I know this horse has been beat to death, but I would like to know your thoughts/recomendations between Pro Drive and Hyper Drive boats. I would like to know which one you think is more versatile for duck hunting big water, shallows, creeks, flooded timber, etc. Which one has the fewest problems? Which one is designed better?. Which one is more durable? Which one is more reliable? If you think one is better than the other please say why. Also if you think one sucks again please say why. All opinions and/or advice are welcome.

Test em! I love my pro-drive, unfortunately my modded out EVT stage 3 died a few weeks ago, so im stuck in the mud! it handled great, and can really go! I know belt drives are awesome too! Either way youll get in the shallow stuff, and youll be a happy camper, stay away from modded motors, unless you do it yourself. They will go faster, but will not always be as reliable. I cannot speak on behalf of the mud buddy mods seeeing those are different quality. No one told me this when I was looking for mine. Good Luck, and take your time! they are a blast!

Also the gearing on the pro drive is pretty legit, I have never owned a mud buddy so I do not know about the belt driven, but the gear driven pro drive is legit!

Personally I'd look at Pro-Drive and Gator Tail. Each have their advantages/disadvantages. I'd suggest you go demo them both and make the decision based off what "YOUR" wants/needs are rather than opinions on the net.

I have a buddy with the mud buddy. It has been a pretty dependable motor but we broke it this weekend. The belt snapped on it and turns out he bent the drive shaft on it so were going to have to repair that as well. As far as performance is concerned I have been really impressed with it. I like it overall but I haven't been in a pro drive so I can't compare. Like everyone is saying I think you need to demo and see which one fits you best.

just curious, but why arent you considering GatorTail?

My prodrive has been a huge pain in my [censored] and I am just about fed up with it. I have owned it since Oct 30, 2008 and over the 08/09 seasons I have experienced 4 major mechanical failures and a few minor ones. My motor may just be a lemon but I paid 16k for a boat/motor, I expect a legit product or for the company to make it right.

Zack, just out of curiosity what happed to your PD? Also, had it been modded or bone stock?

My motor is stock all the way.

1. clutch bands broke. PD says they have had 1 incident ever of the clutch bands breaking since they went to a double band system. No problem, drive to Louisiana overnight and let them fix it.

2. Air Filter falls off. Not just the cover, the whole assembly. PD says its a Briggs and Straton issue.

3. Clutch bands break again. I am not abusing or using this motor in anyway that is different than other users. They send me the part and I fix it myself this time.

4. Several bolts fall out of my lower unit within the first 20 hours of use. They hold the cavitation plate in place. They send me new ones and I install them.

5. Pan gasket starts leaking. PD says that its a Briggs and Straton issue and that it should be covered by warranty. Fine and dandy, but go find yourself an authorized B and G repair shop that wants to work on this special use application.

6. Rear seal on the lower unit goes bad. I received the part today to try and fix it. It involves pulling the prop.

My motor sits right now with 61 hours on it. After the rear seal is fixed, I have to wonder what will be next.

Interesting...sorry about your problems. I hate to hear that.

Good luck and one thing is for sure KP will do everything he can do to keep you happy and going.

dadgum Zack! Just when I was going to give PD a call tomorrow, and see about getting me one.... may be going with a Mud Buddy instead...

I am on my second Mudbuddy went from a 35 to the 45Mag and I have not had a problem out of either of them. If you are wanting a reverse I would go with a GatorTail.

pick the one that suites you best and feels best to drive to you. they all are dependable or nobody would run them. there all gonna get you in some thick stuff but every single brand will also get stuck at some point. every brand is gonna have something go wrong eventually. a mudmotor is made to be put through hell, thats the point of them.

i personally have had 2 PD"s. but my next will be a gator tail.

All options are on the table. I'm about a year out from getting my "ideal" rig and just trying to get a head start on the research.

Are you wanting to try something different or do you feel gator tails are better?

By the way, thanks for all the input. As any consumer, I want to be aware so I can make an informed decision. Keep the opinions and advice coming!!!!

Pros and cons of gear driven vs belt driven?????

One breaks you fix is the other is harder to break but harder to fix.

Seems the hardcore mudboat guys want either the gatortail or PD. I choose PD because I liked the way the reverse worked better than a true reverse. If you spin the lower unit around like PD does you still have the ability to run over stuff without tearing up your prop where with a gatortail in reverse the prop is stuck out there like an outboard in reverse. I know I would use the gatortail reverse more like around docks/ramps and such but with my PD it is more there as a oh **** I need to get out of here deal.

It really is 6 one half dozen another and depends on what you want from the rig.

I have a mud buddy and I'm more hardcore than anyone I know. Moose's hair bows to me. Thats how hardcore I am. Bow to your sensei

Gator-Tail Outboard

Of course, I'm bais towards this engine. Cousin's husband knows the owner.

My prodrive died again today 4 hours from the house, 30 mins after we hit the water. Seems like the PTO switch went bad........FML...8 hour road trip for nothing.

Something tells me you could destroy an anvil with a rubber mallet?

Damn, Zack.

Doesn't PD have a line of motors from different manufacturers? Is the B&S the problem?

I guess it wouldn't be on the clutch bands and the lower unit.