Fiberglass or Aluminum

[DJD]

I like my Grizzly jon boat but would caution anyone to get one thats too long 17ft or bigger cause they will beat you to death. Mine is a 14 ft version and it doesn't go fast but it is stable.
I guess if all add ons are welded it won't sound or feel to bad but if all they do is rivet decks or consoles then your gonna chatter everytime you hit a wave....gets kinda loud.

[FiletAndRelease]

I looked at alot of different boats before I decided to get a Fisher 1654 (made by Tracker) with a tunnel hull. I wanted a boat I could fish shallow rivers ( I take it up to michigan to fish salmon) and still be big enough to fish big lakes. Problem with tunnel hull is it rides alot higher on water so on windy days its like fishing from a kite lol. I have a 60hp 4 stroke on it thats powerful enough to get on big lakes, not real fast, 30mph, but its enough for me. One important thing to look for in aluminum boats is all-weld. I dont know if all alum boats these days are all-welds or if some still rivet, or combination of both. All-weld last alot longer and dont leak. One more thing I like about that type of boat- no carpet, dont have to worry about all the issues with carpet. I can leave it uncovered a few days and not have to worry about it. This is my second boat, my first was fiberglass, a V-hull, 17ft, to me it was like night and day when I switched.
Plus all the other comments above in favor of aluminum. Just my 2 cents. Rick

[offdtop]

I love my Ranger 520, but i have always been impressed tih Xpress line of boats - they seem like one of the best I've seen:

http://www.xpressboats.com/view/131

[kyjake]

I have had several of both over the years.Glass is more stable to fish out of than aluminum and quieter.I have a 16' Slyvan aluminum now that is wide and deep,20" transom that is a good boat for the river and can even take it out into the gulf when it is not too rough.The main reason I went with aluminum was the lighter weight for pulling it to Florida a time or two a year and to be able to keep my old 1/2 ton Chevy.If I only fished locally would use a glass one.
Jake

[DJD]

Great point on easy to tow I pull mine with a Toyota Highlander and thats a piece of cake for the SUV. I even pull my ATV trailer loaded with two ATV's and all the junk you bring along and it does it pretty well.

[RiverRunt]

Love my Lowe ST170 Stinger Wide V Aluminum with a 90. I try to avoid any rough weather but, when caught in it, the side rails disperse the spray and it keeps me dry.

[DJD]

Love my Lowe ST170 Stinger Wide V Aluminum with a 90. I try to avoid any rough weather but, when caught in it, the side rails disperse the spray and it keeps me dry.

Is that boat 100% wood free?

[410th]

I also have a Lowe 176 Alum Boat (1996), and I tell you if I had to go buy another boat tomorrow it would be a Lowe. I have had in very large lakes from Ky to Fl. and even in the Gulf of Mexico at one time. I would love to know how many hours I have put on this boat. I dont worry about tree limbs, sand bars, rocks, or running up on boat ramps. I have put mine thru the ringer and it has took most of it with out any problem. I dont abuse it but I was told once it is nothing but a tool for fishing and that is how I use it. Dont get me wrong, I would love to have one of them fancy Fiberglass Boats that run 70+ but then I tell myself: how do I fish and I have to tell my self I need to keep what I got. I would hate to think what a good tree or what concrete would do to the side of a fiberglass boat.

Plus:

* Almost 100% wood free. Wood under the console and the transom is wood with Alum
on the outside's. NO wood any place else that I can find.
* Very Light weight, easy to pull. I have a 70 Hp on mine and it runs in the high 30's on
a GPS
* Can put it in anywhere
* Easly repaired, If you get a good scratch Sprap Paint is a quick fix. Cracks can be
easly fixed
* Very well laid out
* Carpet has never tried to come up
* Has a good ride even in rough water
* Easy to load and Unload by your self
* Floats shallow
* If you need to get under the deck to make repairs, just take out a few screws or rivits
and you can see everything (Most of the time).
* THE COST!!!!!!
* If you dont like the color just paint it.

Neg

* Wish mine was wider. With 2 people and a lot of gear it fills up real quick.
* It is white and shows scum real bad, Guess that is my fault for not wiping it down
after a days fishing
* The wind blows it around real bad. This is the only thing I really hate about mine.
* Mine has rivits that have come lose and had to fix the Fiberglass. I think the newer
ones have no rivits
* Due to it being all alum it sweats real bad in hot weather.
* Compartments are not water proof.
* Have had welds break loose but not to bad/hard to fix. (Boat ramps)

Hope this helps

Billy

[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.