Bass boats and aluminum fishing boats both exist to put you on fish, but they are built for different days. A bass boat is a low, fast fiberglass (or composite) fishing boat with casting decks, livewells and a trolling-motor setup aimed at serious bass angling. An aluminum fishing boat is a welded or riveted aluminum hull set up for fishing — from small tiller boats to deep-V lake boats and welded cabin boats. This guide compares them with the models in our data.
The short version
- Bass boat: a purpose-built fishing platform — casting decks, livewells, usually higher horsepower for a given length, and a layout aimed at tournament-style bass fishing.
- Aluminum fishing: a broader category. Lighter for its size in many cases, often less expensive on published prices, and used for everything from small lakes to bigger water with a welded cabin.
Choose a bass boat if
- Bass fishing (or similar casting-deck fishing) is the main reason you own a boat.
- You want casting decks, livewells and a layout built around a trolling motor and a big outboard.
- You're comparing tournament-style boats. Our data has 76 bass boat models from 14 brands.
Choose an aluminum fishing boat if
- You want a fishing boat that also handles family days, and you're open to tiller, side-console or small cabin layouts.
- Weight, toughness on rocky or stump water, and published price matter. Our data has 229 aluminum fishing models from 18 brands.
- You'll fish a wider mix of water, not only bass lakes.
What our data shows (checked 2026-11-05)
| Bass boat | Aluminum fishing | |
|---|---|---|
| Models in our data | 76 | 229 |
| Brands | 14 | 18 |
| Length (LOA) | 16' to 22', median 19' 9" (n=51) | 10' to 23' 11", median 18' (n=182) |
| Beam | median 8' (n=55) | median 7' 8" (n=196) |
| Draft | median 12 in (n=1) | median 12 in (n=19) |
| Dry weight | median 1,775 lb (n=48) | median 1,513.5 lb (n=108) |
| Fuel capacity | median 43 gal (n=65) | median 26 gal (n=169) |
| Max horsepower | median 250 hp (n=43) | median 115 hp (n=179) |
| Passengers | median 4 (n=19) | median 6 (n=157) |
| Published prices | $18,275 to $100,013, median $58,476 (n=37) | $3,012 to $130,450, median $37,881 (n=142) |
| Priced under $50,000 | 16 | 92 |
| Priced $50,000 to $99,999 | 20 | 43 |
| Priced $100,000 to $249,999 | 1 | 7 |
| Priced $250,000 and up | 0 | 0 |
Figures checked 2026-11-05, computed from the model pages on this site (each value links to the builder's own page there). "n" is how many models publish that figure. Prices are the builders' published base or starting prices, not dealer or out-the-door prices, and many builders don't publish one, so treat the price rows as a rough picture of what's listed, not market prices. Medians are the middle value, so half the models are above and half below.
A few things stand out. Aluminum fishing has the bigger list and more published prices (142 of 229 against 37 of 76 for bass). The median published price is $58,476 for bass boats and $37,881 for aluminum fishing. Bass boats in our data cluster tightly by length (about 16' to 22'); aluminum fishing spans a wider range, down to 10' and up to 23' 11". Draft is thinly published for bass boats (n=1), so compare draft on each model's own page.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Will we mostly fish for bass from casting decks, or do we want a more general fishing boat?
- How rough is our water, and do we need a deeper-V aluminum hull or a low bass hull?
- What's the weight on the trailer with the engine and gear, and can our vehicle tow it? See Towing by Boat Weight.
- Do we need a trolling-motor wiring package, livewells and casting decks as standard?
Next steps
- Compare models on the Bass boat hub and the Aluminum fishing hub.
- See state-by-state ownership costs in Cost to own a boat.
- Also comparing coastal fishing hulls? Read Bay Boat vs. Center Console.
- Put a real price into the True Cost tool to see loan payments, sales tax, registration and upkeep for your state.
- Start from a monthly budget with Shop by Payment, which lists models whose published price fits.
- See the wider picture in Choosing a Boat Type and The True Cost of Boat Ownership, Explained.