What Is The Best Aluminum Bass Boat

Triton 179trx: Msrp $29995

This is the first fully fiberglass boat on this list. This nimble model is perfect for anglers who fish smaller waters and/or want to maneuver in-and-out of places larger boats just cannot reach. Here is an article comparing fiberglass vs. aluminum boats.

The entire boat is 100% wood-free composite construction and sports built-in navigation lights on either side of the bow.

This boat includes many of the same features and amenities as the higher priced models in the Triton line-up. Some of those include the Res-Q retractable boarding ladder, recessed foot pedal for the trolling motor, hi-capacity insulated livewells, and nitrogen filled lift lids.

The 179TRX also has the option to mount a smaller 90hp 4-stroke engine. This reduces the cost by $1,760. I always suggest buyers go with the largest motor that is rated for the boat. I have never talked to anyone that was upset by getting the maximum rated motor, but unfortunately, I have had conversations with many, many boat owners that were upset by going with too small of a motor.

Look at the Triton 179TRX

Get To Know Your Boat

The cost of the aluminum fishing boat that you choose will probably be one of the most important aspects of your decision. Many people want to get hold of the best aluminum fishing boats, but this often means paying a high price. So before sealing a deal, explore all your options by renting out several boats and trying them first. Then you can make an educated decision based on your budget and preferences.

Whether you are just getting started with taking your boat out on the water or trying out a new boat that you have rented, you will always need to spend a decent amount of time getting to know some of the specific characteristics of the boat. This is especially true when you are trying out some of the newest models that are available today. Getting to know the features of some of the newest aluminum fishing boats on the market can help you make sure that you always come home with a large haul of tasty fish for dinner.

Gillgetter 7515 Fishing Pontoon Boat

The Gillgetter 7515 may be small and simple, but you can get a tiller steer model with a trailer and stay within budget something we cant say for any other fishing pontoon boats that can take a crew of seven people aboard, carry up to 30 horses on the transom, and come with two swivel seats and a pair of rodholders. If you want a pontoon boat that can be used for fishing and you need to keep the entire package under the $10,000 mark, the Gillgetter is your best option. Note for you El-Cheap-O people: Gillgetter has an even smaller model, the 135 613 Tiller, which you can splash in the lake for several thousand dollars less.

For more information, check out Angler Qwest.

Hey people, a kayak is still a boat. And in the case of the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14, it’s a fish-killing machine.

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Tools For Fixing Leaky Boats

Two products that work well for leaky boats are Epoxy Putty Sticks and . The latter is best used for filling in joint seams that have lifted or when sealing transducer holes. Epoxy is an excellent product for rivets, small cracks, or holes.

Following the product directions is crucial for best results. Epoxy requires hand kneading for one minute in order for the two compounds to mix. It then must be forced and flattened on to the aluminum within two minutes. The work time allowed is quite short, so knowing where you are applying it and how should be figured out in advance. Once cured, a permanent steel hard shell is left.

When repairing rivets, cover the entire area including a half-inch overlap. The same goes for cracks or holes. When filling seams with sealant, ensure a generous amount is squeezed into the opening, and after, run a finger or cloth along the edge to clean up excess and finish off.

Allow sufficient time for either compound to cure before getting wet.

Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 Fishing Kayak

We liked the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler so much that we put it in our article and weve spent some time peddling to the fish on this amazing little kayak, but since you could buy two of these and stay within the $10,000 parameter set for these best fishing boats we think it belongs in this round-up, too. Aside from the pedal drive, our favorite feature is actually the seat its incredibly comfortable, and makes a full day of fishing possible despite the boats small stature.

For more information, visit Hobie.

Aluminum fishing boats often cost less than fiberglass models, and in the case of the Lowe Roughneck 1660, a lot less.

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Xpress Xplorer Xp200 Catfish

Bass anglers who enjoy hunting in the off-season will want to check out the Xpress XP200 Catfish, which is covered in camo from bow to stern. List price sits just over $26,000 with a Yamaha VF115LA outboard, and also includes a trailer.

This boat features a longer, deeper cockpit than most bass boats, so youll have plenty of room for decoy bags and extra gear as well as tackle boxes and rods. But you still get complete bass boat utility including pedestal fishing seats, a Minn Kota Edge trolling motor, an aerated livewell, and a Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 fishfinder, all included standard.

Visit Xpress Boats to learn more.

Are there other good choices out there which also meet this pricing bar? Absolutely. Should you limit your search to these 10 boats only, when you go looking for your next bass fishing machine? No way. But these 10 most affordable bass boats each have unique perks, features, or attributes that set them apart from the crowd.

So if youre on the hunt for a bass boat and youd like to keep the budget at or below the cost of an average new car, make sure you check out these options.

Lund Wc 16 Aluminum Skiff

With bench seating, an aluminum hull, tiller steering and no frills, the Lund WC 16 is about as simple a fishing boat as youll find. But when the budget is tight simple is a good thing, and the Lowe WC 16 starts at a mere $4,966. That leaves breathing room enough for a trailer and a 15 or 20 horse outboard. Added bonus: this model can hold more people than most in the class, with a maximum capacity of five persons. Editor’s Update: Since the publication of this article, the price of the WC 16 has increased by $144.

Visit Lund to learn more.

The Native Slayer Propel 13 is such an efficient fish-hunter that one of FishTalk’s own team members chose it.

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A Few Questions I Still Have

Again, since I’ve never had a brand-new, 21-foot aluminum boat, I can’t personally attest to any of this. But I do have some questions that keep popping into my head regarding switching to an aluminum boat.

• Guide trip space: I’m not crazy about guiding anymore, to be honest. But I’ll do it on the weekends sometimes if my wife and I want a little more house renovation money. Will an aluminum list from side-to-side too much if I have three people in the boat? My Skeeter is the size of an aircraft carrier, which is another big reason I’ve held onto it this long.

• Wind and waves: Thankfully I don’t live on a lake that gets too nautical, but it can still show its teeth when fronts move in and out. I’m curious to see how these new tin boats can handle that type of water. Even some fiberglass boats have a pretty wet ride in rough water, so I’d be curious to see how an aluminum would hold up.

• High-speed handling: I’ve only been in the 60 to 70-mph range in an aluminum boat one time and it was on glass-smooth water. I’m curious to see how it would handle in a little bit of chop, however. My current fiberglass rig stays straight as an arrow at high speeds and corners really nicely, even in a chop, so I’d like to test that on an aluminum boat at some point.

Top 10 Best Bass Boats For Beginners In 2021

The very best bass boats around are highly specialized and very expensive, but if youre looking for your first boat or have limited economic means, youre probably trying to sort through the myriad of countless new bass boats for beginners. That can be a daunting task, but were here to help. This roundup of 10 top bass boats for beginners boils down the field to ID top contenders that are easy to learn to operate, easy to maintain, and easy to afford.

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Best Fishing Boats Under $10000

You may have seen our Top 10 Center Console Fishing Boats Under $20,000 article, and wondered if it was possible to pick 10 best fishing boats that cost half that much. In a word, yes heres our run-down on the 10 best fishing boats for under $10,000.

The Carolina Skiff JV 13 can be had for under $10,000, and is still a sweet little fishing machine.

Knowledge Is Power Take Advantage Of It

With this knowledge in mind, youre now ready to find the best aluminum fishing boat for your needs. Any of the 10 vessels weve reviewed in this guide would be a great choice.

Visit the manufacturers website to view all the available customization options of the model youre interested in, and talk to a local dealer to schedule a demo. Getting a first-hand feel for the boat you want to buy is an important part of the decision-making process.

In the meantime, if youre in the market for a new jet boat, weve reviewed the best jet boats worth checking out.

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Smoker Craft 171 Pro Angler Xl

Finally, in my top 10 aluminum bass boats list is the Smoker Craft 171 pro angler XL. I can safely categorize it as one of the best family fishing boats. Even though its quite sleek and compact, it can accommodate a total of seven people.

This 15-feet long boat has a raised casting deck, single console, and 8-feet beam.

The best thing I like about this boat is the elevated bow pad on the casting deck, ensuring a secure mount for the electric motor. You can find dry storage and a 15-gallon live well under the casting deck.

The in-floor rod locker can hold eight rods in separate tubes.

Whats more, the heavy-duty vinyl flooring makes your life super easy. You only have to put minimum effort while cleaning the carpet flooring.

