PPF Wood Duck Mud Motor Rules the Marsh

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

If you hunt marsh or timber, the PPF Wood Duck 6.5 HP long tail turns skinny water and salad mats into travel lanes. Big torque, easy cold starts, and real shallow bite.

From Push Poles To Power: Why I Landed On The PPF Wood Duck

There is an evolution to those of us who hunt marshes and timber. For me, it started with poling my Refuge Runner into the marsh. Standing and poling sometimes into the wind for long distances was tough. Next up was the introduction of an electric trolling motor. Of course, this did indeed help, but many times I had no choice but to haul 50-plus pounds of motor and battery. I’m talking hauling it over levees and berms to get into the sweet spot.

Why A Mud Motor Beat Trolling And Small Outboards

On occasion, the failure of the battery to get me home created some frustration that led to a small 2.5 HP outboard capable of getting me in at less than 25 pounds but often coming up short when the going got shallow and weeds were thick. The final iteration is the PPF Wood Duck Mud Motor with a 55 inch tail shaft.

Real-World Gains: Torque, Bite, And Confidence In Junk Water

I purchased this and knew the motor would be my ticket to getting in and out of the marsh. Over the summer I ran it several times on lakes to get used to the feel. I add here that feel is more than I expected. Mud motors have torque and the PPF Wood Duck especially so. Even powered by a simple 6.5 HP Honda motor, it is strong and requires some strength to operate.

Two forces are at work: first the motor has an inert torque pulling the steering and requiring one to hold the tiller tight, second is the down force of the motor grabbing to push the boat, while one tends to push the tiller down to lift the motor. In shallow water the prop is pushing down and into the bottom to create power, but in deep water the tiller will bottom out. Over time one learns to let that happen and allow the motor to pull down to the stop. Note the cavitation plate is adjustable.

What To Know Before Your First Shallow Run

One also learns most mud motors have no reverse and the only way to stop is to lift the motor out of the water. Steering also has a learning curve in that you can row the tiller to create a tighter turn radius.

PPF makes a USA made, well designed mud motor. Their attention to quality is noteworthy and obvious from the packaging for shipping to welds, to components and support. Mine arrived with no damage and took just a few hours to assemble. I opted for the Honda GX200 6.5 HP motor knowing this would either be on a 12’ wide Jon or my 14’ Refuge Runner. Other motor options were available, but the reliability of Honda engines was something I knew.

Build Quality: Parts, Pieces, And Why It Feels Bombproof

Controls And Mounts: What Makes The Wood Duck Work

On-Water Takeaways: Where The Mud Motor Shines

For anyone migrating to a mud motor, I highly recommend PPF. Be prepared to learn as the mud motor experience will be different than anything you have used for motorization. Weighing in a just about 60 pounds, it has indeed doubled the weight of the small 2.5 HP outboard I had previously used. The tradeoff though, is I can go more places and haul more stuff without the hassle of fouled props, clogged water pumps and overheated motors. With the PPF Wood Duck one can travel in 2 inches of water through just about anything in the way of weeds, mud, moist soil or crops. Here are a few of the advertised points about this setup:

• Diamond Drive direct drive coupler system
• Trigger throttle and locking grip w/ billet locking rings
• Dual-function tether and kill switch
• Large linear load-bearing system (the engine takes ZERO thrust to the crank, unlike competitors)
• Hill Marine weedless mud propeller, 15-5 heat-treated stainless steel, 6.5”x4”
• CNC formed DOM tubing construction
• UHMW integrated trim tab/ bump stop
• Adjustable cavitation plate for fine tuning
• “Quick Drop” transom mount (allowing the motor to be removed or installed on the boat in less than 2 seconds)
• Removable handle with quick-release pin
• Heavy duty pivot system (motor will pivot 360 degrees on boats with straight transoms)
• Low-maintenance greaseable drive shaft
• All parts are made by CNC and laser cut for a precision fit
• Total weight of only 59lb (approx.) Depending on the engine manufacturer, the total weight can vary up to 5lb.
• Included are detailed assembly and maintenance instructions.
• OD green powder coat finish
• All frames have a 2-year warranty

PPF Wood Duck Mud Motor Specifications

Model	PPF Wood Duck Mud Motor
Engine	Honda GX200
Horsepower	6.5 HP
Tail Shaft Length	55 inches
Propeller	Hill Marine 15-5 heat-treated stainless, 6.5”x4”
Total Weight	59 lb (approx.), varies up to 5 lb by engine manufacturer
Operating Depth	Capable of travel in 2 inches of water
Finish	OD green powder coat
Warranty	Frames have a 2-year warranty; Honda engine 3-year warranty
MSRP	$1070.00 + motor

Pros And Cons After A Full Season

• Pros: Serious torque from the Honda GX200, pushes through heavy vegetation, runs in very shallow water, quick mount and 360 degree pivot, easy cold starts.
• Cons: No reverse, tiller torque requires attention, heavier than a tiny 2.5 HP outboard, learning curve for tight steering.

Season Verdict And Speed Notes

I have used this motor all the 2024 season and it does as advertised. I can haul a load and put three people in a 12’ Jon boat and get in and out of most marsh environments. Full throttle empty, I can do about 8 mph, but honestly, it gets you going at idle.

PPF does quality as the norm. They also offer handle extensions, and a two-stage hop-up kit for the Honda motor, hydro-graphics, grab bars, engine cover,s and all necessary parts to upkeep.

MSRP $1070.00 + motor

Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest

• Duck Boat Setup Tips For Thick Marsh
• Shallow Water Propulsion: Trolling Vs Mud Motors
• Cold-Weather Gear That Survives The Blind

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