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Hi guys - New here.

Okay so I am wanting to build a short tail SD motor for my boat. I have a 1976 Lund 14 ft boat. It is a flat bottom V hull which means there is no "V" that goes down the length of the boat, the "V" stops right in the front of the boat. The boat is wide and deep and short shaft, it will support a lot of weight, I am wanting to build a 20hp or so short tail for it.
I do not run in mud but the weeds are killer for an outboard on the lakes I hunt so a surface drive motor would serve me well for my application.

Thoughts on the use of the Lund? I know it probably is not a preferred choice boat for a surface drive but it is a flat bottom (Old boat) and is wide.

Also I will be searching for build ideas for the motor so if you can help with ideas, plans and pictures please do so.

Thanks in advance !

Don't know much about boats but welcome to the forum.

Two Bears wrote:
Thoughts on the use of the Lund?

For what you want to use it for it will do ok. Just ok. Ribbed boats don't do well when actually going through mud because the ribs slice into the mud and cause the boat to be sucked down. But as long as you aren't planning on going through mud you'll be fine.

Welcome to the forum and keep us up to date on your motor build!

I've followed a couple SD builds on other forums and they are far from simple. If you are mechanically inclined and can weld you will probably be fine. Timing belt and pulleys are the way to go. One guy used a chain and could never get proper tension on it and was breaking chains left and right.
I came across copperhead mud motors on line last week and they make the smaller surface drives. From what I've read online, the 18hp is a pretty badass motor and I think it was under 4k new. Just another idea to think about.

NuffDaddy wrote:I've followed a couple SD builds on other forums and they are far from simple. If you are mechanically inclined and can weld you will probably be fine. Timing belt and pulleys are the way to go. One guy used a chain and could never get proper tension on it and was breaking chains left and right.
I came across copperhead mud motors on line last week and they make the smaller surface drives. From what I've read online, the 18hp is a pretty badass motor and I think it was under 4k new. Just another idea to think about.

I was looking at the 18 hp copperhead for my old Jon boat when I still had it. Apparently the guy who builds them knows a lot about proper gear ratios from building racing go karts. They did a lot of testing with gear ratio an prop size to get the most speed out of their engines. Only bad reviews I've read on them were from people who didn't own them. I wonder how a 23 would do on my new rig...

FlintRiverFowler wrote:

NuffDaddy wrote:I've followed a couple SD builds on other forums and they are far from simple. If you are mechanically inclined and can weld you will probably be fine. Timing belt and pulleys are the way to go. One guy used a chain and could never get proper tension on it and was breaking chains left and right.
I came across copperhead mud motors on line last week and they make the smaller surface drives. From what I've read online, the 18hp is a pretty badass motor and I think it was under 4k new. Just another idea to think about.

I was looking at the 18 hp copperhead for my old Jon boat when I still had it. Apparently the guy who builds them knows a lot about proper gear ratios from building racing go karts. They did a lot of testing with gear ratio an prop size to get the most speed out of their engines. Only bad reviews I've read on them were from people who didn't own them. I wonder how a 23 would do on my new rig...

From what I've read it will fly. Add in they are much lighter than any other surface drive.

FlintRiverFowler wrote:

NuffDaddy wrote:I've followed a couple SD builds on other forums and they are far from simple. If you are mechanically inclined and can weld you will probably be fine. Timing belt and pulleys are the way to go. One guy used a chain and could never get proper tension on it and was breaking chains left and right.
I came across copperhead mud motors on line last week and they make the smaller surface drives. From what I've read online, the 18hp is a pretty badass motor and I think it was under 4k new. Just another idea to think about.

I was looking at the 18 hp copperhead for my old Jon boat when I still had it. Apparently the guy who builds them knows a lot about proper gear ratios from building racing go karts. They did a lot of testing with gear ratio an prop size to get the most speed out of their engines. Only bad reviews I've read on them were from people who didn't own them. I wonder how a 23 would do on my new rig...

Video on their site of 29mph in a 1542 with 2 guys.

Thanks for replies !
I found a guy that is close to me that has built a couple of these SD motors and he will help me with the design and such so this will be a fun project this winter.
Will post progress pictures as I go.

Two Bears wrote:Thanks for replies !
I found a guy that is close to me that has built a couple of these SD motors and he will help me with the design and such so this will be a fun project this winter.
Will post progress pictures as I go.

Can't beat that. Good luck and can't wait to see how it comes out. DIY stuff is always better than buying it.

Mudmotortalk.com and mudmotorchat.com

Anything mud motor related and they have a bunch on homemade SD threads

A side note, I don't know about your 1970s aluminum riveted boat, but mine feels like it will rattle apart with a mud motor on it.