Gator Tail

What Gator Tail does

Gator Tail (Gator-Tail, LLC) is a privately held American manufacturer founded in 2004 by brothers Kyle and Blaine Broussard in Loreauville, Louisiana. The company designs and builds belt-driven surface drive mud motors and a complementary line of aluminum boats engineered specifically to pair with those motors, serving recreational hunters and anglers who need access to shallow marshes, flooded timber, and mud flats where conventional outboards cannot operate. Its product portfolio spans seven motor models from 23HP to 40HP priced between $7,250 and $12,500, ten specialized boat series (including timber, redfish, enforcement, bowfishing, and workboat variants), and accessory products such as boat blinds and Bubba sink blinds.

The company's core technology is the original belt-driven surface drive architecture, protected by US Patent 7,048,600, which it claims is the only motor in its category with proven instant reverse capability for over a decade. Motors are powered by Vanguard (Briggs & Stratton) marine engines and incorporate proprietary features including a planetary reverse transmission rated to 250 hp, a 2,000-hour-rated electric clutch, an anti-vibration system, and a lifetime drive belt warranty that is unique in the industry. All design, fabrication, and assembly occur at the company's single Louisiana facility, which includes on-site CAD/CAM engineering, CNC machining, and aluminum boat manufacturing.

Gator Tail sells primarily through a network of more than 50 authorized dealers across 18 US states, with bundled boat-motor-trailer package deals at $18,977–$37,783 driving average order value. Ancillary revenue comes from parts and accessories sold through a separate online store, custom boat configurations, and accessories such as blinds. The customer base is fragmented across individual recreational buyers, professional fishing guides, and a smaller set of institutional and commercial accounts including the Louisiana National Guard and law enforcement agencies served by the Enforcement Series. The company is entirely founder-owned with no external equity investment and operates as a single-site manufacturer with no disclosed headcount.

Name

Gator Tail

Legal name

Gator-Tail, LLC

Website

https://gator-tail.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gator Tail is a Louisiana-based manufacturer of belt-driven surface drive mud motors and purpose-built aluminum boats for hunters, anglers, and government/commercial operators who need access to extremely shallow water. It sells through 50+ authorized dealers across 18 US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Loreauville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Mud Motor Sales: One-time sale of belt-driven surface drive mud motors ranging from 23HP to 40HP. Motors are sold directly and through dealer network at price points from $7,250 to $12,500.
2. Boat Sales: One-time sale of aluminum surface drive boats in multiple series (Gator, Savage, Extreme, Redfish, XL, Enforcement, Bowfish, Workboat). Boats are customized and sold with optional paint, turf, and accessory configurations.
3. Package Deals: Bundled packages combining boats, motors, and trailers sold at fixed price points ranging from approximately $18,977 to $37,783
4. Parts and Accessories: Parts, gear, and accessories available through online store at store.gator-tail.com
5. Duck Blinds: Boat blinds and Bubba blinds sold as accessories ranging from $550 for Bubba Blinds, with custom boat blind configurations available

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gator Tail manufactures belt-driven surface drive mud motors (23-40 HP) and purpose-built aluminum boats engineered for shallow water hunting, fishing, and commercial applications. The company's products — including multiple motor models and ten boat series plus boat blinds and Bubba sink blinds — are sold directly and through an authorized dealer network across 18+ U.S. states. All manufacturing is performed on-site at the company's Louisiana facility, supported by proprietary technology protected under US Patent 7,048,600.

Product overview

Gator Tail is a manufacturer of belt-driven surface drive mud motors and purpose-built aluminum boats designed for shallow water hunting and fishing. The product portfolio centers on seven motor models ranging from 23HP to 40HP (GTZ40-EFI, GTR40XD3, GTR40XD-EFI, GTR40XD PRO-EFI, GTR35XD, GTR23M-EFI, GTR23XD-L-EFI) and ten boat series (Gator, Savage, Savage Mid Deck, Extreme, Redfish, Extreme Mod-V, XL, Enforcement, Bowfish, WorkBoat) plus the Predator Series. Motors feature proprietary technologies including belt-driven surface drives, planetary reverse transmissions, and lifetime belt warranties. Boats are built from aluminum and optimized for surface drive propulsion, with specialized models for timber hunting, fishing, bowfishing, and professional enforcement applications. Accessories include boat blinds and Bubba sink blinds, with package deals combining boats, motors, and trailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gator Series: Most affordable surface drive boat with open floor plan for hunting, fishing, and day trips.
• Savage Series
• Savage Mid Deck Series
• Extreme Series
• Redfish Series
• Extreme Mod-V Series
• XL Series
• Enforcement Series
• Bowfish Series
• WorkBoat Series
• GTZ40
• GTR40XD3
• GTR40XD PRO
• GTR35XD
• GTR23XD-L
• GTR23M

