[Buckmark311]

Im looking at building a small longtail for my 12' johnboat. I have seen these kits online and they are MUCH cheaper than purchasing the entire set up. My question is, for those who have assembled the kits, is it an easy process? Also can a 6.5hp lawnmower engine be used to power the motor with out many modifications?

I know the ones you purchase are electric start, but i have a bunch of 6.5hp lawnmower engines that are 1st pull starts. looking to keep a build cheap. Would it work?

 

[froghunter]

i plan to start my build tonight. as long as you have a horizontal shaft motor it can be done. im building mine from scratch with a 6.5hp motor.

 

[Mrs Carp Muncher]

I have a 12hp longtail for are 12x3 jon boat that we use in are marsh it pushes ok with 2 guys in the boat but I think you will have a hell of a time with only 6.5hp. If I was going to get another one I would go the route you are and also mine is a pull start I would stay with that because you don't want anymore weight in a 12ft boat than you have to.....

 

[froghunter]

if you have the motor its possiable to build a mm for less than 200$. at least i think you can, i will know here shortly.

mm and speed just dont go together. if you need hp then you will be upset with a long tail. if you need something to get you from point a to point b then it should do fine. go-kart forums and raceing lawn mower forums can teach you alot about getting more hp out of what you have. my 6.5 will be going on my 848 and i hope to mod it out and should be pushing 8-10 hp when im done.

 

[Wwilso]

I have built three from scratch ( I work in a machine shop so was easy ) with the 6.5 hp had one on a 12' jon and it worked great. With 2 guys, lab, guns and decoys it was fine. not a barn burner but I loved it , then some jacka$$ needed it more than me I guess cause he took it. But if I ever see it I will know its mine. good luck and if you have any questions PM me.

 

[Buckmark311]

is a 6.5hp motor off a pushmower going to cut it? Im not looking to really push through mud, just run some shallows in duck season. 8-14" of water, little skinny for a regular motor.

 

[Midnight_murderer]

You'll be fine. I built one with a swamp runner long tail kit on a 6.5 predator engine and it would run about 7mph with 2 people, guns, dog, and decoys but I wanted it faster so I modded it out to about 15hp

 

[froghunter]

most mowers have vertical shaft motors......they wont work. at least without a TON of ******* engineering.

 

[DCronk]

I got one of those mud skipper long tail kits on my 14' Jon boat and it does great. Took less than an hour to assemble. I used a 13hp predator engine and it will go thru pretty good mud and cattails etc.

 

[Wwilso]

Predator motors are what we use too. Great motors and cheap

 

[Buckmark311]

sooo i guess im a no go for the lawnmower engine.

Any recommendation on kit? It seems that the predator engine is the way to go on this. Do these engines have a self contained gas tank or will i need to carry one on board?

 

[froghunter]

they have a tank mounted on them. go to harbor freight to get one and buy the warrenty. you can also download a 20-25% off coupon for them.

 

[Wwilso]

We had to add extra oil to the motor because it sat at an angle and the low oil shut off won't let it run but a minute or two. Don't remember how much extra but it fixed the prob. I think we had bout 350.00 in our motors but that was using scrap metal we have at shop

 

[Mrs Carp Muncher]

The only thing good about the predator motors is there cheap!!! Me personally I would spend a few extra dollars and get a motor you don't have to make sure you get the warranty on.

 

[Wwilso]

We have tan the crap out of ours and never had an issue. Cranks on the first or second pull every time. They are a honda knockoff

 

[Mrs Carp Muncher]

We have tan the crap out of ours and never had an issue. Cranks on the first or second pull every time. They are a honda knockoff

That's a huge stretch to say predator is a knockoff of Honda and I suppose your going to say the same thing about there generators also.......

 

[froghunter]

its a proven fact. China does not have or obay any patent laws. the engine is a CHEAPER built motor but follows the same specs as a honda. thats where the nick name CLONE came from.

same quality, NO. same design, YES.

 

[Midnight_murderer]

sooo i guess im a no go for the lawnmower engine.

Any recommendation on kit? It seems that the predator engine is the way to go on this. Do these engines have a self contained gas tank or will i need to carry one on board?

I would get the swamp runner long tail kit. They have a better transom mount so there's no chance of your motor hopping off your transom

 

[Buckmark311]

on that swamprunner kit, its $400 plus a 6.5hp horizontal shaft motor. I can be in this thing all said and done for under $600. i dont think thats a bad idea....


Have any of you used that kit?

 

[ha2]

I'd spend my money on the backwater glider kit think there around 1000 dollars but are a hell of a kit.