I've read a lot about weedeater/mud motor conversions but I'm not interested so much in the how-to as some much more general questions about these types of motors in general. First, a little background though. I have a 14' inflatable boat with a built-in wood transom that is rated to take up to a 10hp 2 stroke motor or an 8hp 4 stroke. So far I use it with a 55lb thrust trolling motor but would like to add some range by getting a gas outboard. I don't have a whole lot of cash to spend, otherwise I'd probably just buy a new Honda or Tohatsu 8 or 10 hp motor. Also, I stick to mainly lakes and rivers, many of them very shallow and choked with rocks, logs, and other underwater obstructions. I've already broken my trolling motor bracket twice because the motor hit a log or rock.
I'm currently ordering a new mount/bracket and plan to get that fixed over the winter. The weedeater/mud motors seem to be a good solution for shallow, obstruction-filled water. I'm not really much of a fisherman, more just wanting to get out and enjoy being on the water and I like to do some bird and other wildlife photography when I'm out. My main use for a gas outboard of any type would be to allow me to propel my boat upstream for something like two to three hours, then turn around and head back downstream to my put-in, either partially under power from the outboard, or using the trolling motor and/or oars. For a little more information, my KaBoat weighs about 150lb (boat, trolling motor, and battery), excluding myself (170lb) and any other gear I may carry.
So, my main questions are do folks use these motors as the main propulsion for a boat or just to maneuver around in shallow water occasionally? Also, how about noise? I know a regular weedeater of just about any type is loud as all-get-out. I can't imagine hearing that right behind me for two hours. Can the engines be muffled significantly with any kind of aftermarket mufflers? If I was to use one of these how do they do for range/speed? For the lightweight and packability I might even consider one of these as primary propulsion for using my boat to get out and do some camping on some shallow, scenic rivers, provided it would have the oompf to move the boat and camping gear upstream. Am I living in a dream world to even consider this? Are these motor conversions suitable for what I want to do or am I better off trying to find a cheap, used traditional-type gas outboard? The one thing I keep coming back to is that at least a mud motor type of design would be more resistant to damage in the kinds of rivers and lakes I like to go to whereas a traditional outboard would not be. Finally, here's my boat from a couple seasons back - rigged for a photography outing at a local lake.
I'm currently ordering a new mount/bracket and plan to get that fixed over the winter. The weedeater/mud motors seem to be a good solution for shallow, obstruction-filled water. I'm not really much of a fisherman, more just wanting to get out and enjoy being on the water and I like to do some bird and other wildlife photography when I'm out. My main use for a gas outboard of any type would be to allow me to propel my boat upstream for something like two to three hours, then turn around and head back downstream to my put-in, either partially under power from the outboard, or using the trolling motor and/or oars. For a little more information, my KaBoat weighs about 150lb (boat, trolling motor, and battery), excluding myself (170lb) and any other gear I may carry.
So, my main questions are do folks use these motors as the main propulsion for a boat or just to maneuver around in shallow water occasionally? Also, how about noise? I know a regular weedeater of just about any type is loud as all-get-out. I can't imagine hearing that right behind me for two hours. Can the engines be muffled significantly with any kind of aftermarket mufflers? If I was to use one of these how do they do for range/speed? For the lightweight and packability I might even consider one of these as primary propulsion for using my boat to get out and do some camping on some shallow, scenic rivers, provided it would have the oompf to move the boat and camping gear upstream. Am I living in a dream world to even consider this? Are these motor conversions suitable for what I want to do or am I better off trying to find a cheap, used traditional-type gas outboard? The one thing I keep coming back to is that at least a mud motor type of design would be more resistant to damage in the kinds of rivers and lakes I like to go to whereas a traditional outboard would not be. Finally, here's my boat from a couple seasons back - rigged for a photography outing at a local lake.
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