Best Aluminum Boats: Top Picks And Why

Aluminum boats are a great choice for fishing and other water-based activities. They are lighter, easier to handle, and more affordable than fiberglass boats. When it comes to choosing the best aluminum boat, several brands stand out for their quality, performance, and features. Here are some of the top contenders:

- Crestliner: Known for their deep-V models like the Discovery, Pro Tiller, and Hawk, which offer excellent protection from the elements and feature all-welded construction.

- Lund: Offers a wide range of aluminum fishing boats, including the Baron and Pro-V lines, which are known for their speed and capacity.

- Tracker: America's best-selling aluminum fishing boat brand, offering complete packages with boats, motors, trailers, and a full suite of features.

- G3: Delivers excellent value with their Gator Tough Jon boat series, featuring thick aluminum hulls and camo paint job options.

- Lowe: One of the biggest aluminum boat brands, offering a diverse range of models and a wide network of dealers.

- Starcraft: Provides small and simple boats that are easy to trailer, launch, and retrieve, making them a cost-effective option.

- Alumacraft: Known for their sturdy and well-built boats, offering a range of models to suit different needs.

- Smoker Craft: Offers a wide range of accessories and options for customization, even for their smaller models.

When choosing the best aluminum boat, consider factors such as intended use, size, features, performance, and, most importantly, your personal preferences and requirements.

Best Deep V Aluminum Fishing Boats

Anglers who fish in big lakes and bays where the conditions can be rough should consider investing in a deep V aluminum fishing boat. Deep V boats are designed to cut through waves with less pounding and spray.

When it comes to the best deep V aluminum fishing boats, there are several notable options on the market. Here are some top recommendations for deep V aluminum fishing boats:

• Crestliner Discovery, Pro Tiller, Hawk, and Fish Hawk boats: These vessels are marketed as deep-V models, with transom deadrise ranging from 17 degrees to six degrees. The Hawk models offer excellent protection from the elements with tall wraparound windshields that shield the cockpit from wind and spray. They also feature all-welded construction and offer significant customization options.
• Lund Baron and Pro-V lines: Lund's flagship Baron and high-end Pro-V lines are considered top-of-the-line offerings in deep-V aluminum fishing boats. For example, the 2275 Baron has impressive specifications, including a speed of 60 mph, a capacity of up to 12 passengers, and a double-plated bow. Lund is known for its bass boats, and their aluminum deep-V lineup offers all-inclusive boat-motor-trailer packages with a long list of fishing and comfort features.
• G3 Gator Tough Jon boat series: While G3 boats are not cheap, they offer excellent value for money. Even their smallest models feature thick aluminum hulls, and their boat-motor-trailer packages include Kodiak-coated tubular steel trailers. G3 stands out for its superior construction quality and features.
• Lowe Stinger 198: Lowe is one of the biggest aluminum boat brands and offers a wide range of boat types, including modified-V, Deep-V, Fish and Ski, and utility boats. They have a large dealer network and benefit from economies of scale, often offering more competitive prices than their competitors.
• Tracker PRO TEAM 195 TXW Tournament Edition: Tracker claims to be America's best-selling aluminum fishing boat brand. They offer complete package deals that include the boat, motor, trailer, and a full suite of standard features at a clear MSRP.

When choosing a deep V aluminum fishing boat, it is important to consider factors such as size, power, customization options, and price. Additionally, it is worth noting that very few small aluminum fishing boats meet the technical specifications of a true deep-V design, so it is essential to pay attention to the transom deadrise angle when making a purchase decision.

Best Aluminum Fishing Boats for the Money

Aluminum fishing boats have a lot of advantages over fiberglass boats, especially when it comes to smaller models. They are lighter, require smaller power plants, are easier to tow, handle, and maintain, and are usually cheaper.

G3 Gator Tough Jon Boat Series

G3 boats are not cheap, but they deliver more than most for the money spent. Even their smallest models feature 0.10" thick aluminum hulls, and their stock trailers are Kodiak-coated three-inch tubular steel models with detachable tongues.

Lowe

Lowe is one of the biggest aluminum boat brands, with a lineup of modified-V, Deep-V, Fish and Ski boats, and utility boats. They have dozens of dealers and, due to the benefits of the economy of scale, their prices are usually lower than those of their competitors.

Tracker

Tracker claims to be America's best-selling aluminum fishing boat brand. They are sold in complete package form with the boat, motor, trailer, and a full suite of standard features, at a clearly listed MSRP. While they are affordable, they also cut corners.

Lund

Lund is known for its bass boats, and their aluminum deep-V lineup has a couple of models. They are sold in all-inclusive boat-motor-trailer packages with a long list of fishing and comfort features, and are listed with clear "no haggle no hassle" pricing that includes prep and freight.

Best Offshore Aluminum Fishing Boats

Aluminum fishing boats have many advantages over fiberglass boats, especially when it comes to smaller models. They are lighter, easier to tow and handle, require smaller powerplants, are easier to maintain, and tend to be more affordable. However, as boats get larger, fiberglass becomes a more popular choice, and most offshore fishing boats fall into the mid-20-foot range or larger. As a result, there are fewer options for aluminum boats designed specifically for offshore fishing.

