Room is always at a premium on angling boats. For 2025, the Alumacraft Competitor line of aluminum multispecies boats offers a clever idea that expands the aft casting deck without compromising cockpit space or making the boat longer. The X-Pods on either side of the outboard extend the aft deck by 16 inches. This gives the angler more foot room and makes it easier to fish around the motor. Each X-Pod also incorporates 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 a feature of 12 new Competitor models, including the 22-foot-2-inch-long 205X Side Console we tested.
Competitor models also feature a new bow control center with a recessed well for the trolling-motor pedal, a phone holder with a USB port, and fishing-tool slots. The center panel is designed for gimble or recessed mounting of a 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.
The bow livewell holds 21 gallons. A choice of three new Flex Module configurations is offered for the aft 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, and the Flex 50 with a 50-gallon livewell. Full-length 13-inch-wide steps in the cockpit port and starboard make it easy to kneel and reach the water. The tops lift to reach stowage and the 46-quart cooler to starboard and 10-foot rod stowage to port. There’s additional rod stowage below the forward deck.
Alumacraft has not changed the revered Competitor running surface, which is slightly concave from keel to chine to help the boat better carve turns. 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.
Read Next: Alumacraft Trophy 185X Sport
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.
High Points
- X-Pods expand the aft deck, making it easier to fish around the outboard motor.
- The 48-gallon fuel tank wraps around a house and cranking battery below the aft deck, moving battery weight forward for improved boat balance.
- Three Flex aft livewell options permit customization for your fishing activity.
- Bow control center offers flexible mounting options for up to a 12-inch display, with space for two more 12-inch displays at the helm.
Low Points
- Competitive boats come with a standard trailer, while this one does not.
- Innovative Rotax S outboard and Max Deck is not an option for this model.
Toughest Competitor
The 21-foot-2-inch G3 Angler V21 F (about $70,000 with a Yamaha F250 and EZ Loader trailer) is offered only as a dual-console with full windshield, with room for a single display above the dash and traditional analog instruments, and does not have a bow console for electronics. The optional Flip Deck ($688) expands the aft casting area and incorporates jump seats.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $66,367 (base MSRP with test power) |
| LOA: | 22’2″ |
| Beam: | 8’2″ |
| Draft (max): | NA |
| Displacement: | 2,003 lb. |
| Transom Deadrise: | 17 degrees |
| Fuel Capacity: | 48 gal. |
| Max Horsepower: | 400 |
| Available Horsepower: | Single Honda, Mercury, Suzuki or Yamaha outboard; 150 to 400 hp |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Alumacraft Boats – St. Peter, Minnesota; alumacraft.com
