Looking for aomething to push through some cattails on my 14 ft flat bottom, don't need anything huge or fancy, but surface drive I've learned would be a huge advantage, as well as neutral at least, if not reverse also. I've looked at mudbuddy and a few other bigger names just wondering if there's anything else reputable out there. Probably around that 15-20 hp

I’d talk to some duck hunters. I see way more of those guys using them than anyone else.

Youre gonna spend some money with a surface drive but i e said for years thats the answer for shallow water thats muddy. The cheaper answer is a do it yourself longtail. Not as awesome though

For the record, I have a jet drive and its not the answer…

I just bought a gator tail 25 Honda. Always had/ have long tails b4

I've run Go-Devil units since 1998. First a 20 hp longtail, then changed jonboats (to a 1752 Alweld) and bumped up to a 35 hp surface drive. Love the Go-Devils, love the surface drive.

I live on a river. Have run just about all brands of long tails over the last 20 years. Go devil was by far my favorite, before I test drove the SPS Swamp runners. I actually was looking forward to picking the sps apart since I was loyal to GoDevil. No can do, the SPS was lighter, the shaft comes straight off back of motor which transfers all power to prop with no U joints. When the boat is properly balanced it will go through way shallower water than any other long tail I have used. The shaft is easily removed with two wing nuts, no tools, making it easy to R&R on boat and store.

I’ve had the small, medium and large SPS kits and incredibly impressed with all of them.

I don’t think any exposed prop motor will chop throng cattails unless there is an established trail.

Thanks everyone!

Here's what I've learned: Longtails are made for duck hunters going from point A to point B and most are direct drive so the prop is always spinning. They don't turn well if you're in a marsh setting. Might be fine for rivers.

Surface Drives do turn well (great for us rat trappers who can spin the boat round and round in a tight 360). However, most are direct drive (no neutral) of they have an electric clutch. Electric clutches are not made to idle very long. They heat up and burn down. I contacted one of the big manufacturers one year about their surface drive and he said they were working on a non electric clutch unit but their current electric clutch would be no good for this rat trapper. He sold one to another rat trapper and he went through 3 clutches in a season (spendy and down time).

I was lucky and ended up with 3 of the Orion Surface drives years ago with the direction of Rich Kasper . For rats I love the 14 hr Kohler. The beaver boat has a 30 hp Kohler. I use the smaller 14 hp far more. He outfitted them with oversized centrifugal clutches. The clutches last me about 200 hrs and aren't too spendy when they wear out. I don't think Orion is in business anymore. Actually he split off with some other company but I'm unsure what the offer today.

When a clutch goes bad do you have any warning Calvin, or is it a “grab a paddle” situation?

IowaTrapper, neutral in a long tail is simply pushing down on handle and popping prop out of the water. You can do it faster than using the shifter on most outboards. Problem is, prop is still running. Driver of long tails have to be real careful about where that prop is while it’s running. Dogs and people alike need to be trained to stay away from it as well.

On all of mine I wire kill switch button up by the handle. It’s the double kind I hook to jacket in case I hit something and fly out, or just push it to kill motor. This way I can kill it quick in a pinch, rather than having to lean all the way back to motor and fumble around for key.

I agree with Calvin that longtails are for duckhuntrrs going from point A to point B. I had a PFF Woodduck for one
fall but didn't like the no reverse or neutral for trapping.

The only centrifugal clutch that I actually had go out on my surface drive did the opposite. It stuck in drive so not a day ender. Not sure if this is the way it happens all the time or if I had a spring or part break internally. All the other clutches I've had go out on me (Wet clutches) did what you describe with no forward movement.