need input on the good and bad of go devil motors?

[SCOOTER]

nm

[Wildfowler]

I've got a 25. It's biggest limitation as far as water depth is the condition of the bottom. A greentree res with a hard bottom is an example of a condition where this motor will not work without 6-7 inches or more of water. You've got to be able to get the anti-cavitation plate below the surface to get forward thrust. As long as the bottom is soft enough to allow the prop to work, this engine will push you through it. It's amazing.

But they are slower that an comparable outboard, and more difficult to maneuver. It takes some getting used to. There's no reverse either. Also, it takes a lot of effort and strain to operate a big go-devil under harsh conditions. Every time you hit a stump or log, that handle gets violently ripped out of your hand. Honestly, I am convinced that I have permanent damage to my rotator cup in my left shoulder which came as a direct result of driving this machine. I've also had the engine get away from me and swamp my boat. A kill switch, properly used, is an absolute must!!

I have had problems with the lower unit/drive assembly on mine. I've replaces the prop 3 times, drive shaft twice, and the lower bushings 3 times. Believe me, a new prop is like adding a turbo charger.

I used to have a 9hp, running it in the same conditions, I never had to have any service work done outside of the routine maintenance that they all must take.

I would ask yourself a question. Where are you going to use this motor, and how far do you think you will be traveling. I like the extra power, but it definitely comes at a price. My machine is basically a self destructive mechanism. This is directly related to the conditions exposed to. Flooded timber, with floating logs and debris is a piece of cake. This environment will cause very little wear and tear on the unit. A typical cypress swamp in shallow water conditions will cause excessive wear on the higher HP engines due to the constant churning of the bottom sediment.

So if money is no object, and if this will not be your only means of hunting transportation, I would say get the biggest one you can afford. If you are not racing to get to your spot, I would go with the 9 hp which should be virtually maintenance free.

I am strongly going to consider buying the mud buddy frame kit for my 25. Mud buddy uses a bearing lower unit assembly instead of a brass bushing. A bearing can fail without warning, but I don't believe this would leave me stranded. But more importantly, I can change the bearings myself. I don't have the tools or the skill set to cut and replace a bushing. In fact, I am just waiting for mine to need the next 300 repair as my cure to call mud buddy for a new frame.

Just remember, you can't do everything with one boat. Everything has it's limitations. I'm not trying to talk you out of buying one, I just think it's important to hear the bad things associated with them. We all know that they will go almost anywhere. Hope this helps.

[Jeff]

Scooter, the topic was well covered for the most part in the previous posts. However a couple of things to add to it. First off, Go-devil refined it bushing system with a new system last year and it seems to have given a lot of longevity to the drive shafts. So I don't think you will have any problems there that won't happen anywhere else. As far as churning sediment causing problems on high HP motors I have to completely disagree with that statement. Down here all my motors do is churn up sediment in no water. They last for quite some time. I have never had a problem with this and have never heard of anyone else having a problem with this, and I hunt with about 40 people that all use go devils and have use these types of motors all my life. I do like the new mud buddy motors and have actually switched to one last year, it works great and is spins into the boat when trailering so there are less trailering/storage issues. In my boat I run a 15' boat w/ a 23 hp and with three people, dog and crap we get about 13 mph out of it, very slow, however a higher hp motor gets better speed with more weight in the boat. With no weight in the boat, the higher hps are about the same but when they get loaded down the higher hps shine. The other place a go devil is useless is in sand. I seem to remember that you hunt near greneda lake wich should be mud, but ifya got sand they don't work in super shallow conditions, however mud you can't walk across and they do great! I love them and will never not had a godevil type motor to hunt with. E-mail me if I can help you any more.

[SCOOTER]

thanks for all the info, one more thing. is it hard to put one on a 15 ft jon boat, the boat is really a nice built, tuff boat. thanks again scooter

[Hambone]

The Go-devil will mount on a standard johnboat transom. Just make sure that the rear seat will not interfere with the lifting of the prop out of the water, which is done by pushing the tiller down. Unless you have superhuman strength, have a friend help you mount the motor. They are extremely cumbersome and heavy. If you hunt an area with lots of logs and stumps, buy the Go-devil boat. It will not hang up on anything.

