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Surface drive or longtail for coast
#4204420
04/22/13 08:45 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626
Erichugh22
OP
Veteran Tracker
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626 |
For hunting backwaters on the coast what would you pick? The areas I'm wanting to get to would not be possible with a tunnel hull outboard so that's out of the qustion. Which will run shallower? Most of the areas I want to go have nasty thick mud and not much sand.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Erichugh22]
#4204655
04/22/13 09:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 619
Sims Custom Knives
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 619 |
What kind of boat do you have?
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Sims Custom Knives]
#4204676
04/22/13 10:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Surface drives id say would be better around the coast since its mainly gona be mud.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Navasot]
#4204720
04/22/13 10:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626
Erichugh22
OP
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626 |
I don't have a boat yet but I'm going to get one before the season, I'm just doing a little research to see what will be better for me
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Erichugh22]
#4204752
04/22/13 10:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,543
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,543 |
No expert, don't even have mud boat but hope to get one in the not too far future. But from what I have read, the only advantage a longtail has over a surface drive is cost.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Guy]
#4205913
04/23/13 12:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 406
Gengo
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 406 |
My buddy runs a 1648 flat bottom with a long tail. There have been around half a dozen times we would pass groups pushing their surface drive while we were cruising along. I don't know if it's the angle or what, but his just plows through mud/vegetation with no problems.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Gengo]
#4205973
04/23/13 01:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777
GravyWheels
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 777 |
I have a surface drive and love it. I have run it a few times at POC with no problems anywhere. I have owned longtails in the past and can say as a lot of people do that a longtail will get you going on plane quicker on a hard bottom due to the length and angle of the shaft. However, I find that most surface drives are easier to drive and faster typically.
Dave
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: GravyWheels]
#4206146
04/23/13 02:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626
Erichugh22
OP
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626 |
Thanks guys and how do either of them act if I run up on some sand somewhere?
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Erichugh22]
#4206167
04/23/13 02:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 702
Capt.JVH
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 702 |
I've run a surface drive on the coast for 5 years. I chose it over a longtail for one big reason. Many places I hunt are not close to the ramp. I find it easier on long trips with my sd due to speed and control. As far as sand goes, unless your in an airboat it sucks. I run a 20x60 go-devil so I stay away from sand because I dont want to break my back pushing. Mud motors dont take away the common sense factor. You need a bottom that the prop can grab into. Hard packed coastal sand is just gonna bump your prop off the bottom and not bite in like it would in mud.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Capt.JVH]
#4206727
04/23/13 06:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
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I have run both for more years than I will tell the truth about. What truth I will tell you is there is zero comparison between a surface drive and a long tail. Long tails are outdated donkey manure compared to the surface drives out now. If I had to choose between the two and a surface drive wasn't available, I would walk.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Guy]
#4206732
04/23/13 06:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
No expert, don't even have mud boat but hope to get one in the not too far future. But from what I have read, the only advantage a longtail has over a surface drive is cost. You have been reading the wrong information.
Last edited by WAL1809; 04/24/13 01:09 PM.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wal1809]
#4206821
04/23/13 06:40 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,594
Featherduster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,594 |
I still run a long tail and probably will until it just falls apart...then I'll just tear up a lawnmower and rebuild it...BUT..if I was in the market for a new rig I'd probably get a surface drive...better speeds, easier to handle.
If you're going long distances a long tail will just wear a man out. For all of the hunting and navigating I do, my long tail is perfectly fine. If I was on big water then I would get a surface drive.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wcbillcollector]
#4207391
04/23/13 10:09 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,651
mnsherick
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,651 |
Gator Trax, and Mud Buddy...
END THREAD.
-Matt
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: mnsherick]
#4208708
04/24/13 01:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
Gator Trax, and Mud Buddy...
END THREAD.
-Matt Does that cover it all?
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wal1809]
#4208853
04/24/13 01:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,876
LarryCopper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,876 |
If I had to choose between the two and a surface drive wasn't available, I would walk. Wait... you mean walk away from the sell, not carry all your stuff on your back for miles on a death march like Guy does, right?
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wal1809]
#4211211
04/25/13 12:28 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,651
mnsherick
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,651 |
Gator Trax, and Mud Buddy...
END THREAD.
-Matt Does that cover it all? He asked SD or LT...I think that covers it all. IF he would have asked X, Y, Z, sand river bottoms, etc etc...then maybe we could expand the discusion into airboats, etc... otherwise it's your legs. Oh. And get a winch/anchors for your boat because you will get stuck at some point. -Matt
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: mnsherick]
#4212036
04/25/13 06:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
When I was younger I needed the winch and all that stuff. It has been a long time since I was stuck. I just try not to go where I don't know I can make it. I am old, fat and tired. I just don't push it beyond what I know the boat can do, because of the days I used to get stuck all the time. Getting stuck just sucks.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wal1809]
#4212308
04/25/13 08:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 749
Homey da Clown
CTJ
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CTJ
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 749 |
When I was younger I needed the winch and all that stuff. It has been a long time since I was stuck. I just try not to go where I don't know I can make it. I am old, fat and tired. I just don't push it beyond what I know the boat can do, because of the days I used to get stuck all the time. Getting stuck just sucks. I like to think of it as wiser I don't push the limits myself much these days either. If I KNOW I can blow across a sand flat or gravel shoal then I squeeze the lever to the grip. If in doubt I'll stop, get out and walk the area ahead of me to see what is what. Waaaay too much stuckness in my younger years. Winch or no winch I don't wanna mess with all that if I don't have to. And I damn sure ain't pulling and tuggin a heavy mud boat around anymore
R & B Outdoors Mud Buddy motors/accessories Gator Trax boats (512) 826-6200 www.rboutdoors.com
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: Homey da Clown]
#4212354
04/25/13 08:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
I am right there with you Homey da clown. I like watching the "Hold my beer and let me see if I can make it through here" videos. Not my style anymore. I have only had to buy one prop in every 2.5 years. Way too expensive to leave a prop behind on shoals or sand bars. Go ahead you honyock bug @#$%^&*s call me cheap, I can take it
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wal1809]
#4222664
04/30/13 07:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,804
mohunter
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,804 |
Surface drive all the way, better choice for all types of situations, much easier to operate. I would expand your options and not stop at Mudbuddy though. They are an option, not the best or the worst but there are other surface drives to look at. Not going to start that debate on here but if your interested spend some time on www.mudmotortalk.com.
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Re: Surface drive or longtail for coast
[Re: wal1809]
#4222780
04/30/13 07:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,464
HardWired
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,464 |
I've hunted three years on a longtail at the coast. Sure a SD is faster, but the coast has sand. You can feather a longtail to ride the wake and keep your $220 prop out of the sand. You can't dig your prop in the sand like you do mud and go or your prop will turn into a large washer. LT, SD, Airboat....Sand can and will stick them all. I have one for sale in the classifieds if anyone is shopping.
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