Gordon Boatworks Waterman 16

If Gordon Boatworks’ new Waterman 16 looks familiar, there’s a good reason. The company acquired the molds for the famous Hell’s Bay Waterman series and then made a few small but significant changes and additions. It’s safe to say the Waterman is back and better than ever. This boat embodies the ideal of a shallow-water poling skiff – it floats and poles easily in 4 inches of water and
produces virtually no hull slap – but Gordon Boatworks’ attention to detail rivals that of many custom yachts.

The Waterman 16 has a 72-inch beam and a generous forward deck with recessed hinges and pop-up hardware to provide the maximum amount of unobstructed casting space. The hull is based on the original Hell’s Bay Whipray design, but features a simpler layout. The 16 is fully cored and vacuum-bagged to ensure solid and durable construction, but unlike its previous incarnation, this fiberglass-and-core-cell version does not employ any Kevlar. This affects the weight very little (the Waterman 16 weighs only 465 pounds), but it reduces the overall cost significantly. The boat can accommodate eight fly rods under the gunwales and has three lockable dry-storage compartments – one large box on the bow and two smaller ones on each side at the rear of the boat. You can get an optional insulated drop-in box that can be permanently mounted in front of the engine between the two rear compartments. All hatches are gasketed, guttered and feature Moonlight lid holders so they won’t slam shut.

The Waterman 16 is available with either tiller steering or a side console. A poling platform and trim tabs come standard, as does a galvanized trailer, but each boat can be customized to your specifications. You can also select the color you want at no extra charge. A variety of power packages are available, including two-stroke Tohatsus.