Choosing a new duck boat isn't easy simply because there are so many great designs out there just for waterfowlers. There are sea-worthy boats large enough for you and a half-dozen buddies, timber-bruising boats and stealthy, feather-light, one-man sneak boats. There's something for every style of hunting and every budget.
Deciding on a boat that will get you to the birds reliably, safely and quickly can be a hassle, but don't fret. We've made shopping for a new duck boat a little easier by narrowing the new crop of duck sleds and highlighting some of our favorite new boats for 2017.
GO DEVIL 18X60
Big, wide, stable and slick — as in a slick, snag-free bottom. What more do you want in a shallow-water duck boat? Go-Devil's surface drive is built to avoid hanging on stumps, logs and mud. The tapered chines don't just roll off obstacles, they help maneuverability, too. The hull, gunnels and runners are .125 aluminum and the non-skid deck is built with .100 aluminum. It comes with a large storage box and a double-angle transom for easy backing in the thickest slop. $6,330 | GODEVIL.COM
MOMARSH FATBACK 7.5
At 48 inches wide and 17 inches tall, Momarsh's Fatback 7.5 is wide and short enough to get you across shallow water safely. It's the perfect small-water craft for a hunter and all his gear. And with a 7.5-hp rating, it will get you there fast, too. It's 13 feet long, weighs 125 pounds and has a 520-pound capacity. Fully-loaded, the Fatback draws just four inches of water and is one of the most stable boats on the market. [imo-slideshow gallery=82],795 | MOMARSH.COM
GATOR-TAIL 1854 MOD V
The 1854 Mod V Series is made for shallow water and performs best with a surface-drive motor on the back. Though the Mod V is at home in the timber and marsh, it plays in open water too. It comes with welded-in gun boxes, bow rails, LED swamp lights, a full floor and NatGear camo. The hull is one-piece .125-gauge aluminum and is built with custom extruded ribs and a .100-gauge deck and floor. Motor and trailer included. $21,835 | GATOR-TAIL.COM
DRAGONFLY ECOFLY
What do you get when you combine a sleek, solid .125-gauge aluminum hull and a powerful 200-hp, 4-cylinder Chevy Ecotec engine? An airboat that takes you places few other hunters will ever see. You'll fly across the shallowest marsh, skim over the thickest aquatic vegetation and slide over mud flats. Designed by hunters for hunters, it comes with a built-in grass rake, extra tall sides, front storage, LED driving light and hydroturf floors. $29,500 | DRAGONFLYAIRBOATS.COM
AQUAPOD SPORT
Go where big boats can't with Aquapod's 10-foot Sport. You can slide it over beaver dams and skim it across water just inches deep. Even better, it's a feather-light 62 pounds, allowing you to hunt when you want without relying on a partner. The Sport includes a front and rear handle, two cleats, shock cords for securing gear and floatation foam. It's an excellent public-land option when you can't launch a bigger boat. $689 | AQUAPODBOATS.COM
BANKES TITAN 25
Big-water ducks demand a sea-worthy boat. You have all that and more in the Titan 25. It's 25 feet of solid construction from bow to stern, hunts up to seven people and keeps passengers dry and comfortable, thanks to a reverse tunnel chine and a sharp V bow. The interior is all-molded fiberglass and the hull is foam-filled for added safety. It's the biggest boat in the Bankes line-up and the only boat you'll need for big-water adventures. Max-4 blind included. $29,140 | BANKESBOATS.COM
UNCLE J CUSTOM BOATS
Duck hunters are continuously making tweaks to their boats, but what if you could customize your sled from the get go? Uncle J turns your ideas to reality, building their own hulls and accessories in-house. The staff has over 100-plus years of manufacturing experience, building to your specifications and needs. And here's the best part: In most cases an Uncle J boat is cheaper than a factory build. You ask for it, Uncle J builds it. Simple as that. $4,600 (START) | UNCLEJCUSTOMBOATS.COM
CARSTENS DUCK LOGIC PINTAIL
Hunt small water? Duck Logic's Pintail is just 12 inches deep and draws mere inches of water, allowing you to go where motor-powered boats can't. With a total weight capacity of 500 pounds and cockpit that's 24 inches wide and nearly eight feet long, there's more than enough room for you, the dog and gear. Optional accessories include a gun rack, extra seat, motor mount and layout blind. $955 | CARSTENSINDUSTRIES.COM
