: The Home Boat Builders Page: Gator Boat plan review.

Boat Name	10' Gator
Links to Order	www.gatorboats.com
Building Method	I'd call it standard woodworking (screws and glue)
Length / Beam	11' LOD, 31" floor, 36" Rails' Beam
Sail Plan / Sail Area	n/a
Weight	60 Lbs
Draft	9" boards up / 4' Boards down
Sleeps	None
Power	Any Electric troller motor
Crew	1
Number of sheets in plan set	6 (8 1/2" by 11")
Sheet 1	Instructions for building
Sheet 2	Instructions continued
Sheet 3	Instructions continued
Sheet 4	Materials List & Pre conctruction Tips
Sheet 5	Diagrams for cutting floor panels, floor railing, finished floor layout, and 2 pictures to assist in understanding how to attach the sides.
Sheet 6	Diagrams for stem details, stern pattern, stern braces, forward deck, livewell, seat slide and seat slide rail position.
Builders comments	The Gator Model is our Original 1-Man Sneakboat. We have been building this boat for over 15 years with few changes. Similar to a canoe in maneuverability, but far more stable, the flat transom accepts trolling motors of any size and many users mount remote-control trollers with footpedals. It can be built with or without the livewell, and features an adjustable slide mounting box for an aftermarket seat. Requires no special tools or skills, and built with materials commonly available at local home centers. This is a quick and easy boat to build and is a great introduction to boatbuilding.
Review Comments	The Gator boat (and 12' version Big Mama) is a good utility boat meant for quiet waters, fishing would be it's specialty. As the designer notes it can be built by anyone who as the skills to operated the tools needed (which are minimal). The materials are readily available from your local home center. The plans are equally utilitarian, but don't mistake that for poor. They are quite good actually, with three pages of clear instructions, materials list and two pages of diagrams. These are not complicated plans, for a non-complicated boat. I think this would be a fun boat to build, and even more fun, stable to fish from. This should also be a very economical way to get on the water. If you want to take a friend along the 12' Big Mama version would be a better choice.