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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Duck Hunting Boats in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Gator-Tail Extreme Series
Direct answer

The Gator-Tail Extreme Series is the best duck hunting boat, Gator-Tail’s flagship surface drive boat with a .125” 5086 aluminum hull. The Excel Shallow Water F4 Pro Hull is #2 and the Havoc DBST is #3; the Beavertail Stealth 2000 ($1,199.99) is the lowest-priced pick.

At a glance

#PickPriceBest for
1Gator-Tail Extreme SeriesNot publishedA surface drive mud boat sized from 16 to 18 ft and 48 to 60 inches wide
2Excel Shallow Water F4 Pro HullNot publishedA light step-deck duck boat for extreme shallow water
3Havoc DBSTNot publishedHunters who load a dog or wade in and out, thanks to the step transom
4War Eagle 750 GladiatorNot publishedPushing through brush to a duck hole with camo standard
5SeaArk 1548 DKLDNot publishedA compact, all-welded jon built around the hunt
6Beavertail Stealth 2000$1,199.99A one-hunter-and-a-dog sneak boat you can paddle or pole
7Gator Trax GT Model$7,677 through $18,719A custom hull for surface drive, jet or outboard power
8Xpress X16DB$27,495 with Yamaha VF70LB (price includes tiller kit)A ready-to-run tiller duck boat with a published package price
9Lowe Roughneck 1870 PathfinderStarting at $37,549 with Mercury 80 JET ELPTRunning shallow rivers with a jet outboard and a center console
10Alweld Marsh Console SeriesNot publishedA console marsh boat in flat or vee bottom

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Gator-Tail Extreme Series
Best value
Beavertail Stealth 2000
Best step transom
Havoc DBST
Best packaged price
Xpress X16DB
Best jet drive
Lowe Roughneck 1870 Pathfinder

The ranking

1

Gator-Tail Extreme Series

Gator-Tail Extreme Series
Answrs VerdictThe best duck hunting boat overall.
Price: Not publishedLengths: 16, 17 and 18 ftWidths: 48, 54 and 60 inchesHull: One piece .125” 5086 aluminum hullTransom: 21 in drop deck transomBuilder’s place for it: Gator-Tail’s flagship offering, its best equipped surface drive boat

The Gator-Tail Extreme Series is Gator-Tail’s flagship offering and its best equipped surface drive boat. It comes in 16, 17 and 18 ft lengths and 48, 54 and 60 inch widths, on a one piece .125” 5086 aluminum hull with a 21 in drop deck transom.

Go ifA surface drive mud boat sized from 16 to 18 ft and 48 to 60 inches wide
Skip ifYou need a published price before you shop
Why #1 over #2: It adds a 48-inch width and a 16 ft length that the F4 Pro Hull does not list (its bottoms are 54 and 60 in, at 17 and 18 ft).
2

Excel Shallow Water F4 Pro Hull

Excel Shallow Water F4 Pro Hull
Answrs VerdictThe light, quick step-deck pick.
Price: Not publishedLengths: 17 ft (1754) and 18 ft (1854, 1860)Hull: .125 gauge 5086 aluminumMax horsepower: 60 hp (1854 and 1860)Capacity: 5/700 (1860)Builder’s note: The lightest and quickest F4 in the lineup

The Excel Shallow Water F4 Pro Hull is the lightest and quickest F4 in Excel’s lineup, a step-deck hull in .125 gauge 5086 aluminum. The 1854 and 1860 take up to 60 hp, and the 1860 is rated 5/700.

Go ifA light step-deck duck boat for extreme shallow water
Skip ifYou want a 16-foot boat
Why #2 over #3: Its .125 gauge hull is thicker than the DBST’s 100 gauge hull.
3

Havoc DBST

Havoc DBST
Answrs VerdictThe step-transom pick.
Price: Not publishedLengths: 15, 16, 17 and 18 ftMax horsepower: 75 hp (1860)Sides: 24 inHull: 8°, 100 gauge hull with a step transomSales: Havoc’s #1 seller nationwide

The Havoc DBST has an 8°, 100 gauge hull with a step transom and 24 in sides, in 15, 16, 17 and 18 ft models; the 1860 takes up to 75 hp. Havoc says it is its #1 seller nationwide.

Go ifHunters who load a dog or wade in and out, thanks to the step transom
Skip ifYou want a .125 hull
Why #3 over #4: Its 1860 takes up to 75 hp with 24 in sides, to the 750 Gladiator’s 40 hp and 23 in side depth.
4

War Eagle 750 Gladiator

War Eagle 750 Gladiator
Answrs VerdictThe brush-busting mud boat pick.
Price: Not publishedLength: 17 ft 4 inMax horsepower: 40 hpHull gauge: .100Side depth: 23 inStandard: Mossy Oak Bottomland camo finish and an extended duckbill bow to part brush

The War Eagle 750 Gladiator is a 17 ft 4 in shallow draft mud boat with an extended duckbill bow to part brush, a .100 hull, 23 in side depth and a 40 hp rating. Mossy Oak Bottomland camo is standard.

Go ifPushing through brush to a duck hole with camo standard
Skip ifYou want more than 40 hp
Why #4 over #5: It takes 40 hp with 23 in sides, to the 1548 DKLD’s 30 hp and 20 in side depth.
5

SeaArk 1548 DKLD

SeaArk 1548 DKLD
Answrs VerdictThe compact duck jon pick.
Price: Not publishedLength: 15 ftMax horsepower: 30 hpPersons capacity: 4/480Side depth: 20 inGauge: 0.1

The SeaArk 1548 DKLD is a 15 ft all-welded jon built for hunters, rated for 30 hp and 4/480, with 20 in sides and a 0.1 gauge hull.

