July 25, 2017
By David Hart
With all of the reliable motors out there to power your duck boat, there's no excuse to be the guy who's always tied up to the dock, yanking on the outboard's pull cord while everyone is settling into their blind. But how do you choose the best duck boat motor for your boat?
If you've put off buying a new motor for your duck boat, don't fret. There's a new crop of monster motors out there that will get you to the birds reliably, safely and quickly.
Depending on where you hunt, you can choose from big, beefy outboards that can push a barge up the Mississippi, or light, compact, mud motors that sail across gumbo. Here are five of the Best Duck Boat Motors we've seen for 2017.
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GATOR TAIL GTRXD
A beast packed with features, the 993cc Big Block 37-hp Vanguard comes with a tach/hour meter, stainless muffler and a 20-50 amp charging system. It has a heavy-duty waterproof trim switch, electric clutch, planetary reverse transmission, fully-adjustable transom clamp, free-floating handle with tension adjustment and weedless prop. It also comes with a lifetime belt warranty and a three-position throttle control.
$8,395 | GATOR-TAIL.COM
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GO-DEVIL 35HP SURFACE DRIVE
All Go-Devil motors are built to bomb-proof specifications, including the toughest frame in the industry. The 35-hp SD includes a three-blade stainless steel prop, electric start and three-year warranty on the Vanguard motor. Expect a top speed of about 28 mph on a 1656 boat. Options include a rock guard, hot-dipped galvanized frame, tach and hour meter, grab bar kit and a water trap.
$5,895 | GODEVIL.COM
BOSS DRIVES HOSS
Big boats demand a HOSS of a motor. Boss Drives' High Output Series Surface is powered by a 75-hp GM 1.0L Ecotec liquid-cooled engine and uses a Mercury Bravo Drive transmission for reliability. It comes with full-power instant reverse, an integrated hydraulic steering cylinder and connectivity to a number of marine electronics systems. The HOSS is even Bluetooth compatible and comes with a stainless prop and exhaust.
$12,995 | BOSSDRIVES.COM
MUD BUDDY 44EFI
Can a motor be smarter than its operator? Mud Buddy's new 44EFI sure comes close. The direct throttle control eliminates lag, delivering crisp response and the idle air control gives you smooth idle as you dock, trailer, troll or pick up decoys. It comes with a 20/50 amp alternator to run all the electronics on your boat. The rev limiter prevents over-revving and the EFI speed sensing measures engine data to deliver the perfect amount of fuel. Packed with features.
$9,950 | MUDBUDDY.COM
PRO DRIVE 37EFI
Pro Drive's 37EFI isn't just loaded, it's reliable, simple and powerful, thanks to a 37-hp EFI Vanguard motor. It's available in either tiller or console steering and comes with a heavy-duty clutch, hydraulic power trim, automatic or manual reverse and a Gen 4 lower unit. The floating tiller handle includes a marine ignition switch, safety kill, twist grip throttle and reset circuit control, among other features. It even comes with a removable brush guard.
$8,170 | PRODRIVEOUTBOARDS.COM
