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Started By
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Pro Drive vs. Gator Tail vs. Mudboat with inboard engine
Posted on 12/20/11 at 9:28 am
Posted on 12/20/11 at 9:28 am
Looking at boats for duck hunting and fishing and would like OB opinion on these. I have seen many surface drives for sale on the LA sportsman and those things sure aren't cheap.
So far this is what I have read or heard about each:
Pro Drive/Gator Tail
Pros: Great in shallow water/mud, gives you lot of room in Hull
Cons: Get stuck in thick lillies from riding on top and prop coming out of water, not much power in reverse, awkward steering while going full speed, expensive
Mudboat
Pros: Better with lillies, good power in reverse, steering better at full speed, cheaper
Cons: less room in boat, can't go in as shallow water as surface drives
Anybody want to add to this list?
Also, what's the major differences between Pro Drive and Gator Tails? Any other companies make these surface drives that I should look at? (not looking for go-devil type with long shaft)
So far this is what I have read or heard about each:
Pro Drive/Gator Tail
Pros: Great in shallow water/mud, gives you lot of room in Hull
Cons: Get stuck in thick lillies from riding on top and prop coming out of water, not much power in reverse, awkward steering while going full speed, expensive
Mudboat
Pros: Better with lillies, good power in reverse, steering better at full speed, cheaper
Cons: less room in boat, can't go in as shallow water as surface drives
Anybody want to add to this list?
Also, what's the major differences between Pro Drive and Gator Tails? Any other companies make these surface drives that I should look at? (not looking for go-devil type with long shaft)
7
Posted on 12/20/11 at 9:51 am to crazytigerfan69
I would add that when comparing equal hp the surface drive is much faster than the mudboat. Now if the mudboat has a Subaru engine that's a different story.
I've owned both an inboard type Mudboat and a Mudbuddy surface drive on a Gator Trax boat. I would prefer the surface drive over the mudboat because of the room in the boat. Much better setup for gear, fishing, etc.
Having said that there is NOTHING a mudboat won't go through in soft bottom marsh. Got a little nervous several times with the surface drive but never once with the mudboat...with a 2:1 gear ratio in reverse it will back up through anything
I've owned both an inboard type Mudboat and a Mudbuddy surface drive on a Gator Trax boat. I would prefer the surface drive over the mudboat because of the room in the boat. Much better setup for gear, fishing, etc.
Having said that there is NOTHING a mudboat won't go through in soft bottom marsh. Got a little nervous several times with the surface drive but never once with the mudboat...with a 2:1 gear ratio in reverse it will back up through anything
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:01 am to treble hook
We hunt out of a pro drive. It has the ratchet reverse, so it goes just as fast in reverse as it does forward. It's sick, it goes through everything. The only time we got it stuck was when my buddy wasn't payin attention and put us on land. His hull is 18x54 and has the 36 vanguard prodrive. With equipment we do like 24 mph.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:08 am to treble hook
Ok so far that's 3 companies that I know that make surface drive setups Pro Drive, Mudbuddy, and Gator Tail. Any big differences between these three? Better price?
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:15 am to crazytigerfan69
One thing to watch out for is HP restrictions on where you may be running this thing. As for the Mud boat in shallow water the one i had if it was wet it would go. No water needed if it was a mud slush. The downfall of a mudboat is logs. If you get high centered on your skeg you are fricked at least a go devil you can skip the boat over the log. Surface drives and long tails can't compare to a big block inboard mudboat though in grass, lillies and floating marsh.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:19 am to crazytigerfan69
17' Excel Mud boat
35 hp Mud Buddy
You'll thank me later.
35 hp Mud Buddy
You'll thank me later.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:25 am to bayoudude
Pro-drive- Highly engineered. Solid and reliable, but lots of moving parts. They have full power reverse.
Gatortail- My personal favorite. Belt driven, power trim, available in regular or reverse models. No full power reverse, but they just came out with a reverse plate that improves reverse performance tremendously.
Mudbuddy- Belt driven, power trim, no reverse, but you can get these engines in multiple configurations ranging from 9hp-70hp (although anything over 35hp warranties are 90 days).(Other brands only offer hp ratings up to 36.
Gatortail- My personal favorite. Belt driven, power trim, available in regular or reverse models. No full power reverse, but they just came out with a reverse plate that improves reverse performance tremendously.
Mudbuddy- Belt driven, power trim, no reverse, but you can get these engines in multiple configurations ranging from 9hp-70hp (although anything over 35hp warranties are 90 days).(Other brands only offer hp ratings up to 36.
