Aluminum all welded bass boat

[Davis 103]

I am in the market for an all welded aluminum bass boat 15-18'. i have no experence with an aluminum boat however I have had several FIBERGLASS bass boats, VIP, Hydra Sports, Ranger, etc....
I am from TX where we fished almost everday around stumbs and logs, since moving to TN I am fishing rock bottom lakes and have been told that a lighter welded aluminum boat would be best to ge me back into the shallows and have less or at leat less expensise repairs if needed. I would like a boat that has 3 main seats for lake crusieing with the familiy but my goal is to have a boat that will run around 40+ at WOT and be able to handle light chop. towing weight is not an issue, i would like your expertise from those who have owned one of these boats and fished it hard (3-4 times per week) i would also like advice om the pros and cons of these boats. i plan on having this bost for years amd use it weeklly if not more. if you have a boat for sale I would be willing to travel for thr right rig.

thanks in advance for your advice

Davis 103

 

[mommicked]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

If your looking for a really tough johnboat check out SeaArk. Their hulls are thicker/stronger than most others and they're well made w lots of options. Buddy has a 20' Rivercat and it rides and fishes very well. 40 gal. livewell and lots of other compartments. It's also very stable at rest. the entire top of the boat is coated w bedliner type nonskid that also helps w hot temps and carpeted decks would be ideal for summer use in an aluminum boat. Most any 17+' jon will do 40 w a motor at or near maximum rated HP. I have a G31860 and like it alot, but it is camoflage and gets uncomfortably hot in bright sun and summer heat. G3 has some deluxe models w white paint and deck coatings also. Their are ALOT of jon/bass boat models by various makers, just google Aluminum fishing boats. Also check out the V hulls that handle big water better than jons w shallow v's, but they generally draft more than the flatter bottomed boats. Most any welded jonboat will handle rock hits w just minor scratching at trolling motor speeds.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

I've had an 1870 Express MV jon boat since new in 1999, no problems at all. Most of the Express boats are .100" thick all welded aluminum. The SeaArk boats are some heavier built, with .125" thick all welded aluminum hulls. Check Express and SeaArk web sites for plenty of photos and information. There's several other aluminum boat manufacturers to check out(Triton makes some real beauties in aluminum now). I believe the aluminum hull forming techniques(Hydroforming) and greatly improved welding technologies are producing some great looking and mostly bulletproof aluminum boats. It ain't Grandpaws leaky, riveted jon boat anymore!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

You need to come visit the Natural State, Davis. This is where the kind of boat you're looking for is made. Mommicked is spot on with SeaArk. There's also Xpress, Excel, Legendcraft, and War Eagle. Any of those five would be a great choice, and for your intended use it sounds like an eighteen footer with a 90 to 115 would be a good fit. Just keep your eye on CL and area papers and you'll find one. There's also a classified section here on iboats. One word of advice; if you find one you like be ready to pounce. They don't last long. Good luck.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

My current boat is a Rivertrail built somewhere in Arkansas...or was before the recent bad times. I think it was a special edition called Bass Master for Travis Boating Center in Lewisville, TX. It is 17' and about 6' beam BIA rated for a 130 hp and 800#. Has one cross seat that 3 can occupy and the usual bow and stern, deck mounted, bass seats. Has a long sloping bow which makes it nice for beaching and keeping your feet dry. My 90 Merc pushes it just under 50 with 2 and gear. It can do this because of the 3 steps to the hull. At WOT it only rides on the center which is only about 1' wide....aluminum version of the "Pad" you had on your ranger.

My previous boat was the '89 Ranger Fisherman with the 115 tower of power. This boat cannot take the rough water like the ranger could, but I didn't buy it for that. I have posted pics of it and the hull and prop. One I posted July 25 to 27 and the other recently, roughly 2 or 3 weeks ago.

Boat isn't noisy as metal boats go due to the carpet and deck and all that make it a bass boat. Handles well and if you tuck in the trim and get the v of the bow to cutting the waves it rides ok....but it's not a Ranger.

Good luck,

Mark

 

[lncoop]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

Handles well and if you tuck in the trim and get the v of the bow to cutting the waves it rides ok....but it's not a Ranger.
Mark

But then what is?

 

[Philster]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

I've got an Alumacraft around 17-feet or so with 40 HP 4-stroke Merc and she does 25 MPH... maybe 28! Get yerself some extra ponies!

 

[Davis 103]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

I would like to thank everyone that is responding to my request for advice, I have noticed that no one (and I have heard) to stay away from the Bass Tracker, i must say that they put toghether a nice package but I see more for sale than I do on the water. I am leaning toward a Aluimweld or Xpress does anyone have aany experence with these 2 boats, also why are there more Bass Trackers on land than water?
Thanks again for your help

Davi 103

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

Aluminum durability ???

I have a 1986 Lowe 16' X 5' X 15" transom, open fishing boat with a 9.9 Evinrude. It is fished ALL summer, EVERY day. ALL day. ON ROCKS. Dragged over rocks. The boat runs thru rocky water only 6" deep. Just unlock the motor down lever.
At wot it moves fast enough. If I put the 30 hp Evinrude on it. It WILL blow over in high wind. Booking along!

I have a Chaparral 19' with a 305 V 8 in it. NO WAY can either boat do the others job.

You NEED 2 boats like I do.
Lowe to fish ANYWHERE
Chaparral to take 6 of us home safely in a sudden storm with 4' to 5' waves. Spread the weight around & trim in maximum RUNNING trim up. NOT trailer maximum up trim. Bone dry after 2 miles of bow high running. People sit quietly when they are wearing life vests.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

Pretty much all the major aluminum boat manufacturers have fish & ski models that should work nicely for you. When I restored my 18' Starcraft I looked to many of these for design inspiration.

 

[bobs715]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

I own a Triton aluminum 173 Sport. I would highly recommend looking at Triton.

 

[dave11]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

I have a 16ft Alumaweld, great fishing boat.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

But then what is?

Ha! a Ranger of course. Grin

 

[lncoop]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

Ha! a Ranger of course. Grin

Also made in the Natural State; up in God's country.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

Also made in the Natural State; up in God's country.

I grew up in Pasadena, TX. SE of Houston and as a budding teen, had a neighborhood friend my age that moved with his family to Flippin, AK. Have always wondered why his family moved up there and what he did for a living. That was back before emails and cell phones.

Mark

 

[lncoop]

Re: Aluminum all welded bass boat

I grew up in Pasadena, TX. SE of Houston and as a budding teen, had a neighborhood friend my age that moved with his family to Flippin, AK. Have always wondered why his family moved up there and what he did for a living. That was back before emails and cell phones.
Mark

Pasadena to Flippin? Bet that kid had to do some adjusting. It really is beautiful up there though. Hilly terrain with lots of neat little nooks and crannies plus the Buffalo and White rivers, Crooked Creek, and Norfork and Bull shoals lakes. Trout, Walleye, Bass of all kinds, Crappie, Catfish, etc. etc. etc. So awesome, but I'd better stop. Seems like I end up hijacking every thread that mentions Ranger boats. Sorry Davis.:redface: