Steven Cannello
New member
any advise on this make of motor? is there really a difference with gear driven versus belt driven lower unit?
pro drive surface drive motor
- Thread starter Steven Cannello
- Start date
Paul Meisenheimer
Well-known member
I have not owned one but know two folks who do. Work well and they love having reverse. That's where the gears pay for themselves.
Nelson Graves
Active member
I've had a ProDrive for four seasons now. If you want or need reverse, there are only two tried and true brands: ProDrive or GatorTail.
With the newer models, I don't think gear vs belt is even an issue. If you want or need instantaneous reverse you want a GatorTail. If you want or need true full power in reverse, you want a ProDrive. However, the prodrive takes about 4 seconds to rotate the drive into reverse, so it isn't for precision maneuvering. They both have basically the same engines, so it is all about the drive.
The good folks at ProDrive stand behind their product. I'd buy another one tomorrow.
Things learned: Although the mud motor part of the system is bulletproof, remember that the power comes from an engine intended for installation on lawn mowers and stump grinders. It takes special care if used around salt water.
Do not modify the engine. Mikuni carbs, monster exhaust, etc., void the factory engine warranty and makes them temperamental in the cold. If you need more power get fuel injection (new this year) or hang two of them on the back of the boat.
With the newer models, I don't think gear vs belt is even an issue. If you want or need instantaneous reverse you want a GatorTail. If you want or need true full power in reverse, you want a ProDrive. However, the prodrive takes about 4 seconds to rotate the drive into reverse, so it isn't for precision maneuvering. They both have basically the same engines, so it is all about the drive.
The good folks at ProDrive stand behind their product. I'd buy another one tomorrow.
Things learned: Although the mud motor part of the system is bulletproof, remember that the power comes from an engine intended for installation on lawn mowers and stump grinders. It takes special care if used around salt water.
Do not modify the engine. Mikuni carbs, monster exhaust, etc., void the factory engine warranty and makes them temperamental in the cold. If you need more power get fuel injection (new this year) or hang two of them on the back of the boat.
Greg, has salty language ever deterred you? Hope all is well.
Steven Cannello
New member
Very helpful, thanks
Nelson Graves
Active member
I just caught that! "Salty" is putting it very nicely.
Jim Boyer
Active member
I bought my ProDrive motor with a Phowler boat from an ad in MudMotorTalk. It has made an exciting addition to my duck hunting. The only time I've used the manual reverse was to see how it worked. Since then a push pole is more than enough to take care of those situations. Number one is too avoid the need and two have a simple backup for the easy situations.
Make sure the boat is designed for the "terrain" (shallow water, mud, sand and stumps). This means flat bottom (no external ribs), longitudinal bracing and heavy gauge aluminum.
There will be a time when you'll wish you had kept your rig up on plane. Usually, this only occurs once.
"beauty and the beast"
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Make sure the boat is designed for the "terrain" (shallow water, mud, sand and stumps). This means flat bottom (no external ribs), longitudinal bracing and heavy gauge aluminum.
There will be a time when you'll wish you had kept your rig up on plane. Usually, this only occurs once.
"beauty and the beast"
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Nelson Graves
Active member
You can get hydraulically actuated reverse on them, so the reverse is more easily activated.