Super longtail - sweeter than we thought

[Glenn]

Its official:

Many knew it could be done - adding a belt drive to a longtail mud motor. We all thought the added power would make the traditional longtail even more difficult to run, a disaster in tight turns, and the price would be way too high.

I overcame all that. I designed a new frame, lowered the drive, changed the skeg and cav plate and found a way to make these new motors economical.

And best yet, they run smoother, balance nicely, have great hole shots and even in tight turns are a dream to drive. Tiller torque is completely gone and the new cav plate finds its own level right out of the chute.

Having a neutral on a longtail is more than sweet and the gear reduction allows us to run a 11X10 blade subsurface at speeds within 3-4 mph of our short tails.

I am using the same clutch, belt, drive tube, bearings and seals as the short tails. The handle will be located on the side and rigid, but be adjustable to fit all users.

The new gear box is overbuilt and rock solid.

The drive shaft is 24mm, massive compared to the current longtail drives.

The new style universal joint clamps to the drive and is well balanced.

We even have a new Super Longtail big blade to go with the package.

We have employed a new style belt adjuster that makes building and changing a belt a breeze. Not saying you will need to carry a belt, but with simple hand tools and 30 minutes, I changed one in my driveway this weekend while chatting with a neighbor.

The controls are located on the end of the handle just like the sport. The trim switch slot be used as a light, accessory or bilge switch.

I ran the motor for three hours straight with the squeeze throttle and I love it. I don't dare put a fixed throttle like we use on the traditional longtails on this motor - it flat out hauls and being able to get off the throttle instantly is necessary.

Justin warned me to not pull the handle towards me in a tight turn when I first ran the super longtail - like a never ran a mud motor before. He was rightfully concerned. However after a half hour of running I just had to try it. All I can say is sweet. It is a little harder to turn than a short tail, pure physics says it will be, but each time I moved the handle the new drive locked in place and didn't require nearly the leverage of the traditional longtails or even a short tail to keep it in the tight turn. I never expected the new frame to act like this, but I can live with the bonus. But then again, it didn't have a HD7000 on its back either.

So, as you can tell, I am very pleased with the SLT and we will put it into production for July.

We initiated the patent(s) documentation last Wednesday in that this design is worth protecting.

The cost will be $100 less than the current 35 longtail. We will begin distribution in early July, and begin taking orders May 15th.

The SLT drive will come with a 35 Vanguard, however it is available with a 35CDI or Black Death 4500.

Most likely I will go to a stainless frame within a week. Plus I didn't mention but the drive assembly will be bolted on making a short transom frame easy to convert to a tall transom, etc.

In summary, the Super Longtail is here to stay and will in short time command its spot in Mud Buddy's lineup this year at roughly $100 less or more than our or competitor's longtails.

And, finally, I must extend a thanks to the staff and engineers at ARKMOS, here in Salt Lake for helping me design the new Super Longtail (SLT). This is only the beginning for our new R&D team at ARKMOS and our customers will see much more to come this year. For those of you that have not heard of ARKMOS, it is a new company consisting of engineers, designers, marketing, advertising, sales, manufacturing, and business consultants that we formed last year to launch a new line of outdoor products the next few years. Mud Buddy and other companies will distribute their products.

[admin-Jon]

Will there be Video anytime soon

[Glenn]

Yes, plus I am sending demo units out later this month to Gator Trax, Daley's Hunt and Fish, Kevin Lusk, Excel, etc.

[Glenn]

Another Photo

[BoatDR]

You weigh it yet?

[quack addict]

Looks freakin sweet! If the Go-Devil is like the base line single cab V6 silverado, this motor is the Escalade on 26" and lambo doors, lol. This is my ONLY concern, back when I had a longtail and i would smoke a stump WOT, the handle would come down and hit the floor (or my foot). Is there anything that will keep this motor from doing that as not to break the "football"?

[Dukkilr]

looking at the pics it doesnt look too much different than a regular long tail, I'm having a hard time figuring out where and how there is a belt drive on this thing?

