Aluminum Bass Boats

[apextrail]

I made the same transition to an aluminum boat several years ago. I bought a 17' tracker with a 70 hp motor. I really have not had any regrets and I fish the same waters that I fished with a fiberglass boat. The things you give up are ride and usually speed.You will gain towability, fuel savings easier loading/unloading etc. The only lake that has ever posed a problem is Kentucky Lake during high wind periods and that has been fairly rare.Bottom line: If your not fishing high dollar tournaments and are a weekend angler it is a good trade off.

[Benny]

WMAMOS, I THINK YOU MIGHT BE OVER LOOKING A FEW THINGS. I HAVE OWNED A 18 FOOT ALUMINUM BASS BOAT AND LOVED IT UNTILL I FISHED OUT OF MY BUDDYS GLASS BOAT. STABILITY AND RIDE WERE NOWHERE CLOSE. I FISH STANDING MOST OF THE TIME AND I CANT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIME I ALMOST FEEL IN. ITS NOT JUST HIGH WINDS ITS ALSO IF YOU HAVE A GUY IN THE BACK. I DO AGREE WITH THE FELLA AHEAD OF ME IT DEPENDS ON THE STYLE OF FISHING YOU DO. I NOW OWN A 2000 RANGER R73 I COULD NOT AFFORD A 21 FOOTER NOR THE GAS TO TOW IT ALL OVER THE SUMMER. BUT TO ME THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA GAS IS WORTH THE AGGRAVATION OF BEING BLOWN AROUND THE LAKE LIKE A LEAF. BUT IF YOU FISH SMALLER LAKES AND FLOAT FISH FOR BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE THE TRACKER MIGHT BE THE TICKET. HOPE THIS HELPS!GOD BLESS!

[muskyman87]

Stability is certainly a key factor when considering any boat, glass or aluminum. However, having owned both, I'd much rather pull and run with an aluminum boat than a glass one. Also, the upkeep on an aluminum boat is very minimal as opposed to the constant care of a quality glass boat that should be wiped down after each use.

That being said, the best boat I've fished from so far is an aluminum G3 HP, 18ft, with a Yamaha 115 4-stroke. Very stable boat and very fast. I have also owned Bass-Trackers too, and there's no comparison to the G3 that I get to fish out of from time to time. The Bass-Tracker wasn't nearly as stable, which made me consider going back to glass boats too until I fished from the G3. I know there are others out there with the same beam deminsions, but G3 or others like them with wide beams are great boats. Also, you can't beat a good 4-stroke for gas efficiency and dependability. Very quiet too.

Anyway, I still prefer aluminum to glass with the information above in mind. Hope this helps.