Boat Test: Alumaweld 20' Intruder…A Rare Original

What do the pyramids, Mt. McKinley and Alumaweld's 20' Intruder all have in common? They've all stood the test of time.

In an industry that's often characterized by "Johnny-come-lately's", Alumaweld Boats has been an enviable fixture for more than 30 years. Over those 30 years Alumaweld's brought to market a broad offering of boats. The Intruder has been one of the company's most popular entries and reflects all that has made Alumaweld the clear leader in welded aluminum boating.

For eons welded aluminum boats lacked the eye candy of their fiberglass counterparts. No particular attention was given to aesthetics instead these boats were characterized by rough welds, unpainted aluminum hulls, and boats built solely for utility. That is, until the market demanded more pleasing forms to complement these boat's function.

Alumaweld responded first with their Formula Vee, a series that reached for stars. The form was pleasing, the construction unparalleled, and the performance was consistently excellent thanks to enormous investment in engineering by Alumaweld.

The Formula Vee though, was out-of-bounds for most boater's budgets. When you set out to build the best the price generally reflects those costs of development and elevated construction standards.

By the late 80's the market was changing quickly. Alumaweld sensed those changes and responded with their price accessible Intruder Series. Over the last 15 years the Intruder's undergone a dramatic evolution.

By heavy gauge welded aluminum standards, the Intruder's still relatively affordable but it's not the boat it started out to be.

Beautifully detailed and fully-equipped, Alumaweld's Intruder has followed the needs of its owners with a form that's set apart by a sporty sleek profile that's functionally perfect.

The 20' Intruder, for example, is available with either a 10° whitewater bottom for shallow water use, or an 18° full vee bottom that effectively slices through chop and buffers an otherwise rough ride.

Adding to the boat's functionality is an enormous cockpit area that's ideal for Western fishing applications. The windshield assembly's been purposely set forward in the boat to provide added interior space. In fact, you'll find there's virtually no wasted energy in this boat. Alumaweld's Intruder has been thoroughly conceived with generous walk-thru space, a deep recessed bow with railings for added safety when setting anchor, a hull design that lifts perfectly, rides dry, and handles with the sureness of a slalom skier.

Fishing out of this boat has been a complete pleasure. It's stable, loaded with storage, and again, well conceived. For example, there's a welded in fish box in the bow. This box is fashioned with drains that make cleaning it a simple matter of spraying it with a garden hose. The box itself is plenty big enough to accommodate a full-sized Chinook salmon.

Storage box seating is standard in this boat. Alumaweld's storage boxes are marvelously dry…a unique feature in an age when most leak like strainers. The standard seats are also a cut above the rest, with no-pinch hinges, thick upholstery, and roto-molded bases and backs that won't rot, warp, or degrade like so many others.

Serious anglers will appreciate the balance and tracking characteristics of Alumaweld's Intruder. Four full length lifting and turning strakes are welded to the bottom which allows the boat to track properly for trolling and backtrolling. These strakes are proprietary extrusions that are unique to Alumaweld and have earned them the distinction as "Performance Path Lifting Strakes".

We tested this boat at an elevation of 2,000 feet and were pleasantly surprised. Matched to Mercury's 135 h.p. Optimax, a 14" (diameter) x 19 pitch stainless steel prop, a full load of fuel (38 gallons), 2 people and their gear we achieved a speed of 43 miles per hour at wide open throttle (5,100 rpm).

Optimum cruising speed was at 3,600 rpms with a fuel consumption rate of about 3.5 gallons per hour and a speed of just over 22 mph.

The 20' Intruder we tested had an 18° full vee bottom which worked beautifully. This hull corners like its on a rail, lifts nicely and was surprisingly quick considering the acute deadrise and draft of the boat.

What's particularly striking in this package is the openness of the layout. Anglers will revel in the interior space and should welcome the versatility and seaworthiness of the design.

Like all Alumaweld's the Intruder Series features Alumaweld's unique box girder construction which relies on two massive girders that are continuously welded to the bottom the entire length of the boat's running surface and then welded to a forward bulkhead and to the transom making it the strongest design around.

No corners have been cut --- you'll see that in the grade of the components and in the details---like a glove box that's big enough for a couple days snacks, some fishing gear and your safety equipment. The coaming gunwale not only adds structure and strength but makes a nice tread area for getting in and out of the boat or as a mounting surface for downriggers or rod holders.

Alumaweld's 20' Intruder does a lot of things well but most of all expect it to quickly earn your praise as a favorite fishing companion.