[Duxbwar]

A traditional 35 longtail was arround 200 pounds. I would think this one would be with 15 pounds of it.

[Glenn]

looking at the pics it doesnt look too much different than a regular long tail, I'm having a hard time figuring out where and how there is a belt drive on this thing?

That was the hard part. It is there but very compact. Looking from the top, it is 4" wider near the engine.

It is about 20 pounds heavier than the traditional 35 longtail.

[Browning]

Glenn,
Will they be available in any smaller sizes? IE, 6hp?

[Glenn]

Yes, we are doing the Kohler 27, Van 23, 18 and 14 next. Then the 6 and 9. The neutral clutch for 6 is a challenge for the ARKMOS team, but I am doing my best to have it part of the package. We have a new 6 motor that is a spitfire.

[spoony]

Glenn great job that is a great looking engine you are a master at your work. I will keep with my HD though

[Kman]

Yes, plus I am sending demo units out later this month to Gator Trax, Daley's Hunt and Fish, Kevin Lusk, Excel, etc.

We're excited about this. Can't wait to get it! Good job and thanks!

[bpgast]

Glenn,
That thing looks great! I saw you said it's 3-4 mph slower than a short tail, do you have comparison between speeds with same boats? i.e. Tradition 35 longtail, SLT, and short tail in 35 stock? Would love to see the differences!
I love longtails and need one where I hunt, but this has got me thinking about trading my traditional 35 up to the new SLT. Neutral would be great, always scared about my dog and nephews getting hit by prop when out of water.

[wmahnke]

so whats the opinion on the slt from some of you otheir guys that hav e seen it run or ran it yourselfs?????

[Tractor TR]

I also have a quick question,
will it fit both a short and long transom?

[strobie22]

I also have a quick question,will it fit both a short and long transom?

You can it for a tall or a short transom

[bpgast]

Any reports or updates?

[apps45]

Sounds good from here I really want another LT for the cattails reeds and lilliy pads with neutral a great plus it will take me where I need to be

[Fowl Language]

Wow! This is great!

Glenn, You & I spoke about a motor like this four years ago and something came up that we couldn't do it. I bought the 35 LT with Muni carb and pipe instead and have been very happy with it. But now I want one of these.

[Glenn]

Well, it has been some times and a few working models later, we have the SLT. We have a 35 horse model now, but will soon add the 9, 14, 18, 23 Van and 27 Kohler.

Here are some computer renderings of the 2012 SLT in black. We are building cobblestone models this week.

This final version has the drive mounted directly below the motor driveshaft. The final frame is a little more difficult to build, but more compact. We use the 25mm shaft and drive bearing system similar to the Sport short tail but longer. The drive is 10" shorter than traditional longtails since it is mounted on the bottom of the engine-making it very nice to drive - no tiller torque at all. The drive shaft assembly now bolts to the frame, is easily removed and interchangeable from short to tall etc.

Comes with clamp mount.

The cavitation plate is innovative and worthy of patent. It allows us to run a larger propeller because it fools the propeller into thinking it is running on the surface when in fact it runs under the surface. It basically cavitates the top of the blade allowing it to slip while the lower portion of the prop digs. In all it runs faster than the older longtails while swinging a larger mud eating blade. 11" X 10" on the 35.

To steal an old expression,"this is not your grandpa's longtail."

[Huskers2024]

Any idea on the weight or availability of the 6hp? I just bought a Momarsh and am debating on what to put on it.

[Glenn]

You will want one of our little 6 horse gear drive Kohler (yamaha) motors.

We are sold out now, but we may build some more next month.

[Glenn]

Here are some photos of the SLT duck hunting today. Ran nice.

[Lucky Number Seven]

Where are the ducks!?!?!?!

[marshmaster]

Very nice !!! I like the over all look my only question is how does it push a load compared to a surface drive?

[Glenn]

For any given horsepower - the same.

