New Jet OB or Mud Motor

[Deserthunter1]

Newbie here on the fourm and love the great info and experience sharded.
I have an Alumaweld 16'3' intruder with a 10o hull and delta bottom. I live in Sacramento, CA and run the Feather, Yuba, Sac, and American river for Fly Fishing unless it's duck season. Then I'm hitting the Delta and Yuba / Sutter bypass when flooded for ducks. I burned up my 2006 Evenrude 90 /60 and am buying a new motor. Our local dealer offers Yamaha and I'm going to upgrade to a 115 /80.
Sofar I have loved the jet set up but have a hard time when the bypass floods with all the debry, grass, and rice starts flowing. And that's where the ducks are.
Mudbuddy has a V50 that would work perfect for 4 months out of the year for the duck hunting but I have no experience with running up rivers with it. All our rivers have rocks, medium size to small rocks and sand.
My question is the Mudbuddy; what's your thoughts with a motor like that on Rivers? They offer a rock guard adn they seem to help but the guys i've been talking to live mainly in the south, and they don't run western rivers.

Another issue I have is getting hung up on rocks when drifting down the rivers. The aluminum has a great grip when encountering rocks. What would you recommend I coat the bottom with? Price is an issue because I plan on spending $12 or more on a motor and $15 is my limit.

Thanks and all imput is very needed.

Frank




Frank

 

[mudbuddy]

Recently got a used 115/80 on a 20/72 Sea Ark

Have an 18/60 Polarcraft with a 35 Muddbuddy

No such thing as one boat for everything.

Like the mudbuddy for mud, weeds & hp restricted areas, great duck boat
Light weight boat so can get/drag it anywhere it'll float. Easy on fuel. Simple principle

Like the 80 jet & bigger boat. hauls more, higher sides
Jet works well for the shallow rivers here that have moving gravel bars.
More power, speed & stuff to take with us...... more fuel too (More complicated)


Tough choice.
Good luck
Dave

 

[Deserthunter1]

Good call Dave...

Although I love duck hunting, it's only a few times a year I have a problem with the jet. Right after our Buy passes flood. Lots of Rice and Corn floating down the water ways, after a day or two it clears up pretty good. Yet that's when the major grinds are on! I just picked up a Sportspal square back canoe S-15, I was considering getting a small long tail for that.

Thanks,

Frank

 

[mudbuddy]

Some trips out moose hunting, I haul a canoe
So we can get back In farther off the main river.

small long tail could open up some other areas for you