Originally Posted by
Rudypoo4444
I've had both fiberglass and aluminum. I will never buy another fiberglass boat. To me, they are heavy, and I can't fish them safely in questionable waters (like fluctuating rivers with rock bottoms) with any confidence.
We bought a 17ft 1993 Lowe all aluminum boat several years back for $4000. 50hp Johnson motor, trailer, two depth finders, two livewells, trolling motor, and an all aluminum deck. I still fish out of this boat to this day. I love it.
The ONLY downside, in my perspective, is when the water gets choppy, due to pleasure-boaters, it makes it difficult to keep up speed when moving, because it is a little rough through big waves, where as my fiberglass boat I had was not. I stress that, to me, that is my ONLY complaint. I suspect the smaller size of my boat has a lot to do with it not cutting through big waves very well.
I can tell you my aluminum boat is light, and I pull it with my V-6 4runner all over the state with no problems.
I've fished the big waters of KY and Barkley lakes, several trips down the fluctuating water of the Cumberland river for trout, the big mud banks of the Ohio, and everywhere in between. It has just been a great boat.
It's just my opinion, but an aluminum boat is optimal for me.