Backwater Mud Motor Weedless Trial Run [Mud & Grass]

Testing out the Backwater mud motor kit in some vegetation. Using the 8" prop and the 13hp predator engine, we are going to see what this setup will do.
BOAT SETUP:
1436 lt Alumacraft Jon Boat (would not recommend - get a tracker or something else other than an Alumacraft) {135lbs}
13hp Predator Engine by Harbor Freight (serial/model number 60349 [hemi-version]) {76lbs}
Backwater Swomp Lite Glider Kit 12-16 HP {57lbs}
Custom front deck and floor {~75lbs}
Battery, trolling motor, fishing supplies, cooler, anchor, etc... = {~100lbs}
My weight = 150lbs
Total weight = 600 pounds
The backwater performed as expected when it came to playing in the backwaters. After watching Carson Keitt's video, I knew the backwater would perform in mud and grass.
One thing to mention though is that most of the time I am going full send, open throttle. I normally run trails that I know there's water in. So the moment helps.
Another big thing is that I use Wetlander on the bottom of my hull. This GREATLY increases the ability to be able to slide over grass in the way that I did.
In most cases, I am not creating trails to use. I haven't found the need yet. So with this in mind, I know that the motor will do what I need it to do (run shallow), but if you are going to use it to create trails and use it in situations where you get stuck, I do not know how it will perform. I do not know and did not get to test the digging power of this kit. It was a bad weather day, I was by myself, and my transom isn't 100% so I didn't want to give tear it up.
So the next video will be the conclusion video. This will sum up all my experiences with the kit and let you know my thoughts on it.
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[@duckluv26]

Been running the 40 hp for the past 5 years and absolutely love it! Really a great setup.

[@predator6707]

Looks like it did an awesome job always enjoy watching your video I have a long tailI’ On my boat

[@JTgatoring]

It did do well! Thank you for watching Predator 670!

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

That looked like fun 👍

[@JTgatoring]

Hey Riverbend Longbows Outdoors, it was a good day out on the water. Was a little rainy and cloudy but its nice to have some shade in the summer haha thank you for being subscribed as long as you have. I really appreciate it 👊

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

@@JTgatoring yah man 👍

[@2ndrambo1]

Time to get that boat jumping some logs !! Nice vid

[@JTgatoring]

Haha I'd have to find some first. All the water I travel is old cow pasture and the main thing you hit is fence posts haha

[@2ndrambo1]

Ahhh gotcha. Was wondering why no grab bar? Around here you better strap in ha ha. Logs , stumps and rocks.

[@JTgatoring]

@@2ndrambo1 Yeah its just grass, cows, fence posts, and alligators where I'm at. This boats slides really easy too so I never really come to an abrupt stop either, I just slide to a stop hahaha

[@florida__jack]

Very effective 👍👍

[@JTgatoring]

Yes sir! Thank you for stopping by again FLORIDA JACK!

[@ronniebeecher8324]

We have the same playground, I got a gator right where you were testing. I’ve been interested in getting a mud motor and watching your videos makes me want to get one even more!

[@JTgatoring]

Awesome man! You must be one lucky guy to get a tag there. Congrats. I enjoy playing with all the different mud motors. Later on I'd like to try some surface drives too.

[@ronniebeecher8324]

@@JTgatoring I was watching random gator videos and I seen the one that you got out at JL. Pretty cool to watch. Between the mane tidal river and getting to the rivers from the mane lake I’ve been thinking about a mud motor.

[@JTgatoring]

@@ronniebeecher8324 Yeah, thank you. Having a mud motor defiantly helps at this location because the water depth can change on you so quick, as you may know. And the occasional fence post doesn't help either. They are keeping the water high right now so I haven't had an issue.

[@bowagoner9877]

JT if you add 10 hp more to your setup your troubles will be over. I went from 13 hp to 23 and never looked back. It will carry any load you can put in that size boat and it will do it easy.

