Swamp Runner mud motor

TimJ

TimJ

Well-known member
I'm curious if anyone here has one of them and what they think of it. Not being able to use the outboard because of shallow weedy conditions last weekend got me thinking about an inexpensive mud motors.

Yes I know the USA made brands are much better...at 3x's the cost. I already have a 5.5hp motor that would fit the small kit.
No, I am not looking to be able to scoot over mud flats, I'm not going to jump any beaver dams and no running up rocky rivers. I just need to put across shallow mucky bottomed ponds with lots of submerged weeds.

In the past I have used electric motors in some places like this so speed is not an issue for me. Even they have issues in muck and weeds. I also would like a little more power then that.

I've read some reviews from trappers who say they do what they say they do. I've also read countless 'reviews' from guys who say they are junk but have never seen one in person. I'm just curious if anyone here has tried one or knows of another kit that runs well under $1,000.

Tim
 
Have one going on third season. I love it for what it is and isn't. Sounds like you have reasonable expectations and it will suit your needs.

I got mine not for weeds but for shallow muddy tidal waters. Don't want to use it to skim across mud, instead I want to move across at a few mph and not worry about water intake or running prop in mud. However, once you get use to how it handles I habe put my wigeon on plane in about four inches of water when the bottom is soft. You should see the shells fly.

Only issue I have had are:
- carb float stuck because gas was old and fixed on water.
- replaced throttle cable after second year due to exclusise use on salt water.
- replaced one transom bolt because I backed it out to far and ripped the pad off (my fault).

Would get it again and best money I have spent and the reliability and ease of repairs of the lawn mower motor brings peace of mind on the water.
 
Hi Greg,

Yes, I am.

Shocked me this spring when I was out shellfishing when I was able to get it up on plane in so little water but the bottom had the consistancy of boiling hot instant mashed potatoes. Also, helped that it was just me and a hundred pounds of quahogs in bow to balance out the hull.

I know how deep the water was based on prop depth. I had the center of prop riding just above the bottom.

My only complaint is no neutral or tilt lock when shut off. Let go of her she drops until it hits something be it the boat or the bottom. It does make a good jab board.
 
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I had a skiff for sale which wasn't selling as it did not have motor. Hence I thought it would be an opportunity to try one of the mud motor kits. The pic is the skiff I sold at auction along with the new mud motor.
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I bought a cheap 6 hp Honda clone at Harbor Freight and added:
4 degree advance key
larger carb jet and infusion tube
new air cleaner
new exhaust
.........
modifications should have increased power by 3 hp or more.
........
I personally did not like the motor. It was a struggle to keep at proper depth - either cavitating or running too deep. Had to fight with it constantly and just couldn't find the sweet spot. Ran well through weeds but available props are aluminum and won't last but a couple of trips in our sand. When I got my first Go-devil back in the 70's they had bronze props which I could ruin in a long week end.
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Up side price is right. I see some guys up here run them as kickers. Use the outboard until the reach backwaters and putter in to shallows with little mud skipper.
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BTW sold skiff as shown for high bid of $1200.
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Good Luck
........

View attachment skiff down sized.jpg
 
Chris, I have a wigeon also and hunt salt marshes in on Delaware Bay NJ, which are mostly mud with little sand. I have always wondered if a small mud motor could work in the area. We have extensive mud flats, which are great to get into before the water comes up, but the only way is to follow a little creek as the tide rolls in. If I could run across the mud..... We don't really have any rocks or logs, pretty much just mud. Some meadows are hard but many are too soft to walk in, at least in your mid-50's. A mud motor could really get it done if you could run across the soupy stuff. Sounds like it works pretty good. Maybe I have to look in to this again.
 
Chris and Paul,
Thank you both for the hands on reviews.

Our shallow ponds here are about 90% mud so I'd think the prop would last a little while. I have wondered about cavitation. It sounds like many guys have no problem with that and others have nothing but problems. I suppose it has a lot to do with how the water moves around the hull.

Tim
 
Hey guys, these things will go thru shallow water, weeds, etc. soft mud, is for the high horsepower, high speed rigs. Those videos you see on the mud motor web sites are a bit decieving. If you are running at speed thru soft mud, you better not stop! Ditto for heavy weeds. Momentum is the key in the heavy stuff and hope you have clear water on the other side. Rich
 
Yep, I could see that being the situation. I only want to run through water too shallow for the outboard but that still floats the boat.

Most of those videos show no load in the boats that's why I was asking hunters who had used them in real conditions.

Tim
 
Rich, it kinda depends on what your preferred motor is. I have run them all now. A go devil surface drive is pretty good at stopping then restarting in fwd. A prodrive with full power reverse is really good at stopping and then reversing. I don't stop when I don't have to, but in our LA mus (like the videos) it is mostly possible. The gator tail reverse is a gimmick in the mud, its is nice around the ramp.
 
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