive has over a long tail is speed in open water but with a full hunt load most stock motors are looking at 25-30 TOPS. If you hunt in timber a long tail is far superior because it gives you leverage to get over logs at low speeds.

I usually hunt out of a 16' semi-v bateau with a 50, if we run up on a sandbar when it's dark or foggy it's usually got enough water to be able to walk it back out to the channel.

Most people are unhappy with the speed of a surface drive and it costs you close to a grand for every MPH increase. It's just a lawnmower engine and they do break, so you can either be slow and reliable or spend a pile of money to get it around outboard speed but could very well get stranded when (not if) you break something.

As far as boats go I don't know who a custom builder is best, but based on my research you get the most bang for your buck versus buying an xpress, excell, or war eagle, plus you can go with 3/16" versus 10 gauge and still come out cheaper.