Looking for aluminum bay boat recs

If you have the budget and are looking at new aluminum boats. Get a custom built boat.

Uncle J, LCA, there's countless builders in LA. You will get an indestructible boat, exactly how you want it cheaper than the mass production stuff.

If you're looking used, then just figure out exactly what you want and shop until you find a deal.

Sportsman's Fab FB link

Get a glass boat if you arent getting a custom aluminum boat. The mass produced beer cans are fine for fresh water work but they're awful bay boats.

Im a full time guide on the Texas Gulf Coast. I have three charter boats.

One of them is a 21ft Lund Alaskan. I set this boat up for crossing Aransas Bay out of Rockport and duck hunting. However I charter out of it numerous times a year for fishing and cast and blast etc.

It handles the bay chop excellent! And is surprisingly shallow with the jackplate and sponsons I added. We have fished the jetties and beachfront as well as back bayous.

Not as purdy or trendy as the current run of aluminum bay boats but much more capable in my opinion. Runs shallower and handles big water better.... just not as fast.

I went to Iowa to get mine as they use them a lot on northern lakes. Not as popular down here. But even after running it ten years I am still surprised how well it fishes every time I am in it. My wife loves that boat because it has the best seats of all my boats.

Born in Lafayette with tons of family in Avoyelles Parish. Spent every three day weekend, spring break, any break at the family cattle ranch near Simmesport.... (its all in sugar cane now).

Grew up with no choice but to love LSU....

Grem is short for Gremillion which no one West of Orange can pronounce....

2cool and DosFrios are great. Lots of friends made. Have had tons of those folks out on the boat and in the duck blind. And fixed up everyone's trailer lol.

Anyway back to the OP happy to get you out on the Lund for a test day of something different. Several decades ago had an Alumaweld Express and although it was faster it isnt even close to how the Lund fishes....or how it handles big bay chop. The Lund is a better choice for my operation.

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Hanko

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They build some tanks. I ran them in my previous life, I’d run them out to Mardi Gras rigs, etc. they are loud and not that comfortable in open water. But they are nearly indestructible.

I had a 20ft Excel and loved it. I owned 4 aluminum boats in a row and just bought a 23ft Skeeter fiberglass.

Used from Venice to the Basin - fishing, tubing, etc. Pick your days but it was well built and rode dry. My brother has an Avid and it's nice but rides real wet with minimum V and low sides. The 22' Excel is a nice rig.

If you take your wife in a 22ft glass boat in chop and then in a 22ft aluminum boat in chop, it'll be an easy decision. I liked the lack of maintenance on my aluminum but it's no comparison in ride quality.