Mud Motor Shopping Guide
There are choices out there and this guide will help you identify and score the most important features of a well designed mud motor.  Yes, we are biased, our Sport is the best built mud motor on the market today and this proves it.  Do the math, you will not find better quality, performance and price than the new HD Sport.  Print this and go shopping.

Put our Sport side by side with this brand in the water or on the show room floor and discover the difference.
 

Feature Benefit HD Sport Other
Outdrive Construction Strength/Quality 
.500 Permanent Cast AL (4)
.500 Sand Cast (3)
1/4" Aluminum Tube (2)
3/16" Steel Plate (1)
4  (Finest quality in the industry. Manufactured like an outboard.)  
Drive Tube Impact Strength/Engineering
Hardened Steel (4)
Cast Aluminum (3)
Aluminum Tube (2)
Mild Steel (1)
3 (toughest drive in the industry)
 
 
Power Tilt and Trim Ease of Operation
Customer Convenience

Power Trim (4)
Power Assist (3)
Crank Handle (2)
Crank Knob (1)
4
(all models except economy 14 horse)
 
Neutral Ease of Operation
Customer Convenience

Electric (4)
Auto (3)
Manual Clutch (2)
No clutch  (1)
4 (power tilt and trim
all models except economy 14 horse)
 
Finish Coating Corrosion Resistance/Quality
Marine Powder Coating, Plus Zinc  (4)
Fully Anodized (3)
Paint with Zinc (2)
Paint (1)
4
(etched, zinc and marine baked powder, marine outboard quality)
 
Skeg Design Strength/Engineering/Quality
Steel 1/4" (3)
Steel 3/16" (2)
Aluminum (1)


3

 
 
Floating Handle
Sit and Stand
Release on Impact
Ease of Operation/ Impact Resistance/Engineering
Included (1)
Not Included (0)

1 (floating handle is a Mud Buddy trademark name)
 
 
Trim Control Location Ease of Operation/Safety
Finger Tip Handle End (4)
Mid Handle Requires Two-Hand Operation (3)
Engine Mount Two Hand (2)
Manual Crank (1) S
4
Our thumb controls are located on the end of our handle allowing you to operate with one hand.
 
Weedless Design Ease of operation/Engineering
Fully Weedless (2)
Partially Weedless with trim fins (1)
2
Our prop, skeg and weedcutter nut design is unmatched. Now trim fins to catch on weeks. Drive is balanced and requires no trim fins.
 
Clamp Mounting Quality Design
Handle and Cup (3)
Bolt and Cup (2)
Bolt and Plate (1)
 
3
(Only stainless outboard style handle/clamp mounting)
 
Service Greasing/Oil Quality Design/Ease of Operation
3 year (4)
Annual (3)
Seasonal (2)
Monthly (1)
4
(Our patented drive is sealed with a 3 year greasing service schedule. Fully sealed)
 
Vibration Resistance Ease of Operation/ Quality Design
Engine Mounted Dampening (3)
Handle Mounted Dampening (2)
None (1)
3
(Engine and trim, three point polyurethane dampening. Smoothest mud motor available)
 
Impact Bumper Engineering/Quality/Transom Friendly
Rubber Bumper (1))
Metal to Metal - None (0)
1
Our patent pending trim control is mounted in rubber for less vibration, minimal impact noise, easier on transom, and simply the best system available.
 
Throttle Type Ease of Operation
Squeeze Grip (2)
Twist Grip (1)
2  
Remote Steer Ready Quality Design
Included (3)
Option (2)
Not offered (1)
3 (remote steer ready, manual and power steering, center and side console available)  
Handle Weight Ease of Operation
Under 25 pounds (3)
Over 60 pounds (2)
Over 100 pounds (1)
3  
Steering Ease of Operation
Easy  (2) 25 lbs or less
Medium (1) 25-35 lbs
Hard (0) 35-45 lbs
Manufacturer should provide you this
test information.
2
full power turning
 
Drive Warranty Customer Convenience/Quality
2 year (2)
1 year  (1)
2  
Frame Warranty Customer Convenience/Quality
2 or more years (2)
1 year  (1)
2  
Drive Bearing Quality/Less Maintenance/Long Life
Double Bearing and Triple Seal (4)
Bearing and Double Seal(3)
Bearing and Single Seal (2)
Bushing (economy) (1)
4
Two sets of double radial ball and needle races.  Strongest drive in the industry. Patented
 
Turning Radius Ease of Operation
360 degree (3)
Under 20' (2)
Under 30' (1)
3
Spins the boat around in its tracks.
 
Cold Weather Cushioned Hand Grip Ease of Operation/Quality
Included (1)
Not Included (0)
1  
Engine Selection Customer Convenience/Better Boat and Motor Match
Mud Buddy has 7 models
35, 31, 29, 27, 25, 23, 14 horse
Nobody offers more models than
Mud Buddy.  High and low transom models also available.
 
Fit and Finish Engineering/Quality Control We have bragging rights to this new generation of mud motors. Check out the brands up close and you decide. We consider the Sport, the most advanced, best engineered and best built mud motor available today.  

 

Fuel Tank and Battery Box Included Customer Convenience/Quality
Included (2)
Not Included (0)
2
You don't have to locate a fuel tank after receiving your new motor, an absolute must.
 
Drive Shaft Construction Hardened Stainless (4)
Stainless Steel (3)
Bi Metal (2)
Carbon Steel (1)
4  
Trailering Travel lock (horizontal and vertical) (4)
Travel Lock (horizontal) (3)
Travel Lock (vertical) (2)
No Travel Lock (1)
4 (engineered stainless steel travel lock)  
Outdrive Collar Stainless steel (2)
Steel (1)
2  
Travel Cover Option   yes  
Performance Exhaust Option   yes (stainless)  
Dealer Base   over 300  
Feature Benefit Mud Buddy Sport
Value Added Score (72)
Other Brand

Home