[@JTgatoring]

The problem is, my transom has failed once, I added the plate, and now its starting to fail again. I will be rebuilding this transom this fall/winter when it starts to cool down. Maybe after the rebuild, but this boat would not be able to handle that as of right now. But, as of right now I've been pretty pleased with the 13hp engine

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

How would you rate the Backwater against the SPS ? (Edit) I checked out a couple past vids , I have my answers. Thx JTGatoring

[@JTgatoring]

I'll give you my quick thoughts anyways for those who are scrolling through the comments. I think the backwater kit would be a better mud motor when its on a V-twin engine. As for right now on a 13hp engine, it vibrates way too much for me and I would go with a swamp runner. Once you get into the vtwin engines though, I would think that vibration would cut down a considerable amount and the backwater and swamp runner would probably both be good. I would go with a swamp runner if your bottom width is 48" or less, and if your boat is wider, go with the backwater kit.

[@cdp50359]

Looks like it did great in the weeds. Mine does

[@JTgatoring]

Yeah it grabbed and ate. Not much weed collection either

[@cdp50359]

@@JTgatoring naw, it don't collect the weeds. The reversed threads on the shaft was a brilliant idea

[@JTgatoring]

@@cdp50359 That is pretty tricky and good thinking on their part. I was mainly getting it on the tracer plate but just giving it a few flicks in and out of the water would get it off

[@cdp50359]

@@JTgatoring yea, mine does that also. But I wish I would have gotten the swamp runner bigblock. I just think they do better. Btw, have you tried adjusting your cavitation plate? Maybe that would help some

[@JTgatoring]

@@cdp50359 I think I have it dialed in without getting super into it. I have one wedge, I tried two and it was too much, I broke it in half and it was still too much to where it was wanting to jump up and blow out a lot so I think its where it needs to be without really spending some time on it. I'd be interested in trying a big block swamp runner. I haven't seem many people with them online

[@aaronamachee7004]

Hey bud if this is in Florida do you know where to get brown haplo

[@denzky23]

Hey @jtgatoring this kind of set up its also works around rocky river almost 2-3 inches is the most shallow part in my river ? Generally river is unpredictable as long if i go june and july river depth here is probably is the best time of the year..what is your thought?

[@JTgatoring]

That would depend on your ability. I feel if you are going to be running a thin aluminum boat over rocks, you best know how to be able to patch and fix that boat. For the propulsion unit, I would go with a swamp runner over the backwater in this situation. The backwater prop needs to be completely submersed before it grabs. If you only have 3" of water with a rock bottom and you have an 8" prop.... you aren't going to dig that skeg and prop 5" deeper. A Swamp runner prop only needs half of the prop in the water to grab and go. Also, the swamp runner places the prop in the crest of the wake behind the boat. This wake sits equal with or even higher than the bottom of the boat so the swamp runner kit is less likely to hit submerged objects. The backwater kit has a shorter shaft and the prop rides in the low trough and again, the prop has to be completely submerged. So if you plan to run shallow, I think the Swamp runner would be better. They do come stock with aluminum props. I would say run the aluminum ones and keep a bunch on hand. If you end up breaking a lot, try their stainless prop. But in my eyes, a 1436 and 13/16hp longtail is the best for a solo person doing whatever they want to do.

[@denzky23]

@@JTgatoring thanks for the info..i will keep this conversation for sure…coz iam enjoying fishing much in a river but not much a best around shore spot..i can only find a good spot if i will teolling upstream or downstream in my river ..its kinda need to be exploring it just look a good spot for fishing

[@jonboatnationandstuff3301]

So are you leaving SPS?

[@JTgatoring]

I'm going to be putting the swamp runner back on to see if the vibration is an issue with the engine or the backwater kit. Either way, the combination of the backwater kit on this 13hp engine vibrates way too much for me, and I think I will keep the swamp runner kit on the engine once I take off the backwater.

[@DHoppey10]

This vs swamp runner? Whats the most enjoyable reliable experience?

[@JTgatoring]

I chose swamp runner. The swamp runner was faster, had more prop selection, was smoother running with less vibration in the handle, and has a more simple design than the backwater. I can fix and rebuild my swamp runner out on the water if needed, but even if something goes wrong there's a high probability that it will be able to operate and make it back to the ramp.

[@DHoppey10]

⁠@@JTgatoringright on man i appreciate that. Trying to figure out a mud motor for a 1448LW. Was thinking the 420 pred or 459. With the 100” shaft

[@JTgatoring]

@@DHoppey10 yeah, no problem. That's just how I view it. Once you start getting into boats wider than 48" then I may consider a backwater, but when it comes to riveted jon boats with 23hp or less, the swamp runner for the price and performance is just a winner for me. If you are going with a 1448, you would want all the extra help you can get when it comes to hp so get the 459. That engine also weighs a little more so it will help better balance that 100" shaft. Width really kills speed.

