Mud Motors

[mrdancer]

Re: Mud Motors

You might consider putting an air prop on that Honda motor and make an airboat out of it. Use the old Merc to get you through the deep water to your shallow spot, then tilt the Merc up clear of the water and fire up the Honda air motor to scoot you through the shallows.

I've driven airboats, mudboats, jetboats and prop boats. The airboat will get you over/through the most obstacles, but they have their issues. A good tunnel boat will go anywhere that a mudmotor or jetboat will go, but you have to have it properly set up, which is a major PITA and few know how to do it properly. This is why those who run mudmotors or jetboats claim they run shallower than a tunnel prop, because they've never experienced a good tunnel prop setup that will run just as shallow.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Mud Motors

Thanks for the response. I already built the boat and want to stick with it for a while, so the tunnel prop is out. The airboat idea would be fun at times, but again, the boat isn't built for it. Also, I don't think I'd get very far with the 6.5 hp honda running a propeller. Most airboats I see have small block engines. Even the smaller ones they use up here on the ice use V-6's most often. Then there's also the issue of being low profile. I haul the boat up into the marsh (did I mention I have to keep it light) and bury it in the cattails. Would be a cool future project though. Thanks again for the ideas, but for now I'm going to have to stick to the long tail mud motor.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Mud Motors

here's one for sale, near Richmond VA. I just happened to see it; don't know anything.

http://richmond.craigslist.org/boa/2099713528.html

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Mud Motors

I meant to say to use the 6.5hp Honda with air prop as auxiliary power. Use the Merc to get from the ramp/dock to the shallows, then switch over to the airpower for crossing the shallows. However, it would make the boat a little heavier for pulling up on islands, etc. There are plenty of flounder boats on the Gulf Coast using 13hp Honda motors with air props, and they scoot along pretty good.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Mud Motors

mrdancer - just had to say thanks - it's true that you can learn something new everyday. I'd never seen or heard of that small of an air boat motor. I did some poking around on google and found lots of pictures and references for flounder gigging. That idea would be great up here during frog season. I smell another project coming on - wait, OK, after I get the mud motor built! Thanks again.