Aluminum or Fiberglass?

[Striper-Sniper]

Ok guys...I got into a disagreement with my father-in-law tonight about boats. Let me start by saying that I was looking at Pontoons but have since decided to look for an aluminum boat. I fish the Ohio River, Green River, and planning to start fishing the Cumberland River. I fish around alot of rocks and fish alot of shallow water. I have decided to start looking for an older Bass Tracker style boat possibly a Panfish. Anyway, my father-in-law starts telling me there is no way I should buy an aluminum boat, that their to light, dangerous in rough water, dangerous in storms, and basically that they are to unstable for river fishing. I think he was specifically talking about Tracker syle modified V boats. I told him I thought he was wrong and that I didn't want a heavy fiberglass boat. So what is everyone's take on this, is an aluminum boat safe for the kind of fishing I'm doing? Thanks for any comments or help.

[apextrail]

I have a 17' Tracker and fish KY lake often. I can cross the big lake and fish where ever I want 90 percent of the time safely. When it is real windy or stormy it is better for me to trailer the boat to a particular creek that I want to fish. I do have an upgraded motor (70 h.p.) and that makes a difference I believe. I have found that it is very stable and is an advantage in skinny water and structure. By the way, I may be looking to upgrade my boat so this one may be for sale this spring if you are interested.

[wtucker]

I have an avatar with my name that shows me holding a 65 lb. blue I caught while bass fishing below the falls of the Ohio. I was fishing out of my Fisher Marsh Hawk 180 with a 90 Merc on it. I never felt anything but safe in that boat. I traded during Christmas to a 2004 Polar Kraft HP180 with a 150 Yamaha on it. It too is aluminum. I've had fiberglass from Bass Cat to Skeeter up to 20 feet long. The biggest difference you will see is in the wind. Aluminum doesn't draft as much water and can get blown around. The upside is they are very responsive to a trolling motor. I bought another aluminum and don't regret my decision. The one piece of advice I can give you is to make sure it has ample power for what you are doing with it.

[onemorecast56]

Hey Tiger, you got a great boat there in that Polar Kraft. The river is coming down. So when you going to let me take you out in my Ranger I bought. I want to try it out. I want to take you this time.....

Hey Apex...I still got that Stratos! We can make a deal,,,got it running good.

Doug

[lov2fish]

I sold my 20.5ft. Stratos and bought a 16.5ft. PolarKraft and set it up for a jet motor just for river fishing. I don't regret one minute of it and don't miss my big boat @ all with the exception of storage space. Other than that I can go anywhere in this boat as I did in my bigger boat.



Ray Rigby

[apextrail]

Hey Tiger, you got a great boat there in that Polar Kraft. The river is coming down. So when you going to let me take you out in my Ranger I bought. I want to try it out. I want to take you this time.....

Hey Apex...I still got that Stratos! We can make a deal,,,got it running good.

Doug

Hey Doug. I still have not bought anything. If you get a chance call me. I have been out of state allot since the first of the year. Should be settled back at home for the rest of the summer.

[wtucker]

Hey Tiger, you got a great boat there in that Polar Kraft. The river is coming down. So when you going to let me take you out in my Ranger I bought. I want to try it out. I want to take you this time.....

Hey Apex...I still got that Stratos! We can make a deal,,,got it running good.

Doug

I see the river is on the way up again. The fish are going to rock when it hits the magic numbers. How is that Ranger running?