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Message
Am I looking at too big of a boat?
Posted on 2/27/18 at 2:18 pm
Posted on 2/27/18 at 2:18 pm
Anybody every run a 25hp surface drive or long tail on a 17x50 .125 flat bottom aluminum? How much better would a surface drive push the boat than a long tail?
Here is what I'm trying to do.
Looking to sell a 15 yr old 18' CC fiberglass tunnel hull with 150 hp outboard to get aluminum flat bottom for the purpose of duck hunting and fishing coastal marsh and the bay when conditions permit. I will have interchangeable motors which will be a new four stroke tiller in the 40-60 hp range on a jack plate and an air-cooled motor.
The biggest challenge for me right now is a few refuges in my area having 25hp max restrictions. I want to use a long tail or surface drive in these areas as I'll be trying to get back into some skinny marsh ponds.
I like the Gator Trax 17x50 with modified rake rigged out with catwalks for storage of guns and rods and some removable decking. The boat will be a blind and will hunt and fish 2-3 avg size dudes. I'm just concerned with marsh performance in this boat with a 25hp air-cooled. I realize I won't have a lot of top-end speed, but what about shallow water performance for getting in and out of shallow muddy areas?
Outside of hunting season I'll most likely use the outboard so its really coming down to hunting these refuges. A Gator Tail or Mud Buddy 25hp surface drive is around $7-8 grand whereas a long tail could come in around $2 grand.
Am I trying to do too much with this thing and should I downsize it?
Here is what I'm trying to do.
Looking to sell a 15 yr old 18' CC fiberglass tunnel hull with 150 hp outboard to get aluminum flat bottom for the purpose of duck hunting and fishing coastal marsh and the bay when conditions permit. I will have interchangeable motors which will be a new four stroke tiller in the 40-60 hp range on a jack plate and an air-cooled motor.
The biggest challenge for me right now is a few refuges in my area having 25hp max restrictions. I want to use a long tail or surface drive in these areas as I'll be trying to get back into some skinny marsh ponds.
I like the Gator Trax 17x50 with modified rake rigged out with catwalks for storage of guns and rods and some removable decking. The boat will be a blind and will hunt and fish 2-3 avg size dudes. I'm just concerned with marsh performance in this boat with a 25hp air-cooled. I realize I won't have a lot of top-end speed, but what about shallow water performance for getting in and out of shallow muddy areas?
Outside of hunting season I'll most likely use the outboard so its really coming down to hunting these refuges. A Gator Tail or Mud Buddy 25hp surface drive is around $7-8 grand whereas a long tail could come in around $2 grand.
Am I trying to do too much with this thing and should I downsize it?
6
Posted on 2/27/18 at 3:20 pm to cheezag03
In my limited experience, long tails SUCK if you need to back up. My nephew had a long tail 25 and got rid of it for a GTR. He said he was tired of fighting the long tail the whole trip.
Posted on 2/27/18 at 3:32 pm to cheezag03
I've never had too big of a boat.
A long tail will get you through more shite but will be slower and will work you harder. I'd get that boat and a 25 surface drive. You'll probably use the outboard more anyway. If youre worried about a 25 surface drive being slow definitely dont get a long tail.
A long tail will get you through more shite but will be slower and will work you harder. I'd get that boat and a 25 surface drive. You'll probably use the outboard more anyway. If youre worried about a 25 surface drive being slow definitely dont get a long tail.
Posted on 2/27/18 at 3:53 pm to cheezag03
You're gonna get that boat stuck in skinny marsh ponds with a 25 HP GTR. I have an 18 X 48 with a 37 HP GTR and I'm getting stuck way more than I care. I've always gotten out, but it hasn't always been fun.
Posted on 2/27/18 at 5:56 pm to cheezag03
You're going to be severely disappointed with the 25 hp surface drive on that rig. It will be a slow boat t o China
Posted on 2/27/18 at 6:50 pm to cheezag03
I have a 13HP longtail on my 14ft flat (not a mud boat, has Ribs on bottom) and I’ve never gotten stuck. I’ve literally gotten into zero water, thick mud with my boat and always gotten out. One thing I like about the longtail is you can use it to “pry” your boat side to side, to break the “suction cup” effect that mud has on the bottom of the boat... I get about 16mph with 3 people and all my gear, in open water. It’s definitely slow but I don’t think you’ll get stuck if you pick the longtail, whereas I could see the surface drive getting stuck. Also longtail is cheaper.
But it is a pain in the arse to run and will tire your entire body out and it’s much easier to get knocked off the boat.
But it is a pain in the arse to run and will tire your entire body out and it’s much easier to get knocked off the boat.
Posted on 2/27/18 at 8:49 pm to cheezag03
Not enough motor, will be a turd. Catwalks, and stuff like that add weight. Weight kills speed on these rigs. Get a bare bones empty 16x48 or 17x48. Heck Gator Trax (which you like) in like 16, 17 or 18 x 44 with a 25 would suffice. I run a 37 on a 16x48. I started with the 23, it's night and day how much more power the big blocks have, refuge rules obviously prevent you from going big.
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