Predator 459cc stage 1 mud skipper feather lite surface drive

2 adults 200+ lbs with cooler and extra gas. Averaged 23.5mph and seen 24.7 on choppy water. 12x32 Jon boat

[@JoshuaW.isfromCalifornia]

About damn time someone posted a decent video of the featherlite engine kits. Great job.

[@codylanning1524]

I got to do a better video at some point. Too cold around here to end up in the water so I’m taking it kinda easy until it warms up some.

[@Alcisco504]

Hell Yeah! Dude str8 piked it over that tree! Zero effs given sending this motor for us viewers & i’ll be damned thats one hell of a setup you got there boy!!!

[@fourbanger]

Man, if I didn't live in desert New Mexico I'd have to have that set up...Sweet!

[@backwoodshomestead]

nice! thing is a rocket!

[@donduck6195]

That's a ripper! I've got a twister with a stage 1 Honda gx390 but it's chugging around at about 17mph on my 1542... empty with just me. Might be worth grabbing a used 1232 just to fly around on. Looks like a blast

[@codylanning1524]

That’s a respectable speed for a boat that speed. I’m running a 9” stainless prop too. If I wanted to die I could run a 9.5 and probably break 30mph but at 28 it feels like I’m riding on a flat rock across the lake. Boarder line out of control.

[@tacticalreacharound2424]

What rpm are you running to get those speeds? I'm getting 20 mph at 3,750 and 22 at 3,850. 14×48 with 2 people and a toddler. Running a 500cc duromax with 9 inch prop. Hitting governor and have adjustment screw installed still. Might try a 9.5 inch prop.

[@donduck6195]

@@tacticalreacharound2424 definitely bump it up to a 9.5" prop. I use a 9.25" to get my top speed and I'm just using a little gx390. If you are hitting the rev limiter with a 9" prop then you are ripping yourself off of a few mph.

[@donduck6195]

@@tacticalreacharound2424 I'm definitely getting the Duramax 500 for my next engine. Same kit, just going to upgrade engines at some point. They seem to make great power

[@sidneysilva9171]

Top anda muito irmão

[@codyhildebrand9922]

Where do you get the stage 1 kit from

[@codylanning1524]

Intake side is the same as the 420. I got it off amazon. Exhaust is Robertson torque tube

[@codyhildebrand9922]

@@codylanning1524 thanks

[@snowman_5150]

What EOS were you running, hard to tell if you were revved out

[@Dylanhallowell]

Did you have to shim the motor when mounting to the featherlight kit to get the belt to line up?

[@codylanning1524]

No. I will say leave the engine loose, bolt the 4 bolts that hold the kit to the back of the motor and then slide the motor as far forward as you can. Then tighten everything up. That’s what got that angle out of mine

[@brandongoodrich9906]

How close to the water are you at the transom when you’re not moving?

[@codylanning1524]

Don’t really know never measured. It’s a 15” transom and just me (all the weight in the back id say I got 8” or so above water. 2 ppl makes it better probably 5-6” with 2 ppl. Boats a little small for that motor. I wish it was a 12x36 but it was my papas boat. 1969 is what the title says lol

[@brentsevereid9180]

That's decent speed with such a short, loaded boat. Got the same engine on my 1432 with a Thai a long tail. Does that surface drive take the Thai style props that are tapered and keyed?

[@codylanning1524]

It does. But I haven’t had any luck with aluminum props on it. They work their way up the taper and get against the back in the shaft housing. This was mudskipper props too. Beaver dam or swamp runner props may not have that problem. Also to note, the 9” would run up but the 8.5 wouldn’t

[@brentsevereid9180]

@@codylanning1524 Thanks for the info. All three companies props are the same. It sounds like the taper or shaft only can take the standard props. Once you get to a higher pitch with the 9" there isn't enough shaft which is unfortunate because the hurricane and bullet props won't fit. Surprisingly, mudskipper is the only place that sells a special Thai long tail shaft with extra long threads and extra shaft that easily takes the hurricane and bullet props. Also allows extra room to get prop puller in. Down side is standard props won't fit unless you use about a 3/4" bushing between prop and nut. I'd like to get one of these feather lites, but need to be able to use my high pitch props. I'll give mud skipper a call. See if they have a solution. Thanks.

[@codylanning1524]

@@brentsevereid9180 you can try. I reached out when I discovered that their props didn’t work. They requested to use my video so we worked it out I got 3 free props, which come to find out did me no good. They just said it must have been a bad casting or something. I did notice the surface drive had a lot more prop Torqe when I had the 9” aluminum vs the stainless. Running same speed too

[@brentsevereid9180]

@@codylanning1524 I think the stainless props are designed for weeds with a moderate pitch and very low rake. I there might be a little more pitch to that 9". Here is me running a high pitch, high rake 8.5" prop on my empty 1432. kzbin.info4UBFGHO4Pjg?feature=share

[@codylanning1524]

@@brentsevereid9180 pretty good. How’s the hole shot though? I still need to get up and go when I technically way over loaded lol. Had 2 people and 2 deer in it and still got up in maybe twice the length of the boat

[@user-zj1vg6cw3m]

Nice😮

[@bsuggs2]

Could you do a walk around of how you have your boat setup? I couldn’t imagine my 1232 holding up a 459

[@codylanning1524]

i will try to do that soon. I built an iron wood transom and have a 3/4 aluminum plate on the transom for support, Not really needed but made me feel better. the boat handles it very well. when its just me i have to have a little weight up front to keep it balanced right. cooler and gas can are plenty.

