The basic aluminum john boat has long been popular among Florida bass and panfish anglers: Durable, low-maintenance, affordable. In recent years, brands like Ranger, Vex-us, Crestliner and XPress are offering tournament-rigged aluminum boats which compete with fiberglass models at all levels.
Florida pro John Cox has made a name for himself as a successful tournament angler: two B.A.S.S. wins and six FLW victories, including the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup—all from an aluminum boat. Cox is a vocal proponent of the inexpensive aluminum option — his 18 1/2-foot Crestliner PT18 with a 150 4S retails at $30,650 (boat, motor, trailer) before accessories.
FEWER POUNDS, GREATER ACCESS
“Towing all over the country, I get better gas mileage pulling an aluminum boat than a fiberglass boat,” Cox said. “Also, the engines are smaller,…