Originally Posted by
silverroach
Bit of hard knocks advice when it comes to aluminum boats and mud motors. One of the main reasons I went and looked at a lot of Duracraft and others before purchasing down in my neck of the woods was just this. Most aluminum boats other than the boats that are made for mud motors want hold up. If you run in a lot of mud that has sand in it, it will thin the bottom of your boat to the point it will simply crack. Also the transom can’t take the beating. And you are more than likely going to hit more stumps, cypress knees and things of that nature. My brother in law is a wielder who repairs a lot of boats too. I do the clean up and some restoration. So unless you don’t have these conditions I don’t advise putting mud motors on boats that weren’t intended for them. I have mad the mistake myself and then bought a real one a gator tail boat and motor. No issues there. But if you do decide to do it at least brace the transom and when the bottom starts showing wear take it to a aluminum wielder and have the bottom beefed up a bit you want be sorry or be taking to sale for aluminum junk or you wife makes a big flower pot out of a nice aluminum boat.
I have already been there and done that so maybe I can save you all some pain. But this only applies if you have the condition I spoke. No, sand, rock, cypress knees, stumps, etc. go for it and beef up the transom.
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