[@bsuggs2]

@@codylanning1524 thanks man, I really need to get a smaller battery I think it’s what gives me weight distribution problems when running solo vs 2 people

[@codylanning1524]

@@bsuggs2 yeah I moved mine under the front bench seat. Mine is a ATV battery’s also. So it’s fairly light. It’s all about weight distribution. I’ve hauled 2 deer and my friend out with this boat. Still running 13mph and that’s before the stage 1. Stage 1 made a huge difference in this motor

[@bsuggs2]

@@codylanning1524 that’s what I really need. Do you have to slow down slowly so water doesn’t come over the back or does the boat sit pretty level?

[@codylanning1524]

@@bsuggs2 if I’m alone with no weight at all up front, and I’m sitting on the back bench then yes. If I’m standing, which puts my weight about 2’ more forward than sitting, it’s close. If I have my cooler up front then I’m good. I also have a 1100 gph auto bulge pump In the back in case I mess up. Can pump it out faster that it can come in. $30 on Amazon. Peace of mind. I also used foam in my floor and used aluminum plate to make a floor for extra floatation. Never swamped the boat though. Motor seemed heavy at first but it really ain’t bad at all. It makes the small boat a work horse for sure

[@coltensawyer6761]

How does a boat that size take the weight ? I know the motors 79 kit it’s 65 fuel and oil probably another 10 so around 145 150 pounds. Any flex in transom or swamping when you come off plane. I’m doing something similar I just have a different motor.

[@codylanning1524]

With it just me, if I just let go of the throttle and come down hard off plane I take a little water but not much. If you look though my other videos I did a walk around of my boat showing how I reinforced the transom with a thick aluminum plate. Also have a iron wood transom. But as far as swamping coming off plane, with 2 ppl or a deer up front, I can’t swamp it if I wanted to. My boat actually holds it well. My boat is a 1969 and back when them made stuff strong and thick too so I don’t have any flex issues at all.

[@coltensawyer6761]

@@codylanning1524 okay great thanks for that info it helps me on mine. boat in building is a late 60s or early 75. It doesn’t says 75 on title but it isn’t right because no HIN. But it’s a sears 14-36 I’m doing all aluminum transom with added plate for distribution on the back side and it has to floor braces. I’m gonna run a 670 that i already have you think it will be to big ? I mean I’ve seen guys with 12-36 run it Haha

[@codylanning1524]

@@coltensawyer6761 personally If I had a 14x36 I’d go bigger. You won’t have any problem with a 459 at all with that boat. In the mud boat world in my opinion over powered it what makes it get up and go in the heavy stuff. 14x36 I would strap a 670 on it and roll out

[@coltensawyer6761]

@@codylanning1524 man I have a 670 in the basement I probably will use I’m running James river with lots of rocks and seaweed. Get all in the prop. I trying to pick between a surface drive and a Longtail. Which you like better ?

[@codylanning1524]

@@coltensawyer6761 all I have ever owned is the twister and the surface drive. To me, there is no comparison to the surface drive. You point it, it goes and handles like an outboard. I believe the long tail will run shallower. Just by design but I’ve never got my boat stuck with the surface drive either so.

[@bryceboudoin1559]

Man I’m in the process of doing this same set up would you mind doing a video of you entire set up

[@codylanning1524]

I will try to at some point. Just build up your transom to take a “worst case” log hit and go with it. My engine is a 459 with a simple air filter adapter, .046 carb main jet, and a Robertson torque tube. My transom is iron wood like they put on boat docks and a aluminum plate locking it all together

[@codylanning1524]

For everyone asking about the set up I just uploaded a short video of a walk around on my rig. Hope it helps

[@kturbo504]

Man this is exactly what I was looking for. So I have a 12/36 Jon boat riveted. I was looking at the feather light kits and can't decide from the 6h.p. kit which is much lighter or the 8-13 h.p. kit and run either a 420 or 459. Being you had both can you maybe give me the pros and cons of both?

[@codylanning1524]

@@kturbo504 if you plan on running alone, no gear, the small kit is more fun and you can expect 18mph completely empty with a stage 2 kit. Add another person and a cooler and you may or may not plane out. Maybe 10-12mph. With the 459 kit I have, I can run 28mph alone and 23mph with 2 people and gear. And it will go anywhere I point it. But if I do get Stuck, more work to get unstuck from the extra weight. Personally, I’ll never go back to the small engine. The torque of the big block is what makes a mud boat do what it does

[@boydlittou9446]

We're did you get the stage 1 kit?

[@codylanning1524]

Amazon. It’s for a 420

[@boydlittou9446]

@@codylanning1524 Did the kit come with a main jet and did you install it in the carb on the 459cc as well?

[@codylanning1524]

@@boydlittou9446 with the kit all you get is the air filter adapter and the air filter. The 212 and 420 jets are the same. You can drill your factory jet for that matter. 2 ways of doing it, either get letter drill bits or a torch tip cleaner and use that to file them out. My main jet ended up being .049” hole. All builds will be different. But I have factory every thing on this motor other than exhaust and air cleaner. And that alone let this motor breath

[@timothydelahaye7743]

did you remove the internal governor gear?

[@codylanning1524]

Nope. Throttle stop screw removed. That’s it. Gov is still there. Without that gov if you hit something at WOT and it blows the prop out of the water then you risk blowing it. I have a tach I need to put on it and see what I’m turning but I’m guessing no more than 4k

[@timothydelahaye7743]

Did u have to add bracing to the Robertson torque tube? Or is it Sturdy enuf bolted on?

[@codylanning1524]

It comes with 2 braces. I could only use one but it’s rock solid. I do recommend using at least 1 of them

[@williamarnold1963]

What size is the boat

[@codylanning1524]

12x32