[marshmaster]

I really like it!! And it's kinda short like the old craw fish long tails ..I think this will be the ultimate mud machine .... I would like to test drive one of theses and a 40 in surface drive.... just for comparison for my next motor

Over the summer I might have to go visit the great boat dr. Wounce again

I'll go ahead and say thanks !

[Dukkilr]

have you tried a modded motor on one of these frames like a 5500 or 7000?

[Glenn]

I think a 45 would be the largest. A carb kit and "Q" would be the most I would put on a longtail. It has zero tiller torque in the water, but when I hit ice chunks with it yesterday and the propeller came out of the water, the 11' prop was a handful.

The longtail will always out perform a short tail in mud and thick vegetation, but the Super Longtail will run about 3 mph less and it is a harder to handle in tight power turns.

It has been years since I ran my longtails. I forgot about the massive hole shots and load capacity - I forgot what it is like to run a prop in clean water 5' behind the boat. Plus I was able to slip over very shallow water, again with hardly any prop slip.

We have customers that love longtails for the above reasons. The goal behind this project was to launch longtails into the future, give them neutral, a shorter drive, a bolt together frame, the short tail 25mm drive shaft, adjustable handle, bad ass look, and all at a lower price than the traditional longtails offered today, at least the 35 Vanguard.

Back on the water again today. Hunting is tough, but Clint and I managed to get 10 yesterday.

[Glenn]

Final price for a Vanguard short Super Longtail (SLT) is $4195 with all the above features.

I just visited the Go-Devil site - my only real longtail competitor. They make a good longtail also. Their price for a 35 Vanguard is $4695.

[Glenn]

We made 6 of these 35 Van frames this past week and have full production starting January 2.

I will admit I am never happy with propellers and once again I am obsessed thinking I can get another 1 or 2 mph out of the SLT, so when I sold two yesterday, I also told them they get whatever propeller I develop the next few weeks in addition to the 11 X 10 they will get with the SLT.

Got a call yesterday for just a frame for a 35 Van - they are $2200.

[Duxbwar]

Glenn, I know with a shorty on the river, if not careful, you can get some prop wash over the back of the transom. Never had this problem back in the day with a longtail but wasnt running a 35 either. Question is, with the added power you are seeing, will you have this issue with a 35 or is the prop just to far back there for this to be an issue?

[Dukkilr]

Clad too see that you'll sell the frame by it's self. I'm realy thinking about buying just the frame and mounting my motor off of the 5500 on her and see what she'll do to the "hide"

[sandman7655]

gonna be a lot of people switching brands on longtails when this hits the market.outstanding progress glenn.is the frame galvanized?

[Dan Mallia]

Cool looking motor.............

[strobie22]

we have a lot of die hard longtail guys in my neck of the woods.this super longtail is going to get alot of looks around here.and the price makes it all that much sweeter Glenn can't wait for some of my customers to see these things

[Todd]

[QUOTE=Glenn;139723]

" Plus I was able to slip over very shallow water, again with hardly any prop slip."


Some of the area I hunt has a pretty hard bottom, so getting the prop down is not possible. Would a smaller prop work better for this than the 11"? Can a smaller prop even be used on the slt?

[Glenn]

Yes.

I ran a 9" all weekend on a 35 stock with Q muffler. Used a different gear ratio. The 9" blade was custom built for the SLT with a 9 steep pitch. The big bite was nice and I know what you are looking for so I designed it before anyone asked for a smaller prop.


[QUOTE=Todd;140802]

" Plus I was able to slip over very shallow water, again with hardly any prop slip."


Some of the area I hunt has a pretty hard bottom, so getting the prop down is not possible. Would a smaller prop work better for this than the 11"? Can a smaller prop even be used on the slt?

[Fast Duck Motors]

I did not see my name on the list!!! What about you BoatDr?

[BoatDR]

I did not see my name on the list!!! What about you BoatDr?

List, what list? That would require someone to actually start a list.

[Todd]

With the announcement of the Sport V, the slt has taken backstage. Anyone had a chance to run one of these? What about any video of one in action?