DUCKWATER BLUE WATER 23
Sea ducks and big-water divers beware. Duckwater's new Blue Water 23 is coming. The 23-footer is built with all-welded quarter-inch aluminum, complete with a sharp bow that has a half-inch ice breaker bar on the keel. It features a camo rock paint job, motor cover, four interior lights, interior shelves, a six-gang circuit panel and matching boat blind. The hull design allows it to handle the biggest seas and the shallowest water. $23,995 | DUCKWATERBOATS.COM
EXCEL SHALLOW WATER 1854
Extremely tough and durable .125-gauge aluminum alloy makes the Excel Shallow Water one mean hunting machine. A slippery-smooth bottom and triple-taper chine glides over shallows and turns on a dime. It's ideal for coastal flats and tidal mud, marsh or the river, especially when rigged with a surface-drive motor. The streamlined aluminum center console allows for a better vantage point and comfort on long runs while allowing walk-around space. $6,900 | EXCELBOATS.NET
GATORTRAX GATOR HIDE GEN II
Hide in plain sight with the Gator Hide Gen II. The removable hard-side blind with removable flip head covers allows you to hide and hunt anywhere. The low-profile system offers total concealment while the wide-open GT hull gives you the freedom to use the boat for multiple purposes in the off-season. The three-man is 15 feet long and 54 inches wide and has a front deck, full flotation, full-length brush rails, three seats and bases and a removable grab bar. Includes trailer. $9,559 | GATORTRAXBOATS.COM
LOWE ROUGHNECK 2070 WATERFOWL
The 2070 was made for waterfowlers who love to fish. It's 20 feet long and a whopping 70 inches wide, making it the ideal boat for big loads and big water. The Roughneck is packed with features, including an all-welded .100-gauge aluminum hull, pressed-in cross ribs, aerated livewell, bow and stern pedestal seat base and access for a dog door. $13,573 | LOWEBOATS.COM
MESKOUSING
If solid, stable and light are what you demand in a stealthy duck boat, Meskousing has you covered. At just 52 pounds, this 12-foot by 36-inch low-profile craft is plenty big enough to get you, the dog and your gear into the most secluded slough. It's also built with hand-laid fiberglass for a superstrong hull that flexes as it slides over obstacles. Sneak up on loafing birds, paddle into remote waters and hide in sparse cover. [imo-slideshow gallery=82],650 | MESKOUSINGBOATS.COM
MUDBOB WATER WALKER
You can't actually walk on water, but you can keep your head above it. The Water Walker is designed to give you more freedom to move around the marsh, even in the muckiest muck. No more sinking up to your crotch as you retrieve birds or decoys. The lightweight, stable, floating platform has built-in handles, a gun rest and platform large enough to hold a dog. The Mudbob even serves as a personal raft. It weighs just 35 pounds. $399 | MUDBOB.NET
PRO DRIVE X SERIES TD
Timber hunters rejoice. Pro Drive made a boat just for you. The Timber Deck is low to the water, making entry and exit easy, something hard core green timber hunters know a little something about. It has a heavy-duty front bumper, extended front deck, non-skid subfloor, rear seat with storage and LED navigation lights. It also comes with a multi-position gun box. The hull is built with .125-gauge aluminum and 1 'x2 ' ribs running the length of the boat and 2 'x2 ' floor and side wall braces. $6,495 | PRODRIVEOUTBOARDS.COM
MIGHTY LAYOUT BOATS UFO
Big-water ducks will never know what hit 'em when you hunt out of a Mighty UFO layout. The boat sits less than nine inches above the water line and provides enough room for a hunter and all his gear in the 48 'x30 ' cockpit. The UFO's overall length is 10 feet, 2 inches. It comes with a built-in, down-bow gun rest, a spray shield, three handles and a brass drain plug. It's not just comfortable and efficient, the UFO is safe. [imo-slideshow gallery=82],450 | WATERFOWL-WORKS.COM
WAR EAGLE GLADIATOR
Getting to your duck hole can be a battle. Why not take a Gladiator? War Eagle's new mud boat is designed to cut through brush and push water aside, thanks to the extended duckbill bow. Mossy Oak Bottomland camo is standard. So are float boxes, an adjustable hand rail, rear pods and a Linex floor liner. The Gladiator is built with .100-gauge aluminum and rated for 40-hp. It's 17' 4 ' long and 50 ' wide. Available with a variety of options. Includes trailer. $7,900 | WAREAGLEBOATS.COM
