The all-new Alumacraft Competitor line of aluminum multispecies boats offers anglers the advantage of a larger aft casting deck without compromising cockpit space or making the boat longer. The addition of X-Pods on each side of the outboard extends the aft deck by 16 inches to give the angler more foot room and make it easier to fish around the motor. Each X-Pod incorporates a stowage space. The X-Pods are not an extension of the running surface but do act as fixed tabs to improve planing performance and handling in turns. The X-Pods are featured on four different lengths of Competitor models, including the 22-foot-2-inch-long 205X Side Console we tested.
A new bow control center features a recessed foot-pedal well, a phone holder with a USB port, and tool slots. The center panel is designed for gimbal or recessed mounting of a multifunction display up to 12 inches. A handsome new molded dash area at the helm features a standard 7-inch Garmin EchoMap MFD for instrumentation, with room for two 12-inch graphs above the dashboard.
There’s a 21-gallon livewell in the bow deck and a choice of three new Flex Module configurations at the aft end of the cockpit: the Flex 29 with a carpeted bench/step and a 29-gallon livewell, the Flex FSX with a pair of jump seats flanking a 30-gallon livewell, or the Flex 50 with a 50-gallon livewell. Full-length 13-inch-wide steps port and starboard in the cockpit make it easy to kneel and reach the water. The tops lift to reach stowage, a 46-quart cooler to starboard and 10-foot rod stowage to port. There’s additional rod stowage below the forward deck.
Alumacraft did not change the Competitor running surface, which is slightly concave from keel to chine to help the boat carve turns better. The Alumacraft 2XB double-plated hull with a seamless one-piece bottom is designed to be durable and feel solid on the water. The Competitor 205X is rated for up to 400 hp, but the 250 hp Mercury on our test boat provided satisfying performance, hopping on plane in less than 4 seconds and holding plane at just 17.5 mph—ideal performance when the water is rough.
High Points
- X-Pods expand the aft deck and make it easier to fish around the outboard motor.
- New bow control center with a recessed trolling-motor pedal well is great.
- Three Flex aft livewell options permit customization for your fishing activity, plus jump seats.
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury FourStroke 250 DTS
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14.2″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 48 gal. Crew Weight: 380 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $66,367 (base with test power) |
| LOA: | 22’2″ |
| Beam: | 8’2″ |
| Draft (max): | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 2,003 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 8/1,323 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 48 gal. |
Alumacraft Boats – St. Peter, Minnesota; alumacraft.com
