G3 Gator Tough Boats For Sale

G3 Gator Tough boats are welded aluminum johnboats and center consoles built by Yamaha, which is why every rig leaves the factory with a Yamaha outboard. The lineup spans the Gator Tough Johns tunnel-hull models up to the Gator Tough 20 SC center console, with model designations like the 1756 indicating a 17-foot 6-inch hull. These are working fishing boats suited to shallow water, river current and multi-species anglers chasing bass, catfish, panfish, salmon, sturgeon and bowfishing in the same hull. The lower-profile aluminum build sits shallow enough for water under two feet, which is why anglers who run skinny backwaters gravitate to the smaller center consoles.

Power and performance scale with the model. A 1756 center console rigged with a 70-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke runs a top speed of 34.5 mph solo with gear aboard, with strong hole shot and notably quiet idle. The 20-foot Gator Tough 20 SC carrying a 115 Yamaha pushes close to 50 mph and sips fuel, often going two or three trips between fill-ups. The stock motor on the 20 SC is a 90, and stepping up to the 115 is a common upgrade for added performance. A tunnel-hull 20-foot John with a 115/80 Yamaha jet drive is the choice for rocky, shallow rivers. Factory trim tabs come fitted on the 1756, and the deeper-V section running into the belly before the bottom flattens helps the 20 SC handle chop.

The center console helm carries a fuel gauge, throttle, cup holder and a bank of toggle switches for master power, aerator, bilge pump, interior lights and navigation lights; the master power switch activates the fuel gauge and depth finder. Garmin Electronics pairs with the ActiveCaptain app on some rigs, while package boats ship with a Hummingbird Helix unit. Storage sits under the console with no doors, enough for tool and tackle boxes. Owners commonly upgrade electronics to larger units such as a Helix 7 or Hummingbird Solix with side and down imaging for reading submerged timber in muddy current.

Layout centers on a large divided live well amidships, plus a second live well built into the front console seat that doubles as dry storage, and two lockable, near-watertight drop-in dry boxes flanking the center live well. Full-length side rails run bow to stern with a track and Rail Blazer system for adding rod holders, cup holders and accessory mounts. Six rod holders come standard, three per side of the cockpit, with rod lockers down each side, though the older recessed rod tubes were too short for a 6-foot-6 rod until cut open. The bow is a large casting platform with room for two or three anglers, two bow cleats, and three mounting points for chairs or a lean post that can be relocated for balance. The stern has a rear landing platform with fold-down jump seats and a compartment housing batteries and bilge pump.

The most consistent complaint is limited storage; beyond the dry boxes and under-console space, the large rear fuel cell takes most of the aft room. The camo finishes, including Mossy Oak Shadow Grass and Shadow Grass patterns, look sharp but get extremely hot in summer, with painted aluminum decking heating up far more than bare aluminum, prompting owners to add HydroTurf, EVA foam or Aqua Traction matting over the standard rubberized floor coating. Package Johns come with a galvanized trailer, spare tire, removable tongue, welded side bunks, a Minn Kota Edge 55 12-volt trolling motor and a depth finder; the 20 SC ships on an aluminum trailer. Common add-ons include a Minn Kota Terrova with i-Pilot spot-lock, a Power-Pole, a battery charger and a Bimini top. A nearly new 2018 1756 package with a Yamaha 70 four-stroke sold in the $15,000–$16,000 range, making used Gator Tough boats for sale a strong value when shopping the secondhand market.