[laduck]

Scooter, I can not add much, but here are a few other things. I would recommend that your boat have a short shaft transom. The Go-Devil will run much better with this. It also is available with two propeller options to match your engine with your specific conditions, to achieve peak per-
formance and durability. 3BL- This is a 3blade weedless prop which gives maximum speed in open water. S.W. This is a 2blade super weedless prop for maximum performance in rope type vegetation ie: Johnson grass, cattails and even wild rice. also runs in mud like 4wheel drive, has 5% to 10% speed loss when compared to the 3bl in open water. I have the 25 H.P. Kohler electric start. I have had mine for 4 years now. It is one tough machine. It will take some getting use to as stated. Good luck. Jack



Shoot them sprigs on their first pass!

[SCOOTER]

one more question, what size motor do i need for the 15ft boat?
thanks scooter

[laduck]

I have talked to Warren Coco who makes the Go-Devil. He says that length plays a very important part in the performance of a boat. The longer the better! A longer boat will always out perform a shorter boat unless both boats are totally empty. A wider boat also performs better than a narrower one but he has found that length helps more than width. This is why he will not build any boats shorter than sixteen feet. That said here is a chart.

Engine Weight Recommended Boat Size Approximate Speed
5 80 14 x 32 12
8 115 14 x 36 14
9 130 14 x 36 15
16 145 14 or 16 x 40 18
18 150 16 x 48 20
20 185 16 x 48 22
25 185 16 x 48 25

I hope that this can be of some use. You should call Warren (he is a every day person and very nice). He will answer all of your questions
Go-Devil Manufacturers of Louisiana Inc.
18469 Womack Road Baton Rouge La. 70817
( new area code ?) 752-0167 Fax (area code) 752-0175

Let me know if I can help in any way. Jack

[Wildfowler]

Agreed, Warren Coco is an extremly nice individual. He has been most accomidating in helping me with my problems that I mentioned above.

When I had my first breakdown, I called Go-Devil from the boat ramp and told them I was driving down from MS. They made arrangements to have my engine repaired while I waited in Baton Rouge. I think he goes way above the call of duty. (see Duckmen, I do appreciate good service)

As far as what size engine, that's really up to you wallet. I would say that there is a big differece in power between the 9 hp and the 16 hp, the incremental cost is not that much more, I would say you should at least get the 16 hp.

[SCOOTER]

The question has been coverd great, thanks for the input. i'm looking into a 16 hp right now. thanks again, SCOOTER

[Wildfowler]

One more thing about Go-Devil type motors if you decide to get one. They will beat you to death. I took mine out yesterday afternoon for a spin to look for teal. I didn't see any teal, but while driving the lower unit violently hit a submerged stump which darned near dislocated my neck. I think I've got whiplash. I've been operating these things since 1995, and should know better. I think people have a tendency to grab tight when they feel a jolt, at least I do.

It's best to drive this thing with an open hand, guiding it with your palm, so the handle can slam safely away whenever you hit an obstruction. Otherwise it will dislocate your shoulder if you are not careful and jerk you down with it. And watch out where you put your left foot. That handle hurts when it slams into the middle of your foot.

I love mine though!!

[wngrog]

Hey Wildfowler.....they work for HOG hunting too, right?

[MSDuckmen]

You guys forgot to tell him how hard the dang thing is to crank in cold cold weather and how you can forget using it when the ice is thicker than 1/4 inch. I had one and hated the dang thing.

[Wildfowler]

Duckmen is right, they do require more attention in freezing weather. The thottle cable is a very poor design, as is prone to freezing up. It's best to remeber to set the thottle at about 1/2 speed.

You can lube the cable using those little straws that come with WD-40. Holding it the straw in place with your fingertips, eventually you'll get enough lube inside the cable guide to displace any moisture that might be present. This will work, but it needs to be done regularily to prevent freezups.

Also, you can use synthetic motor oil to help with the cranking if you don't have an electric starter.

Good luck.