Backwater Swomp Lite Glider Kit Unboxing & Assembly {American Mud Motor Kit}
Assembling the Backwater Swomp Lite Glider Kit for 12-16 hp engines. I will be mounting this Backwater kit on a stock Harbor Freight 13hp Predator Engine Item/Model #60349 (hemi version)
Article - https://www.jtgatoring.com/backwater-...
About the American Mud Motor Kit:
Backwater Swomp Lite Glider Kit 12 - 16 HP _ $1,395 + shipping
5" bolt circle on the mounting flange
1" output coupler
8"x4" Stainless Prop (recommended for 13hp engine by Backwater)
65" S.W.O.M.P LITE Shaft & Coupler
55-ish lbs for the kit weight
KIT PARTS
Main shaft & coupler housing, transom bracket (I opted for the clamp on bracket even though they recommend their Versa-Mount [I didn't want to drill any holes in my transom]), one prop, one tiller handle with throttle assembly and safety kill switch mounted on tiller handle, tiller handle mounting bracket, along with mounting hardware, stickers/decals, hats, and installation instructions.
ENGINE
A used Harbor Freight 13hp Predator Engine. I bought this engine new and it has a little over 20 hours on it now. This engine has also been left stock so viewers will know what to expect straight out of the box.
76lbs
BOAT SETUP:
1436 lt Alumacraft Jon Boat (would not recommend - get a tracker or something else other than an Alumacraft) {135lbs}
Custom front deck and floor {~75lbs}
Battery, trolling motor, fishing supplies, cooler, anchor, etc... = {~100lbs}
My weight = 150lbs
Total weight = 460 pounds + 76lb (engine) + 55lb (backwater kit) = 591-lbs
So the Backwater Kit. We finally got to it. If you truly want to know about the Backwater Swomp Lite Glider Kit, look no further. This will be my experience with the Backwater kit with previous knowledge and experience with running the Thai longtail kits in previous years.
The assembly of this kit was definitely a new experience. This kit by Backwater is completely different than the other Thai longtail kits that I have assembled and played with.
I researched online through YouTube videos and emails back and forth with Backwater while reading over the instruction multiple times that they sent through email. The only thing I was not looking forward too and hoping I wouldn't have to do is cut the engine PTO shaft... which I did have to do...
So I was able to find a 4" grinder with a cut off wheel on it and successfully cut off 1.25 inches of the engine PTO shaft.
Having to use that type of tool and perform that kind of task to customize (modify) the engine that way just to make the backwater kit work on the engine was non-sense to me. With having to do this, I would say the installation of this kit was not easy and would require extra tools and skills. The installation would be ranked more towards moderate difficulty.
After the cutting process, it got a little better. It is definitely a two-person install unless you have a crane to lift the engine. The part where two people are required is when you put the engine with the coupler and shaft onto the transom bracket. It is very difficult to get the bolt aligned through the coupler and the transom bracket not to mention the engine is very heavy after adding the shaft and coupler. Too heavy for me to carry. I needed a second person to help me lift and move the engine onto the transom bracket while getting the bolt through. After that, you could probably do everything else with one person.
Water Trial Time!!!
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