Gear

Photos: Balance and load your aluminum boat

A closer look at how to load your aluminum bass rig right for optimal performance.

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Here’s our test mule, a 2013 Triton X18. It’s fairly lightly loaded, but most of the gear resides in the front compartments for better navigation and planing in shallow water. Aluminum boats are more sensitive to weight and its location in the boat because they're typically much lighter than fiberglass rigs.
Here’s our test mule, a 2013 Triton X18. It’s fairly lightly loaded, but most of the gear resides in the front compartments for better navigation and planing in shallow water. Aluminum boats are more sensitive to weight and its location in the boat because they’re typically much lighter than fiberglass rigs.
In the left front compartment are the bulk of the soft plastics, terminal tackle and all the Plano boxes that wouldn’t fit in the rod box. The X18 will accommodate a half dozen 3700-size Plano boxes inside the rod box, with three down each side. On the right side are a few more bags of plastics, line, a net and other accessories like rain gear. If a fast hole shot and good top end are your goal, relegate these things to the back.
In the left front compartment are the bulk of the soft plastics, terminal tackle and all the Plano boxes that wouldn’t fit in the rod box. The X18 will accommodate a half dozen 3700-size Plano boxes inside the rod box, with three down each side. On the right side are a few more bags of plastics, line, a net and other accessories like rain gear. If a fast hole shot and good top end are your goal, relegate these things to the back.
Under the seats are life vests, a spare prop, an extension cord, maps and a few other lightweight things.
Under the seats are life vests, a spare prop, an extension cord, maps and a few other lightweight things.
There’s not much you can do about this area, which -- no matter how many 1-ounce jigs you carry -- is the heaviest in your boat. This X18 carries 21 gallons of gas, a charger, three batteries and a 115-horse Mercury Optimax ProXS back here.
There’s not much you can do about this area, which — no matter how many 1-ounce jigs you carry — is the heaviest in your boat. This X18 carries 21 gallons of gas, a charger, three batteries and a 115-horse Mercury Optimax ProXS back here.
At the moment, the rear compartments are largely empty, except for some Star brite Star Tron and Star brite 2-stroke oil. Again, if all-out speed is your goal, put your terminal tackle and bags of soft plastics back here.
At the moment, the rear compartments are largely empty, except for some Star brite Star Tron and Star brite 2-stroke oil. Again, if all-out speed is your goal, put your terminal tackle and bags of soft plastics back here.
Here’s a better look under the seats.
Here’s a better look under the seats.
And a closer view of the battery compartment.
And a closer view of the battery compartment.
For shallow water fishing, this hefty load goes up in the passenger side forward box.
For shallow water fishing, this hefty load goes up in the passenger side forward box.
Unsurprisingly, inside the rod box are a bunch of rods. Although there are eight provisions for rods, a dozen fit in there fairly easily.
Unsurprisingly, inside the rod box are a bunch of rods. Although there are eight provisions for rods, a dozen fit in there fairly easily.
Alongside the rods is storage for Plano boxes.
Alongside the rods is storage for Plano boxes.
Here’s a better look at the forward driver's side box.
Here’s a better look at the forward driver’s side box.
When performance is your goal, these items need to go in the back, as they are here.
When performance is your goal, these items need to go in the back, as they are here.
The other half of the rod box storage. A third Plano box is out of view.
The other half of the rod box storage. A third Plano box is out of view.
Other essentials ride in the rear.
Other essentials ride in the rear.
In the next installment, we’ll delve into increasing your rig’s performance by manipulating a few things back here.
In the next installment, we’ll delve into increasing your rig’s performance by manipulating a few things back here.

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