Top Waterfowl Hunting Boats!

If getting there is indeed half of the battle, then we should consider the manufacturers of modern duck boats and marine motors as the field generals of the waterfowling world. A nearly limitless array of choices awaits duck hunters looking for a new boat and motor to take you, your buddies and all of your gear anywhere the ducks are working. The new surface-drive engines, when paired with shallow-running boats, can power through mud, stumps and just about any obstacle lurking in a marsh or swamp. And as good as these crafts and engines are at cutting through the slop, they prove seaworthy on large water, too. So check out the latest models of large aluminum duck boats and surface-drive mud motors. They'll get you anywhere you want to go, and then back home again.

Excel Boats Shallow Water F4
Series boats, with hardened longitudinal ribs and heavy-duty gunwales, are designed to take hunters to places previously thought to be inaccessible. The triple-taper chine design produces easier turning and a drier ride. The Duck Back transom, which extends across the back of the boat at the waterline, allows hunters to climb into the boat easily from the water, and provides an ideal vantage point for your retriever during the hunt. Storage is integrated into the rear seats to keep floor space open to comfortably house hunters, decoys and a retriever. CONTACT: Excel Boats, (801) 352-8011, www.excelboats.net

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War Eagle 2170 Blackhawk
Has a beefed-up .125-inch-thick aluminum hull and a redesigned deeper V for a smoother ride when crossing rough waters. Standard equipment includes full skin out with carpet, vinyl or spray liner, foot trolling motor bracket with 24-volt wiring, built in 40-gallon gas tank, two passenger seats with storage, additional bow storage, large console with steering and bait well. To serve as a hunting boat, it is available in eight licensed camouflage patterns from Mossy Oak, Realtree, Advantage and Natgear to ensure you blend perfectly into your hunting environment.

CONTACT: War Eagle, (870) 367-1554, www.wareagleboats.com

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Go-Devil
Surface Drive Boats are designed to be perfect companions to the company's Surface Drive Engines. Maximum bottom surface area creates lift to allow the engine to perform at its best. Made with .125-inch-thick aluminum, these boats are available in 16-foot, 18-foot and 20-foot models, with 48-inch, 54-inch or 60-inch widths. V-crimps incorporated into the sidewalls and longitudinal ribs in the hull add strength. A pointed bow and tapered chine increase maneuverability at low speeds. Several seat configurations and storage options provide a customized look and feel.

CONTACT: Go-Devil, (888) 490-3254, www.go-devil.com

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Pro-Drive X Series
Are shallow-water craft designed with a square chine to draft less water, which achieves faster speeds and higher load-carrying capacity. X Series boats are available in 16-foot, 17-foot, 18-foot and 20-foot models, with 48-inch, 54-inch and 60-inch widths. All models are constructed with .125-inch-thick aluminum, with 1-inch-by-2-inch rectangular ribs front to back in the floor. In addition, 2-inch-by-2-inch tubing braces the floor and sidewalls. Additional options include a gun box/seat, spotlight kit, extended deck and side or center consoles.

CONTACT: Pro-Drive, (337) 229-0034, www.prodriveoutboards.com

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Gator-Tail Xtreme Series
These are designed for superior handling during sharp turns and a dry ride to your duck blind. The one-piece, .125-inch-thick aluminum hull is braced by 2-inch-by-2-inch longitudinal ribs. The sides are 22 inches high, with a 21-inch transom. Heavy-duty gunnel rails and a 4-foot deck with a pedestal base are standard. Handy storage is under the deck and in a heavy-duty driver's box. Xtreme Series boats are available in 54-inch and 60-inch wide models.

CONTACT: Gator-Tail, (337) 229-4864, www.gator-tail.com

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Beavertail
Builds custom aluminum flat-bottom boats to match the needs and desires of any duck hunter. From a 14-foot-long, 48-inch-wide model all of the way up to a 20-foot, 72-inch-wide craft, Beavertail boats are all-welded, 100-gauge hulls. Standard features include 24-inch sidewalls, two 10-foot-long gun boxes, flat diamond plate floors, foam-filled floor, front deck and pods for flotation and stability, interior tubing for wiring and olive-drab, non-reflective paint.

CONTACT: Beavertail, (877) 466-8837, www.explorebeavertail.com

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Gator Trax Gator Hide
Is made to solve a common problem among duck hunters: a high profile in the marsh. Models in 16-foot or 20-foot lengths function as a three- or four-hunter layout blinds, yet still perform as seaworthy craft on open water. Layout cockpits, complete with adjustable backrests, flip-style doors and adjustable headrests are built into the deck of the boat. Removable deck panels cover the cockpits when not in use by a hunter. Brush pipes hold additional cover to complete the disappearing act of the hunters in the boat.

CONTACT: Gator Trax, (225) 294-9991, www.gatortraxboats.com

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Bankes Boats Goliath
A 21-foot fiberglass model, uses reverse tunnel chine construction for a smooth, dry ride on big water. Standard features include a completely molded interior liner, side-mounted console, permanent 25-gallon fuel tank and rack-and-pinion steering. At 7½-feet wide, the Goliath can handle four hunters and a lot of gear comfortably. Despite its size, the boat only drafts 6 to 8 inches of water, so duck hunters can travel to shallow honeyholes, too.

CONTACT: Bankes Boats, (519) 586-2544, www.bankesboats.com