3 Reasons Why You Need an Aluminum Bass Boat

There was a day when aluminum boats were thought to be ideal only for the budget-conscious angler—the weekend warrior, the high school or college angler, or maybe the semi-serious regional competitor still working the 9 to 5. But there was no way a tin boat could compete with the big boys on a national level.

Well, thanks to John Cox, who won the Forrest Wood Cup (FLW’s championship event) in a Crestliner aluminum boat on Sunday, that’s no longer the case. And, to properly credit the Florida pro, Cox has two FLW Tour level wins to his name in, yep—the tin boat.

So, what’s the takeaway for the average fisherman? Options. If your budget allows a fiberglass bass boat of $50,000-plus, go for it.

If not, don’t consider yourself out of contention if you want to compete in the tin boat. We’re not suggesting you take an aluminum bass boat into Lake Erie during one of her bad-hair days, but calm water equals green light for tinners.

Although you’ll give up a good chunk of speed and rough water stability to the performance-tuned glass boats, what you gain is well worth considering.

1. Lower Cost
No question about it: a tournament-ready aluminum rig with appropriate power will leave you with a lower monthly payment than a comparably sized glass boat.

You’ll probably save on insurance and fuel consumption will certainly be lower, as well.

2. Reach Farther
Cox staked his whole tournament on sneaking farther back into a shallow creek than any glass boater would sanely attempt. In such places, logs, stumps, laydowns and rocks can do a number on fiberglass gel coat, but dings, dents and superficial scratches are no problem for the aluminum boat.

3. Get In, Get Out
Particularly in tidal waters, sneaking into a narrow creek or canal might leave you with a tough turn-around when it’s time to go. And if the water drops out, a heavy glass boat offers little chance of crossing mud puddles in the skinny spots. 

With a TH Marine Atlas Jack Plate, aluminum boaters stand a better chance of successfully negotiating scenarios with a high pucker factor.

Will we see a mass exodus from glass to aluminum in the upper echelon of competitive bass fishing? Of course not. So many of the top-tier events still require long runs and/or big water stability.

But when shallow backwaters or scratchy, inhospitable cover are in play, look for someone to go aluminum.

They might even win.