You may need to load many coolers and other heavy gears on the boat that can damage or scratch the floor. Thanks to the scratch-resistant vinyl flooring, you no longer need to worry about that.

Pros

• Conventional design

Most Common Problems With Aluminum Boats

Aluminum boats are some of the most innovative boats currently being crafted.

Since the peak of aluminum boat construction began in the 1970s, thousands of boats have been made from this lightweight and durable material. Many of them are still in service today.

However, like all materials used to craft boats, there are many common issues that aluminum boats suffer from. Issues such as corrosion damage to the metal, temperature control within the cabin, and plain design aesthetics are common with aluminum boats.

Weve researched the most frequent problems plaguing these boats and listed them below, along with the resale value of several different types of aluminum boats:

Corrosion in saltwater is a major problem, but even freshwater boats can suffer from corrosion.

The biggest cause of corrosion is electrolysis. Electrolysis occurs with two dissimilar metals are in an electrolyte.

Saltwater is a much stronger electrolyte than freshwater, and boats often have stainless steel or bronze hardware attached to the hull.

These can set up corrosion by electrolysis. Even a copper penny lost in the bilge can cause corrosion.

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Princecraft Platinum Se 227

The 22-feet long Princecraft Platinum SE 227 lets you enjoy fishing with your family and friends.

It comes with a roaring horsepower ranging from 175 to 350 hp. One thing to notice here is that most aluminum bass boats cant even achieve a maximum of 150 hp.

So this boat has one of the most spacious interiors to accommodate 11 people without compromising on speed and stability.

With three types of storage compartments and live well capacity, it has everything you wish to enjoy a relaxing fishing day.

This high-end boat comes with extra-wide gunnels to ensure the safety of people standing near the casting deck.

It has all the deluxe amenities such as cup holders, ski pole mount, and seat base.

The 17-gallon live well is one of the largest bait wells you will find in the fishing boats.

Having said that, all these luxuries come at a very high price, but they are worth the money.

Pros

• Recommended for large families only
• Pricey

Top 5 Faqs And Answers Related To The Aluminum Bass Boat Manufacturers

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Ranger Rt188p: Msrp $27495

Ranger Boats has been in the aluminum bass boat market for quite some time now. For those wondering what the P means in the model number it stands for pad hull. Instead of the V shaped hull carrying through the length of the boat, the bottom flattens out and creates a pad. This type of design is found on many high-end bass boats and offers increased performance and efficiency.

The RT188P is designed and ready for an angler to upgrade to shallow water anchors if so-desired. While this does increase the price, this is a nice option to have. Many transoms on smaller aluminum bass boats are not configured or rated for this additional weight.

A shallow water anchor system could be added in the future after purchase and would make a handy option.

The RT188P is also thoughtfully laid out with port and center rod lockers that can handle a range of rod lengths. The center rod locker will easily store 8 rods up to 86 in length.

There are three locations where fiberglass has been incorporated into the design: the console, the bow panel, and a third seat/step. These features give this aluminum boat a sleek and stylish design.

The rear battery compart is spacious and opens towards the inside of the boat which is nice if anglers have any on-the-water issues they need to investigate.

Take a closer look at the Ranger RT188P.

The Center Beach Seat Live Well

With a live well fixed into the center beach seat, the best aluminum bass boats come with a live well. This living well is filled by the anglers gears weight through a hole at the bottom.

If you opt for a single hole system boat, if the boat tips to one side, you could face limited water circulation with most of the water running out of the boat. For longer periods, a living well offers more protection while fishing.

If you cannot afford an aluminum bass boat with a live well built, you can always build one by using easy tactics. If money isnt a problem, we suggest getting a boat with two holes to ensure that water is properly circulated.

Using a two-hole design ensures that it will spill out from the other hole when the boat sails from side to side, even though water enters through one hole. This means the level of water still stays high. Living well is an important aspect, so when purchasing the best aluminum bass boat, you need to choose wisely.

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Are New Or Used Bass Boats Better

Both New and used boats have their advantages and disadvantages. You can contact the manufacturer and add or subtract features. Many new boat manufacturers have a build your own boat portion of their website. The problem with newer boats is that they are considerably more expensive than used boats. While used boats are less expensive, you are stuck with some features and upgrades that are built in.