Products and services

• GTZ40-EFI Mud Motor Flagship 40HP belt-driven surface drive mud motor with a custom ZF transmission, ergonomic handle, and three-piece lower unit. Designed for hunters and anglers requiring maximum power and durability in shallow-water operations. Priced at $12,500.
• GTR40XD3 Mud Motor 40HP surface drive mud motor with increased backing power, enhanced durability, reduced handle vibration, planetary reverse transmission (250 lb-ft reverse brake), and anti-vibration system 2.0. Marketed as 'The Way Forward.' Priced at $10,995.
• GTR40XD-EFI Mud Motor 40HP electronic fuel injected surface drive mud motor delivering higher speeds and heavier load capacity, with smooth ride tiller, power trim actuator, and lifetime belt warranty. Priced at $9,917.25.
• GTR40XD PRO-EFI Mud Motor Work-focused 40HP mud motor with non-painted finish, hard bushings, short handle, and easy-access control box. Designed for daily use by crawfishermen in the Atchafalaya Basin and other demanding commercial conditions. Priced at $10,367.25.
• GTR35XD Mud Motor Original workhorse 35HP carbureted mud motor with proven reliability, planetary reverse transmission rated up to 250 hp, and lifetime belt warranty. Priced at $8,917.25.
• GTR23M-EFI Mud Motor Lightest motor in lineup at 218 lbs, powered by 23HP EFI Vanguard engine. Meets horsepower-restricted area requirements with manual trim. Marketed as 'Micro, but MIGHTY.' Priced at $7,250.
• GTR23XD-L-EFI Mud Motor Lightweight 23HP motor with XD toughness, power trim, and the ability to pair with larger hulls. Combines lightweight efficiency with enhanced capability. Priced at $8,575.
• Gator Series Aluminum Boat Most affordable surface drive boat with open floor plan for hunting, fishing, and day trips. Available in 48-inch widths and 17/18/20 ft lengths with one-piece .125" 5086 aluminum hull and 21" side height.
• Savage Series Aluminum Boat Timber-focused boat designed for flooded timber hunting. 17' long and 50" wide with dual rear pod boxes, gun trays, accessory rails, and rub rails — Gator Tail's tight timber boat configuration.
• Savage Series Mid Deck Aluminum Boat Low profile timber boat with mid-deck option for hauling gear and clearing low-hanging branches. Same 17'x50" hull as the Savage Series with dual rear pod boxes, gun box and tray, and T-lock gunnel.
• Extreme Series Aluminum Boat Flagship surface drive boat with stepped chine design for superior sharp turn handling and dry ride. Available in 54-60 inch widths and 16-18 ft lengths with 24" side height.
• Redfish Series Aluminum Boat Fishing-focused 20x60 surface drive boat with 22" side height, dual 10" enclosed catwalks with built-in rod box, hydraulic steering, and Tempress GatorTail logo seat, designed for anglers targeting redfish.
• Extreme Mod-V Series Aluminum Boat 20 ft boat combining Extreme Series features with modified V hull design for versatility across woods, lakes, and varied conditions. Available in multiple deck configurations.
• XL Series Aluminum Boat Dual engine boat for larger loads, outfitted with twin GatorTail engines. Available in 66-70 inch widths and 22-24 ft lengths with 3/16" 5086 aluminum hull and 24" side height.
• Enforcement Series Aluminum Boat Professional-grade boat for law enforcement, fire protection, wildlife agents, and rescue agencies. Features hydraulic steering, hydroturf floor matting, and open rear deck optimized for surface drive construction.
• Bowfish Series Aluminum Boat

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% less fuel consumption compared to comparable motors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Vanguard (Briggs & Stratton)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2004Gator Tail engines are powered by Vanguard Marine engines (993cc Big Block CDI 40HP and 35HP engines). Vanguard provides the powerhead while Gator Tail provides the surface drive technology. All Vanguard engines come with a 3-year warranty. This is a critical component supplier relationship for the core product.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mud Buddy: Direct competitor in the mud motor category, manufacturing surface drive motors for shallow water boats. Closest comparable in product, customer base (hunters/anglers), and price points to Gator Tail's motor lineup.
• Excel Boats: Aluminum shallow water boat manufacturer producing hulls commonly paired with surface drive motors. Competes with Gator Tail in the boat segment for hunters and anglers.
• Long Tail Mud Motors: Specialty manufacturer of surface drive mud motors for shallow water applications. Directly comparable product offering targeting the same hunter/angler customer base as Gator Tail.
• Beavertail Skiffs: Manufacturer of shallow water aluminum skiffs and boats for hunters and anglers. Directly comparable in target customer, materials (aluminum), and shallow water use case to Gator Tail's boat lineup.
• Pro-Drive USA: Surface drive propulsion system manufacturer with proprietary technology. Direct competitor in the surface drive motor category, often integrated into third-party hunting and fishing boats.
• Go-Devil Marine: Louisiana-based manufacturer of surface drive boats and motors. Like Gator Tail, Go-Devil offers integrated boat+motor packages for hunters and fishermen operating in shallow water environments.

Broad incumbents

• Mercury Marine: Major outboard motor manufacturer with broad product portfolio. Competes in marine propulsion broadly but does not specialize in surface drive mud motors for shallow water applications.
• Alumacraft: Broader aluminum boat manufacturer offering jon boats, fishing boats, and utility vessels. Larger player with broader product portfolio but less specialization in mud motor-compatible shallow water boats.
• Yamaha Marine: Major outboard engine manufacturer with broad product line. Incumbent in marine propulsion but does not offer surface drive mud motors for shallow water hunting.
• Tracker Marine (Bass Pro Shops): Large-scale aluminum fishing boat manufacturer owned by Bass Pro Shops. Competes in adjacent categories with broader retail distribution through Bass Pro retail stores.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GatorTailOutboards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gator-tail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gator Tail