re: Looking for a surface drive after the season

If you're talking an absolutely stripped down version of surface drive rig (35hp) vs a stripped down xpress w/70 hp outboard then I think it'd be cheaper by as much as $4k to get the surface drive rig.

I get to ponds that I only see kayakers able to get to (they hate it but I can get way farther than them and give them peace and quiet quickly) in an 18x54 gatortrax CC with 35hp Mudbuddy....places I wouldn't try to get to with or without a jack plate outboard.....it's a heavy boat with trolling motor, batteries, poling platform, etc.


Top end is close to 30 and with a full hunt load I will get 25 or so

It's tough to get a "do everything" boat.....now I want a smaller stripped out tiller handle surface drive for running yo-yos by myself and such and just be more nimble in general

Good luck, I love boat shopping and setting up new rigs......about a year after I get them set up I'm ready to sell them and get a new project