Fiberglass or Aluminum

[HURRICANEBOB]

Thinking about a different used boat. Want to go to V hull vs pontoon now. Can't decide on glass or aluminum. Want to be in the 18-20 foot range.

Fish Cland, Green, Barren, Nolin, Taylorsville, and Ohio River. I do on occassion like to bottom fish, and beach the bow of the boat.

How durable is a fiberglass boat if used and beached to bottom fish? Do you have to be terribly careful doing it? With my pontoon I just stuff it up as far as it goes on gravel or mud with little to no worries. Do those stick on keel guards realy protect the boat that well?

Would you tend to go with Aluminum or Fiberglass?

My gut is telling me aluminum hull, cause seems like most guides at Cumberland run aluminum boats. Is that a fair assumption?

[first2fish]

I bought a new boat in 2002--spent a lot of time and research and i decided on alum. For these reasons. Weight difference between the two. Alum is much lighter therefor less gas to haul the boat. Alum. Boats plane off quicker than fiberglass. Also when you get around stickups and stumps or rock the alum will be harder to damage than fiberglass. In the long run alum. Will outlast fiberglass. I bought a lowe alum. Deckboat with fishing package. I love it. The only thing i like better about fiberglass is that its finish/paint looks a lot better but the fish dont care how pretty your boat is !!! Theres my 2 cents ! Have a nice day

[kydonky]

Aluminum, As well as the points made earlier, aluminum will take less motor to power the boat. This will keep cost down or you may be able to afford the highest performing motor the boat will allow. I have a crestliner phantom v170 sport fish. It is welded aluminum. Its a 1989 year boat has a 2004 75hp 4 stroke (second motor on this boat) it is tight as a drum, solid as a rock. As far a beaching, most aluminum V's are painted and that may scratch your paint, I would suggest a keel guard only to protect the paint.
In 1980 my Dad bought a 1962 Starcraft Chieftain. This boat came out of the Tampa area in Fl. and ran exclusively in salt water and it was a riveted cruiser. It was so funny that the cockpit looked like the cockpit in a boeing 727 as this boat had outlived 5 motors. Each time a motor was replaced guages were just added to, so there were multiple tacks, key switches, altinator guages and so on. This boat was in a slip and would only have to be pumped out after a heavy rain. Was sold in 1996 and is in VA. now. I can vouch that aluminum is durable.

[AndyG]

Ive been wondering the same. I believe the only negative for aluminum is fishing in wind, aluminum sits higher in the water and can be a littler tougher to control. I believe Im going with aluminum though.

[aceoky]

'Glass is indeed heavier, but it is much more stable in rough water and IMO rides MUCH better.....There are enough of them still around to know they last also, but heavier is more expensive to haul and power, seems to me to be a trade-off either way you go. I like my old glass tri hull, but others like aluminum I think it's personal preference.

[Hlleonard]

'Glass is indeed heavier, but it is much more stable in rough water and IMO rides MUCH better.....There are enough of them still around to know they last also, but heavier is more expensive to haul and power, seems to me to be a trade-off either way you go. I like my old glass tri hull, but others like aluminum I think it's personal preference.

I had a fiberglass trihull for 23 years then sold it ...now I have an aluminum basstracker ..A couple negatives with the basstracker It is a B***h to load as compared to the glass boat ...It is quite a bit less stable fishing than the glass boat ...If money wasn't an object I would buy the glass boat ...Of the two boats the glass boat was easier loading and a good bit better while you are fishing.

[Grumpy]

Bob, when I retired for keeps, I wanted to get my own bassboat, mainly so I could fish by myself during the week and leave the weekends to the poor working stiffs. I wanted something that i could launch and load by myself, which would include parking the boat on or near the ramp so I could park/get the tow vehicle. I did an awful lot of research on aluminum vs glass and I decided on a 17'6" G-3 Aluminum with a 40 HP Yamaha. I have not been sorry and with a few minor exceptions the boat has served me well.

Not to argue, but contrary to what aceoky said, I think Aluminum launches and loads much easier than glass, probably because of its lighter weight. Prior to getting my boat, i fished with a lot of people in glass boats and usually I was the one in the boat when we launched and loaded on the trailer. I do agree that Aluminum is less stable and not as suitable for rough water/weather, but then again I try to not fish when the wind is up or the weather is bad, so that is not a problem for me. Knowing how you got your nickname/handle, it may be a problem for you.

Hope this helps.

Grumpy

[parker]

JB weld works fine on aluminum and fiberglass works good on fiberglass. Either one is easy to fix when ya knock holes inem like I do.

[HURRICANEBOB]

. Knowing how you got your nickname/handle, it may be a problem for you.

Hope this helps.

Grumpy

Nope, would not be a problem. The harder the wind blows, the faster I troll
I cut my teeth in a 19 foot 1968 Lonestar in the Cheasapeake Bay Striper fishing right off the freighter shipping lanes. If we (Dad and I) decide to go, the only thing that stopped us was winds in excess of 45 mph, anything short of that just added to the challenge, and justified that many more stops at marinas to dry off, eat crabs, and shoot pool.

I am think alot the way you went, lighter, easier to load, faster, and with a windshiled and a bimini with full enclosure to get momma and me out for the wind some. I don't mind if its raining, 40 mph winds, 4 foot breaker waves and all, but that don't mean my fat old backside has to get wet and cold to enjoy the challenge

[HURRICANEBOB]

To all,

Thanks a bunch for all the info and links to different boats. The variety of opinions will make it a lot easier for me to do some leg work and see what fits.

AND.........DA TA DA! When I decide and buy a boat to replace the pontoon, I promise to change my avatar to a picture of the newly acquired boat.

That way, you all can:

a. Recognize it on lakes or the river
b. Recognize that if I'm out fishing, the weather is about to go to the dogs.
c. Sit back at a safe distance and watch all the stupid things I do with a boat.
d. And when the weather does go down the tubes, you can sit at a save distance and listen to my old lady yell at me for not going in sooner. (she wrinkles when she gets wet )

[Fisherjoe]

One more point for aluminum. I find it is easier for me to start drilling and cutting holes for add-ons in an alum boat...it was hard for me to start "butchering" my fiberglass boat.

Joe

[Grumpy]

"I am think alot the way you went, lighter, easier to load, faster, and with a windshiled and a bimini with full enclosure to get momma and me out for the wind some. I don't mind if its raining, 40 mph winds, 4 foot breaker waves and all, but that don't mean my fat old backside has to get wet and cold to enjoy the challenge"

Bob, if you want a bimini with full enclosure, then i don't think a Bass boat is what you want, neither Glass nor Aluminum will have anywhere near as much room as you have on a pontoon. However, the bass boats are definately ligher, easier to laod, and faster than a pontoon. There always has to be trade offs.