Go ifA compact, all-welded jon built around the hunt
Skip ifYou need room for more than 4 people
Why #5 over #6: It carries 4/480 and takes 30 hp; the Stealth 2000 is rated for 460 lbs. and a 2HP max motor.
6

Beavertail Stealth 2000

Beavertail Stealth 2000
Answrs VerdictThe lowest-priced pick.
Price: $1,199.99Dimensions: 12’ L x 44” W x 15” DMax horsepower: 2 hp (Max. Motor Size 2HP)Weight capacity: 460 lbs. (motor, persons, gear)People: 1-2 people or 1 person + 1 dogDraft: Floats in only 4-5 inches of water

The Beavertail Stealth 2000 is a $1,199.99 sneak boat for 1-2 people or 1 person + 1 dog, 12’ L x 44” W x 15” D, with a catamaran style bottom that floats in only 4-5 inches of water. It can be pushed with a pole, paddles or an electric trolling motor.

Go ifA one-hunter-and-a-dog sneak boat you can paddle or pole
Skip ifYou need a big outboard
Why #6 over #7: Its $1,199.99 price is below the GT Model’s $7,677 low end.
7

Gator Trax GT Model

Gator Trax GT Model
Answrs VerdictThe build-your-own hull pick.
Price: $7,677 through $18,719Lengths: 14′ to 24′Bottom widths: 38″ to 70″Hull: .125 (1/8) or .190 (3/16) 5086 alloy marine-grade aluminumMotors: Choices ranging from 9.9 to 200HP

The Gator Trax GT Model is a custom hull from 14′ to 24′ with 38″ to 70″ bottoms, built in .125 (1/8) or .190 (3/16) 5086 aluminum, with motor choices ranging from 9.9 to 200HP. Gator Trax lists it at $7,677 through $18,719.

Go ifA custom hull for surface drive, jet or outboard power
Skip ifYou want a boat built on one fixed spec
Why #7 over #8: Its price tops out at $18,719, below the X16DB’s $27,495.
8

Xpress X16DB

Xpress X16DB
Answrs VerdictThe packaged duck boat pick.
Price: $27,495 with Yamaha VF70LB (price includes tiller kit)Length: 16’10”Max horsepower: 70 hpBeam: 80″Aluminum: 5052, 0.125 gaugeCapacity: 3 / 423 lb.

The Xpress X16DB is a 16’10” tiller duck boat on 0.125 gauge 5052 aluminum, rated for 70 hp and 3 / 423 lb., at $27,495 with a Yamaha VF70LB (price includes tiller kit).

Go ifA ready-to-run tiller duck boat with a published package price
Skip ifYou need room for more than 3 people
Why #8 over #9: Its $27,495 price is below the 1870 Pathfinder’s $37,549.
9

Lowe Roughneck 1870 Pathfinder

Lowe Roughneck 1870 Pathfinder
Answrs VerdictThe jet-drive pick.
Price: Starting at $37,549 with Mercury 80 JET ELPTLength: 18 ftMax horsepower: 150 hpFuel: 19 galBeam: 96 inHull: Tunnel hull with a Mercury Jet outboard

The Lowe Roughneck 1870 Pathfinder is an 18 ft tunnel hull with a Mercury Jet outboard, rated for up to 150 hp, with a 96 in beam and 19 gal of fuel, starting at $37,549 with a Mercury 80 JET ELPT.

Go ifRunning shallow rivers with a jet outboard and a center console
Skip ifYou hunt with a mud motor
Why #9 over #10: It takes up to 150 hp to the Marsh Console’s top 90 hp, and Lowe publishes a $37,549 price.
10

Alweld Marsh Console Series

Alweld Marsh Console Series
Answrs VerdictThe console marsh boat pick.
Price: Not publishedSizes: 1648 to 1960 Marsh ConsoleMax horsepower: 90 hp (1856, 1760, 1860 and 1960)Gauge: 0.100Hulls: Flat or vee bottomPackages: PRO side console or CC center console

The Alweld Marsh Console Series runs from the 1648 to the 1960 Marsh Console in flat or vee bottom, on a 0.100 gauge hull, with PRO side console or CC center console packages; the biggest models take up to 90 hp.

Go ifA console marsh boat in flat or vee bottom
Skip ifYou need a published price

How we ranked these

We ranked purpose-built mud and duck hulls first, then compared each pick with the next on its builder’s own published hull gauge, horsepower rating, side height and price. Builders that do not publish a price are marked “Not published.” Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best duck hunting boat?

The Gator-Tail Extreme Series, Gator-Tail’s flagship surface drive boat, with a one piece .125” 5086 aluminum hull in 16, 17 and 18 ft lengths.

What is the cheapest duck boat on this list?

The Beavertail Stealth 2000 sneak boat at $1,199.99, for 1-2 people or 1 person + 1 dog.

Which duck boat takes the biggest motor?

The Lowe Roughneck 1870 Pathfinder, rated for up to 150 hp and starting at $37,549 with a Mercury 80 JET ELPT.

Which duck boat has a step transom?

The Havoc DBST, built with an 8° hull and a step transom; Havoc calls it its #1 seller nationwide.

Max horsepower (as published) at a glance

Beavertail Stealth 20002 hp
SeaArk 1548 DKLD30 hp
War Eagle 750 Gladiator40 hp
Excel Shallow Water F4 Pro Hull60 hp
Xpress X16DB70 hp
Havoc DBST75 hp
Alweld Marsh Console Series90 hp
Lowe Roughneck 1870 Pathfinder150 hp
Max horsepower (as published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.