@River Man, This Thai longtail is 13 h.p. and only cost $800 brand new. That's why. There isn't a better deal on the planet. Also note that In Thailand these aren't called mud motors, they're just outboard motors. This is what everyone uses over there. The motor doesn't know what it's running through. It just makes horsepower and torque. Also I hate being like everyone else: I have a deep aversion to the glitterboat ferries I see on the river who call themselves fishermen.
Also I can work on the entire motor myself. No need to ever take it to a shop. In fact for the cost of one shop visit, I could by a new powerhead from Harbor Freight.
This is the AK-47 of boat engines. They fish is open ocean with these and are used as taxis. It's simply a different way of thinking about an outboard engine. It was a designed as a general purpose engine so that Thailanders could get their goods to market along the complex river and canal system in southeats Asia. These were made for running the river. The fact that they can run through mud is just an added benefit.