A second boat

If you were going to add a second boat. Metal boat to put in the rivers to get around good what would it be ? size, brand and motor. I would put on power poles but think I would stay with a fortrex over a ultrex . I would use this boat in the Bass opens

Xpress X19 or X21, depending on which engine size you think you needed.

They come stock with a Yamaha.

I'd have an 18-19' aluminum center console with pods and jack plate. This boat would be my river boat for hunting, fishing and also to take to the coast to chase trout and reds

John Cox fishes from a tin boat, he won the Forest Wood cup in it. 20-21 footer, I agree with the Fortrex, good luck in the opens Randy, that's great..

I'd have a 17ft allweld. Stripped down to reduce weight. Something you can beat the heck out of. To me, a 21ft is no different than a glass boat. You could get an older 20ft with gorilla hull for that. For me, I want something I can beat up and allow me into tight spots and shallow water

I like the 17 foot stripped down light weight beat the snot out of boat. What about a bass tracker ? Ranger makes a metal boat. And I will check out the Xpress.

Great timing with this post. OT Defoe just won a BASSMASTER open out of such a rig

https://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/inside-tunnel-boats-defoe-and-friends

that's what I am talking about. Sweet

Sick boats!

The 17 foot Xpress handles waves pretty well and really bounces off of stumps really good. It would be a hard boat to beat in that size boat.

Gator Trax


One big issue with tin boats is the construction of the "bones" of the boat. If they are not built right, the boat will actually bend and torque in rough water and basically that can ruin a hull. Check the construction out on the Gator Trax boats and you'll be impressed.

Those boats remind of a Nascar version of bass/inshore boats. All business and no frills. Great slide show. Red/trout fishing dream boat, just add beer!

Sea Ark. Very tough boats.

Problem with most aluminum boats is the bottom will get so dented it will start splitting and weaken if your going over stumps all the time because of their hull thickness. Gator Trax uses 3/16" aluminum and they will make it any dimension you want.

Not all Gator Trax boats come in .190, you have to upgrade. Some other manufacturers will use the thicker stuff too if you ask.

Ott's boat is far from stock. BASS did another article about all of the engineering he put in to it. For some reason I think he has $20K in custom welding done to it. Pretty fascinating machine.

1860 tunnel hull with a custom full flipping deck. 90hp Yamaha. Your main concern in a aluminum rig is draft and livewell. You have to have a good livewell to keep your fish alive.