Go-Devil vs Gator Tail: Which is the better boat?
When it comes to choosing a boat, there are many options on the market. For those with specific and refined taste, there are only two brands worth considering: Go-Devil and Gator Tail. In this post, we'll comprehensively review them both to see which is better suited to your needs.
Gator Tail boats have long been considered a leader in the boating world, particularly with regards to surface drives and marsh capable rigs. They are well-crafted with a solid reputation. Another brand we will be examining, Go-Devil boats, has been around since 1977 and made a name for themselves as being both reliable and high-quality. So, which is the better boat? Let's take a closer look.
Go-Devil boats offer plenty of features and high quality materials. “In 1977, at the age of 22, Warren Coco of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded a business that was to become an important and influential member of the waterfowl industry, Go-Devil Manufacturers of Louisiana. Coco has been able to turn his passion for duck hunting into his full-time job and livelihood. Prior to the construction of the first Go-Devil motor, Coco had built several versions of inboard mud boats. Each of his creations had certain limitations. Knowing Coco’s abilities, a buddy of his told him about a “funny looking motor” he had seen while hunting in Louisiana. Upon seeing the motor, Coco literally fell to the ground with laughter, and stated boldly, “That thing will never work!” The motor was constructed from a 40-year old Briggs & Stratton cast-iron engine, a universal joint, a drive shaft with a rubber hose for a bearing, and a bronze prop, mounted on a 1960 Evinrude transom bracket. The concept for the engine was brought back from Vietnam. After examining the motor closely and considering the possibilities, Coco could not sleep! An avid duck hunter Coco wanted to build a motor to see if he could make it work. In three-weeks, Coco found a 10-horsepower Kohler engine and enough scrap metal to build the first Go-Devil. This original model weighed almost 300 pounds, but worked like nothing Coco had ever seen. His friends laughed when they saw the metal monster. They laughed even harder when Coco told them he was planning to go into business manufacturing engines. Coco quit his $5-an-hour job. He had $1000, a handful of garage equipment and a lot of time. He worked 16-to-18 hours each day, seven days a week, for three years without a paycheck to get Go-Devil Manufacturers up and running. Today, Go-Devil Manufacturing Company of Louisiana employs over 30 full-time sales, marketing and production staff, with over 40,000 square feet of high-tech buildings, producing over 1,800 engines each year.” It’s more than fitting to state that Mr. Coco is pretty much the OG when it comes to king of the marsh and swamp!
With so much knowledge and experience in this highly specialized segment of the boating industry, there are many reasons to choose a Go-Devil. With nearly 40 years of experience working with the Go-Devil, they possess knowledge that no one else can duplicate. Every nut, bolt and weld is in place as a result of years of testing and use in real situations. Their engines are designed for and tested in the harshest shallow water environments that they can find. The benefit of 35 years of experience accompanies each product that leaves their shop. It is that experience that allows them to continue to produce the best products available to outdoorsmen, and that experience that gives them the ability to care for you with customer service that is second to none!
Additionally, it is noteworthy that Go-Devil pioneered the shallow water boat and motor segment of the boating industry. Go-Devil also boasts an extensive and broadly reaching dealership network for their products helping to ensure positive customer service experience. On the topic of customer service, should you find yourself in need of complex or unique troubleshooting, Mr. Coco makes himself accessible to the customers of the Go-Devil family of products. Mr. Coco and the rest of the family of highly specialized tradesmen are all industry participants that not only manufacture great boating products, but operate and use them as well. The engines are designed to be extremely durable and resilient to the harshest environments. And, feature the highest quality components that are engineered to withstand the tortures we put them through in usage as well as being extremely serviceable.
Unique to the Go-Devil platform of surface drive engines are the bushings and lubrication system for the driveline. Gator Tail utilizes a liquid oil and roller bearings to support the driveline while Go-Devil utilizes brass bushings and grease. The nod goes to the Go-Devil in this regard as we have seen countless times. When a seal or bearing fails with a liquid lubricated driveline, the boat and engine are rendered unusable until repairs can be made. With Go-Devil’s patented pressure lubricator and a thicker lubricating product, failures are far fewer and often allow the product to continue usage to get back to the trailer without having to tow the vessel into shore. The Gator Tail comes with a two bladed propeller and the Go-Devil features a three bladed propeller. The two bladed unit may allow for small increases in top speed, but the third blade of the Go-Devil propeller allows for far greater grip in mucky situations. Given that most don’t make top speed the highest priority of a surface drive or mud boat decision, we prefer Go-Devil’s added capability in the grip and thrust category over an unquantifiable difference of top speed.
Both Go-Devil and Gator Tail feature the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard 40hp EFI engine as the power plant for their flagship engine line. It is important to take note of this parallel as it demonstrates a consensus that this is the preferred and proven platform to begin with. Go-Devil’s frames are made from high quality steel and are available in painted as well as hot dip galvanized coatings. The Gator-Tail frames are made of aluminum. While the aluminum is marginally lighter weight, it does come at the sacrifice of structural rigidity. Speaking on the weight difference, the Go-Devil in 40hp with forward / neutral / reverse and power tilt and trim checks in at 360 pounds, while the similarly equipped Gator Tail tips the scales at just under 300 pounds. This might seem like a notable difference, but equates to moving your operating position aft in the boat roughly 1 foot or relocating something like an onboard cooler from one location within the vessel to another.
When considering boat sizes, both Go-Devil and Gator Tail offer a variety of sizes. One major difference in the boat size category is that the Gator Tail brand boats stop the length of the tiller steering models at 18 feet in length, while the Go-Devil boats are available in similar configuration up to 20 feet in length. Having operated both sizes, the 20 foot model does offer greater load carrying characteristics and ratings as well as increased space for all of your outdoor activity gear. In both manufacturing lines, longer sizes are available once you get into the center console / multi engine options. Both also offer multi engine setups featuring twin surface drives. However, Go-Devil is the only one of the two that offer a tiller steering multi engine application. This unique creation can be seen powering the low profile and standard duck blind boats. On the discussion of duck blinds, Go-Devil and Gator Tail both offer pop up duck blinds for use in their boats. But, only Go-Devil features a purpose built duck blind boat and towable duck blinds for a more specific application.
Both lines feature accessory customization with add-ons like fishing rod boxes and gun boxes. A notable difference is in the modular floor mounting system available exclusively in the Go-Devil boats. This mounting system allows for the boat to be outfitted to accommodate hunting needs during season, and easily refitted for fishing capabilities during the rest of the year. We find many of our customers keeping and continuing to use their Go-Devil motors and boats for decades after their initial purchase. This is a real testament to the build quality coming out of the Go-Devil manufacturing facilities both regarding the engines and boat construction.
In terms of performance, both Go-Devil and Gator Tail boats are excellent choices. However, some reviewers have noted that Gator Tail boats tend to ride a bit wetter in rough waters than Go-Devil boats. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker— after all, both brands of boat are designed for use in shallow waters— but it is something to keep in mind if you're planning on doing any boating in deeper waters en route to the shallow flats where both of these brands really shine.
Finally, when it comes to resale value, Go-Devil boats typically retain their value. This is likely due to the fact that Go-Devil is a more established brand with a longer track record of producing high-quality boats. By no means is this a dig on Gator Tail, they simply haven’t existed as long as Go-Devil. If you're planning on selling your boat in the future, then a Go-Devil boat is probably the better choice, though we tend to see that the majority of our customers tend to hold on to their Go-Devil products once they’ve joined the ranks of ownership.
When it comes to Go-Devil vs Gator Tail boats, both brands have their pros and cons that need to be considered before making a purchase. Ultimately, the best boat for you will be the one that meets your specific needs, budget constraints, and supporting dealership. With that said, a Go-Devil is probably your best bet if you're looking for a well-made boat that will hold its value over time backed up with a knowledgeable dealership.