Jan 31

Jan 31 Allison XB-21 ProSport: Can One Boat Do It All?

One of the hardest things to find when looking for a boat to buy is one that does it all. That’s because there isn’t one but there are some that do a few things well. For instance, the most popular things to do on the water are fishing and being dragged behind a boat while standing on a some kind of board; surfing, skiing, wakeboarding etc. Most people need a boat that can fit the family, tow something, maybe go fishing and in a perfect world, still really fly. Fish and Ski boats from mainstream builders can be okay but generally don’t do any of the above particularly well. There is one exception, the Allison 21 ProSport. This boat does everything very well, especially go fast.

If you ask Darris Allison what his favorite boat in the Allison Boats lineup is, he will say the 21 ProSport. He calls it a “Sport Utility Boat.” With 2+3 seating, and a walkable deck, the ProSport makes use of every inch of its hull. If you’re not into fishing, the base model and can come without any fishing equipment and be setup like a sport boat. The sport center console design is brilliant as it puts the drive and co-pilot in the middle, behind a console with a windscreen, while the rear passengers are fairly well protected. Since the deck is carpeted and has large hidden storage lockers, you can easily walk to the front and use it for skiing or tubing. And if equipped like a fishing boat, it is just as useful as any tournament 21 out there.

With a sport center console protecting the drive and passengers, this layout is very practical for a multi-use boat

Of course, Allison Boats tagline is “Ultra Performance Boats” for a reason. Darris doesn’t make slow boats and is focused on efficiency. Like all Allisons, it has a complete unibody composite construction, with an aluminum / composite transom for ultimate rigidity. With a centerline length of 21’2” and a weight of 1,290 Lbs, the ProSport will do 105 to 108 MPH with a 300R. With a nice beam of 93”, the boat has lots of room inside.

The blue and white boat is courtesy of David Parks. David confirmed to me after running his Grand Sport that the bigger 21 hull is an absolute monster in rougher water compared. Being 1300 Lbs and having a deep 22 degree deadrise means it can cruise as well as any 21 on the market.

Again, like all Allison sport and bass boats, you can run less power and still get exceptional performance and efficiency. The 21 should be in the 96 to 101 MPH range with a 250R, or you could run a 225 V6, and probably be in the mid to high eighties. Tim Powell of Fast Bass Marine recently (December 2023) rigged a 250R on a 21 Bassport and it ran 101 MPH.

A ProSport showing off a nice color scheme on the 21’ hull. (Photo Credit to David Parks)

One great thing about the 21 ProSport is the solid color designs and gel work from Allison is top notch, and can be wild and colorful or mild and really classy, depending on how you want it. Allison has always had a hot rod sport console type boat and the design was really popular on the XB 2003 but the 21’ really shines with the extra size and ability to handle big power. If you’re torn between a sport boat, fishing boat and a family boat then there really aren’t many boats like the ProSport XB-21.