One notable brand that offers larger aluminum ocean-going fishing boats is Duckworth, based in Clarkston, Washington. Duckworth boats can reach sizes of up to 34 feet in length and offer full cabins with ample space for multiple anglers and a wide range of fishing features. Another brand based in the same location is Weldcraft, which offers Cuddy King and Ocean King models of similar dimensions. Their boats can handle up to 900 horsepower and have highly customizable features, making them a popular choice for anglers seeking a powerful and versatile aluminum offshore fishing vessel.

When considering the best value in offshore aluminum fishing boats, several brands have been mentioned by boaters, including Silverstreak, Lifetimer, and Raider. Silverstreak and Lifetimer boats are known for their rugged construction, using thicker aluminum and a superior alloy (5086) compared to competitors like Kingfisher. Raider boats are also recommended for their aluminum offshore capabilities in the Pacific Northwest.

For those seeking a more unique or customizable option, there are boat builders like Silvercreek Marine, which offers the ability to design and build a boat to your exact specifications. This can result in a boat that is tailored to your needs and preferences, often at a more competitive price point than some of the larger manufacturers.

Best Small Aluminum Fishing Boats

Aluminum fishing boats have a lot of advantages over fiberglass boats, especially when it comes to smaller models. They are lighter, easier to tow and handle, require smaller power plants, and are easier to maintain. They are also usually cheaper than fiberglass boats.

Lowe

Lowe is one of the biggest aluminum boat brands, with a range of modified-V, Deep-V, Fish and Ski boats, and utility boats. They have a large number of dealers and sell a lot of boats, allowing them to benefit from economies of scale and offer competitive prices. They build Jon boats that range from 10 feet in length, ideal for three people and a five horsepower engine, to larger offerings.

Smoker Craft

Smoker Craft offers larger boats, but their Angler series includes simple 14' and 16' models with a surprising level of available accessories. Even the smallest can be outfitted with a bow-mount electric trolling motor, a factory-installed GPS/fishfinder, a seat slider, and more.

Starcraft

Starcraft's small aluminum boat offerings include a 12-footer in the SL series, as well as SF, SF DLX, Alaskan, Freedom, and Patriot models. These are no-frills boats with low price tags, requiring minimal maintenance, and are easy to trailer, launch, and retrieve.

Crestliner

Crestliner bills its Discovery, Pro Tiller, Hawk, and Fish Hawk boats as deep-V models, with transom deadrise ranging from 17 degrees to six degrees. These boats offer excellent protection from the elements with protective windshields, and the Hawk models feature tall wraparound windshields that shield the cockpit from wind and spray. They are constructed with all-welded aluminum and offer significant customization options.

Best Aluminum Bass Fishing Boats

Aluminum bass boats are extremely popular, and for good reason. They are compact, sturdy, and well-equipped for fishing. They are also generally more affordable than their fiberglass cousins. Here is a list of some of the best aluminum bass fishing boats on the market:

Crestliner MX21

As big and powerful as its fiberglass cousins, the Crestliner MX21 can be rigged with up to 250 horsepower. It features huge casting decks, a 45-gallon livewell, large tackle storage compartments, and twin rod boxes that can hold a total of 10 rods. The hull is 0.125-inch gauge aluminum, and the MX21 has a fiberglass console with space for 12-inch flush-mounted electronics. The MX21 is priced slightly under $53,000.

Lowe Skorpion 17

Lowe is one of the best-known manufacturers of bass boats, and the Skorpion 17 is a great option for those looking for affordability and value for money. With a starting price of under $20,000, it features a modified V-hull, an outboard motor with 20 to 60 horsepower, an aerated livewell, a foot-pedal-controlled trolling motor, and four comfortable seats. While it may not be the fastest or most feature-rich bass boat on the market, the Skorpion 17 offers a great entry point into the world of bass fishing.

Lund Pro V Bass XS

The Lund Pro V Bass XS is a serious contender for those looking for the performance of a fiberglass bass boat in an aluminum package. This boat can seat four people, making it perfect for families or those wanting more space. It features two large casting decks, bow and center rod storage, and a 28-gallon aerated livewell. The Pro V Bass XS can be rigged with a potent 250 horsepower engine and has a starting price of just over $60,000.

Ranger RT198P

The Ranger RT198P offers a great balance of performance and value, with a price tag of around $39,000. It provides 150 horsepower and comes equipped with flush-mounted electronics and a range of fishing equipment. It also offers clever storage solutions and well-thought-out extras such as a retractable rod strap, a cooler, and center rod storage in the spacious front casting deck. The sleek appearance and color-matched trailer make this boat stand out from the crowd.

Tracker Pro Team 195 TXW Tournament Edition

Tracker is one of the biggest builders of aluminum boats, and the Pro Team 195 TXW Tournament Edition is their premium model. Priced in the upper $30,000 range, it is capable of speeds in the 50s and comes fully rigged and ready for fishing. It includes a Minn Kota 70-pound-thrust electric trolling motor, an onboard three-bank battery charger, a Lowrance HOOK2 Reveal 5-inch fishfinder, and a single-axle trailer.

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