[@DHoppey10]

@@JTgatoringright on man thanks again. I have a 1448 already with a 25hp johnson but im tired of the outboard life and only being able to get to few places on my chain of lakes…and having to take the long way around to get there 😂🤣

[@JTgatoring]

@@DHoppey10 Haha no disagreeing here. If you remember to, let me know what you end up doing and how it treats you. Best of luck!

[@kennyhaworth9606]

Skinny water

[@fishingmojados1121]

Are you planning on upgrading the motor?

[@JTgatoring]

Right now, I'm going to take the backwater off, put the swamp runner on and see if the engine drives the same. After that, it would depend. I would like to keep this engine stock for other's viewers so they know what to expect with a stock engine.

[@fishingmojados1121]

@@JTgatoring You should get a second motor and use that for upgrading

[@JTgatoring]

@@fishingmojados1121 I need too. I'm going to start keeping an eye out on craigslist and market place and see what deals I can find on used predator engines.

[@CJ-ft6ul]

Sps can do that my 22 with my PC weed guard

[@JTgatoring]

I agree. After looking at footage I was realizing that in most of these situations the wetlander bottom coating was really helping out and any motor that could get enough speed should have been able to do that. It was still a good way to make sure that the backwater kit performed and would function in this type of environment without issues

[@kennyhaworth9606]

Does the motor want to pull down or push up when your moving

[@JTgatoring]

At idle speed and before getting on plane, this PULLS down. and pulls down hard. After I'm on plane I don't notice it especially when running through grass or mud.

[@calobadams1319]

Are your props 3/4 bore?

[@JTgatoring]

This is a backwater kit with backwater props. I know that they are threaded. I looked on their website and they say they are 3/4" #10

[@1coop164]

So swamp runner or backwater

[@JTgatoring]

I think the backwater kit would be a better mud motor when its on a V-twin engine. As for right now on a 13hp engine, it vibrates way too much for me and I would go with a swamp runner. Once you get into the vtwin engines though, I would think that vibration would cut down a considerable amount and the backwater and swamp runner would probably both be good. I would go with a swamp runner if your bottom width is 48" or less, and if your boat is wider, go with the backwater kit.

[@1coop164]

JTgatoring I have the same setup as you 1436 medium sps pred 420 but with a stage 1 kit. The swamp runner is a very nice product I was totally surprised with how well it will run through thickkk vegetation and shallow water with a hard bottom.

[@JTgatoring]

@@1coop164 Yeah its a great setup, I think the 1436, a 13hp engine, the swamp runner kit is the best setup for a solo guy. Whether you're fishing, hunting, or exploring. The kit works great and is able to do a lot, but people go into it with a negative mindset, purposely have a bad experience with it, and then move onto something else. I really enjoy mine and I hope others enjoy it as much as I do and experience what you have. I know mine loves to eat up thick vegetation

[@brycekrause9152]

You got the pin in the wrong side

[@JTgatoring]

The backwater/engine setup that I have wants to fall forward instead of backwards, so I put the pin in the front holes. I also do this because if I am trailering it and the strap breaks and the engine falls forward, it would fall towards the road. The pin will stop it from making contact with the road.

[@brycekrause9152]

@@JTgatoring if the pin is in the back itll only allow the motor to go down so far in the water which greatly improves ease of handling

[@brycekrause9152]

@@JTgatoring i always keep a cable lock around the shaft and transom support for security reasons, so if the strap breaks the cable lock will hold it down

[@JTgatoring]

@@brycekrause9152 The cable lock is a good idea. I like it. I haven't had an issue with handling and where the pin is. I did have in the back once and I found it annoying because I would need to dig and get the prop deeper but the pin was stopping me. I just didn't work me or I didn't give enough time I guess

[@brycekrause9152]

@@JTgatoring i have the same setup with a honda it vibrated quite a bit until i put an aftermarket exhaust on it then the smoothed it out

[@outdooroklahoma1441]

I’m CCD