This post was edited on 12/20/11 at 10:36 am
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:26 am to Funreaux
quote:
17' Excel Mud boat
35 hp Mud Buddy
How much?
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:32 am to crazytigerfan69
Mudbuddy:
Only neutral...NO REVERSE
Pro Drive:
The whole lower unit swivels around for reverse
Gator Tail:
Instant reverse (not as powerful as pro drive reverse)
The Mudbuddy is definitely the cheapest. I believe the other two are relatively close in price. If I had to buy one right now it would be a Gator Tail
Only neutral...NO REVERSE
Pro Drive:
The whole lower unit swivels around for reverse
Gator Tail:
Instant reverse (not as powerful as pro drive reverse)
The Mudbuddy is definitely the cheapest. I believe the other two are relatively close in price. If I had to buy one right now it would be a Gator Tail
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:33 am to crazytigerfan69
quote:
17' Excel Mud boat
35 hp Mud Buddy
You'll thank me later.
Awesome boat. I believe this combo lists for around 17k with a trailer. If you want reverse opt for the gatortail though.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:49 am to Negatiger2
I had a custom built boat with a 35 GTR. My next one will be a Gatortail combo with a full open layout. No boxes, etc. with an extended front deck. If you get a GTR or MB, get a hunt deck.
If you know how to the drive the GTR, the reverse is very good. There is a learning curve to it. And the reverse plate works wonders.
Why buy a Mudbuddy? That is my main question. Why NOT get a motor with reverse?
If you know how to the drive the GTR, the reverse is very good. There is a learning curve to it. And the reverse plate works wonders.
Why buy a Mudbuddy? That is my main question. Why NOT get a motor with reverse?
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:54 am to bayoudude
quote:
One thing to watch out for is HP restrictions on where you may be running this thing. As for the Mud boat in shallow water the one i had if it was wet it would go. No water needed if it was a mud slush. The downfall of a mudboat is logs. If you get high centered on your skeg you are fricked at least a go devil you can skip the boat over the log. Surface drives and long tails can't compare to a big block inboard mudboat though in grass, lillies and floating marsh.
My uncle had an inboard mudboat with a 35HP Wisconsis Robin engine (now made by Subaru). That thing was a water jeep and would go anywhere. It was neither fast nor pretty, but it got the job done.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 10:54 am to crazytigerfan69
quote:This!
Gator Tail
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:06 am to ryan985
If I'm spending this much money, I'm getting reverse. 
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:11 am to crazytigerfan69
If you're looking to buy a new boat they have custom builders all over south LA that will make whatever you want. They'll be able to make the best hunt/fish rig IMO. I'm partial to Gatortrax but they're all good.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:14 am to crazytigerfan69
quote:
not much power in reverse
prodrive has full power reverse frick a gator tail the boat and the motor.
Go devil also makes a surface drive motor, I ride in a gator tail quite frequently, and they suck. Pro drive is the way to go IMO.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:19 am to ryan985
My main incentive for purchasing a mud buddy, over a prodrive is the amount of rubber spacers that they put on the Mud Buddy.
I've had both. When I hunt flooded timber you run over tons of stumps and logs, the Pro Drive is a metal on metal design, and grinds and broke on me.... numerous times.
My mud buddy handles the stumps and obstacles much better. I personally haven't ever needed a mud motor that runs in reverse.
Running an unguarded prop in reverse makes it extremely vulnerable.
Just my 2 cents.
Having owned both, and also having used a gator-tail... I'm sticking with my mud buddy. I got my Excel F4 not long ago, and I'll run it for at least another few years.
I've had both. When I hunt flooded timber you run over tons of stumps and logs, the Pro Drive is a metal on metal design, and grinds and broke on me.... numerous times.
My mud buddy handles the stumps and obstacles much better. I personally haven't ever needed a mud motor that runs in reverse.
Running an unguarded prop in reverse makes it extremely vulnerable.
Just my 2 cents.
Having owned both, and also having used a gator-tail... I'm sticking with my mud buddy. I got my Excel F4 not long ago, and I'll run it for at least another few years.
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:24 am to brass2mouth
quote:
I ride in a gator tail quite frequently, and they suck. Pro drive is the way to go IMO.
What sucks about them?
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:29 am to crazytigerfan69
quote:
What sucks about them?
no power(35hp motor), the reverse constantly goes out in them, and they stay in the shop
Posted on 12/20/11 at 11:47 am to crazytigerfan69
Pro Drive motor on a mud boat solves problems
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