Surface drives

by **Flightstopper** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:52 pm

What is everyone running here? JR, mud buddy? What models and have they been a good motor for you?

by **3geese4me** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:53 pm

I've heard good things about Pro Drive. When I move to Texas in a couple years I will be buying one, or an airboat.

by **Flightstopper** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 7:55 pm

3geese4me wrote:I've heard good things about Pro Drive. When I move to Texas in a couple years I will be buying one, or an airboat.

From what I've been reading looks like they handle closet to an outboard. Just seems like way to many mechanical parts to get beat around. Many people do run them though.

by **3geese4me** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:03 pm

Wonder how cheap they are to fix. I haven't really heard of anyone having any issues with them though either. They just seemed like the best bang for the buck in my eyes.

by **Olly** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:07 pm

I have a stock 35 Mud Buddy and I'm amazed at the shit I've put it through. No reverse but never been a big deal for me.

by **Flightstopper** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:07 pm

Seems like it's the hopped up mud buddy motors that get the bad press. Other than that it seems like people pay more for options like reverse and power trim. Been looking but don't have any first hand experience. Do like the pro drives. Ron does run a pro Drive as well now that I think about it, hopefully he will chime in.

by **RonE** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:34 pm

I have a ProDrive on my boat and it works great. Been modified a little and for hunting and fishing it will haul a load. Surface drive motors (mostly 36hp) are not really fast by outboard standards but will run shallow without burning up and are easy to work on.

by **3legged_lab** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:43 pm

Ive been very pleased with both mud motors I've owned, a long tail and now a surface drive. Both can get the job done, just different. The SDs do handle nearly identical to an outboard and have better load carrying and top speed. The LTs I compare to putting your truck in 4 low, they grunt through, I also liked how it broke ice. I could drive slow, pull the stick up high and cruise without the prop hitting any ice.
I dont know much about the current new models available, I sort of quit following all the new stuff after I bought mine. If you're curious though, mine is a mud buddy 45. Its the 35 with dual SS exhaust, different cam, roller rockers, and I did the poor man's carb job - port & polish intake, carb spacer, k&n filter.

by **Flightstopper** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:31 am

Been pretty reliable JR?

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:41 pm

Flightstopper wrote:Been pretty reliable JR?

So far. I had 140 hours on my lt with zero break downs, and have about 180 on my surface drive and it finally started giving me a little trouble last season. Just intermittent, I think im losing a coil, just haven't bothered to fool with it yet.

by **Flightstopper** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:45 pm

3legged_lab wrote:
Flightstopper wrote:Been pretty reliable JR?

So far. I had 140 hours on my lt with zero break downs, and have about 180 on my surface drive and it finally started giving me a little trouble last season. Just intermittent, I think im losing a coil, just haven't bothered to fool with it yet.

Sounds good man, thanks.

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:00 pm

I will add that little long tail was a fuel injected 27hp Kawasaki and that sumbitch always started no matter how cold it was out.

by **Olly** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:15 pm

My old long tail was awesome. I wish a long tail went as fast as a SD I'd still have one.

Longtail = slow farm tractor
SD = AWD sports car

by **Feelin' Fowl** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:07 pm

How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

by **capt1972** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:12 pm

Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

running

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:21 pm

Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

A tiny tach

by **Flightstopper** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:01 pm

Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

If a piston is moving, it is counting.

by **Olly** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:12 pm

3legged_lab wrote:
Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

A tiny tach

Ha I still need to go buy one of those!

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:16 pm

Flightstopper wrote:
Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

If a piston is moving, it is counting.

It reads the spark on one of the plug wires.

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:16 pm

Olly wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

A tiny tach

Ha I still need to go buy one of those!

Surprised yours didnt come with one.

by **Olly** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:20 pm

3legged_lab wrote:
Olly wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

A tiny tach

Ha I still need to go buy one of those!

Surprised yours didnt come with one.

I just bought one. Thanks for reminding me and I think they're a option you have to get. None of the ones at bass pro have them.

by **aunt betty** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:21 pm

Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

I know what you're thinking, I'm psychic.

That damned river...wish my boat would go through that shallows by the launch. Pushing it upstream ain't happening.
:mrgreen:

FF, do you think my pintail with that 40# thrust motor would be worth hauling up there?
We could both use our pintails to lay in and tear up them mallards and geese.
Hunt on one of them islands.

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:27 pm

Olly wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
Olly wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:
Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?

A tiny tach

Ha I still need to go buy one of those!

Surprised yours didnt come with one.

I just bought one. Thanks for reminding me and I think they're a option you have to get. None of the ones at bass pro have them.

Huh, I just thought they all came with one, maybe its just that my local dealer puts one on every motor before he sells it. Anyway, real handy for setting your trim height while running.

by **Olly** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:37 pm

3legged_lab wrote:Huh, I just thought they all came with one, maybe its just that my local dealer puts one on every motor before he sells it. Anyway, real handy for setting your trim height while running.

I've gotten to wear I can set mine by "feel" I can tell the second the boat slows down or speeds up even just a very little.

by **Feelin' Fowl** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 10:03 pm

aunt betty wrote:
Feelin' Fowl wrote:How are hours calculated? Hours that the motor is running, even at idle, or hours that the motor is in drive/reverse?
I know what you're thinking, I'm psychic.

That damned river...wish my boat would go through that shallows by the launch. Pushing it upstream ain't happening.

FF, do you think my pintail with that 40# thrust motor would be worth hauling up there?
We could both use our pintails to lay in and tear up them mallards and geese.
Hunt on one of them islands.

I'm going to find out!

by **3legged_lab** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 10:18 pm

Olly wrote:
3legged_lab wrote:Huh, I just thought they all came with one, maybe its just that my local dealer puts one on every motor before he sells it. Anyway, real handy for setting your trim height while running.

I've gotten to wear I can set mine by "feel" I can tell the second the boat slows down or speeds up even just a very little.

You'll like the tach, its useful to know exactly where you're running. My boat peaks speed between 4150-4200.

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