Dan Pitre Posted May 15, 2007 Posted May 15, 2007 Hey everyone I'm looking into getting a bass boat and have heard a lot about both aluminum and fiberglass. Aluminum holding up a bit better if I hit a rock or stump. Fiberglass being a bit more stable on rough water. My question is which would be best for me? I'm looking at using it on some pretty big lakes and possibly the Delaware River every once and awhile. As always thanks in advanced to all those who respond. Quote
Super User Catt Posted May 15, 2007 Super User Posted May 15, 2007 Scroll down to the post Poll: Boat Poll should cover your question quit well Quote
Super User Long Mike Posted May 16, 2007 Super User Posted May 16, 2007 : : : Geez. Why don't you spend 30 seconds scrolling through this topic. Quote
Dan Pitre Posted May 16, 2007 Author Posted May 16, 2007 : : : Geez. Why don't you spend 30 seconds scrolling through this topic. If you mean search I did that and couldn't find anything to answer MY question and insteed of hijacking someone elses thread about what hull's people prefer I figured I'd start my own in hopes of having someone give me the best advise to MY situation. I hope I dont come off as rude but please dont comment if you're going to be sarcastic, I came here for help because my friend told me this was the place to be for advise and help on all sorts of fishing stuff not sarcasim. Back on subject. I've read the articles and other post that this website offers and they were pretty helpful but I would like to hear some personal experiences that people may have in waters somewhat to what I fish . So if you have any answers to my questions please share 'cause I can use all the help anyone can offer. Quote
edbassmaster Posted May 16, 2007 Posted May 16, 2007 I was lookin here also for some answers...those were excellent ones?? Quote
RobDar Posted May 16, 2007 Posted May 16, 2007 these days price is not much of a consideration... the aluminum...the GOOD aluminums..can cost as much as a mid range fiber boat... The top quality aluminums..Triton Magnums, X press, Crestliner CMV series, also offer a fairly equivilant ride...though fibers will still edge out the alums in really bad water. The Fibers have better resale possiblities in the future. If you want to sell it it will be easier witha fiber than an aliminum. You can get lower operating costs with an alimunum..lighter with a smaller motor and they are lighter to tow as well. The smaller motors will also have somewhat cheaper repair and maintenance costs. The stump thing is not so true anymore...most of the alums are painted these days and will get scratched and mucked up like a fiber boat when stump bumping. If you are hitting stumps etc in any other way than being worried about scratches etc...if you are hitting them hard enough to be worried about holes and cracks...well then I would say you may want to examine you fishing habits...LOL! Fibers are generally more stable, solid platforms...they do not lean like many of the alums...though the upper end alums are equivilant these days. The heavier Fiber boats are less work and less hassle in current and windy weather than the alum's. They do not get pushed around as much. The fibers are more maintenance in my opinion. If you plan to take good care of your boat...the fibers have more care needed as far as waxing, cleaning etc. The fiber boats are pretty. Quote
RobDar Posted May 16, 2007 Posted May 16, 2007 it does not really answer your specific question...but here is a basic info sheet on some boats... http://houndsong1.netfirms.com/robdar/boatstudypage.htm Quote
NJfishinGuy Posted May 16, 2007 Posted May 16, 2007 im in NJ not to far off from you and i just got my first bass boat a bass tracker pro team 165 aluminum. im very happy. i would have to say if its your first bass boat get the aluminum as a starter boat to learn. i will eventually get either a bigger aluminum or a fiber boat down the road but now i have a good learning platform. PA has big lakes? what big lakes are you refering to because only thing i can think of would do an aluminum great. Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted May 16, 2007 Super User Posted May 16, 2007 Hey everyone I'm looking into getting a bass boat and have heard a lot about both aluminum and fiberglass. Aluminum holding up a bit better if I hit a rock or stump. Fiberglass being a bit more stable on rough water. My question is which would be best for me? I'm looking at using it on some pretty big lakes and possibly the Delaware River every once and awhile. As always thanks in advanced to all those who respond. If you plan to fish big or windy water then go fiberglass. I have been in all kinds of alums. of sizes to over 20'. Some of them ride like glass boats when it isn't windy. When it is windy they beat your guts out. They are also hard to control when fishing in the wind. I have had some of both and don't plan to leave the glass world again for many years. Quote
Dan Pitre Posted May 16, 2007 Author Posted May 16, 2007 PA has big lakes? what big lakes are you refering to because only thing i can think of would do an aluminum great. No big lakes in my area but I'd like to be able to take the boat to bigger lakes outside of PA and make a weekend out of it, get away from the surroundings/girlfriend for a couple of days... Quote
Dan Pitre Posted May 16, 2007 Author Posted May 16, 2007 it does not really answer your specific question...but here is a basic info sheet on some boats...http://houndsong1.netfirms.com/robdar/boatstudypage.htm Thanks awesome info!! Quote
Guest Bountiful_Waters Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 I own both. An Xpress 16 ft w/ 50hp Mercury and a Cobra Viper 18 1/2 with a 175 Evinrude. I have one of each because no matter how I try to downsize, it is very hard to have one boat to cover all situations. That said, If I had to have one boat to cover all situations, it would be aluminum. I have used the Xpress on small pits and large waters. I wouldn't buy a 16ft aluminum, I would bump up to an 18ft. War Eagle/Xpress/Triton/G3 all make quality aluminum boats that are very...very... nice. Quote
coacht Posted May 18, 2007 Posted May 18, 2007 check out my post on my 176 XT Stratos and this will help you answer your question. Quote
Pa Angler Posted May 18, 2007 Posted May 18, 2007 I own a Tracker Targa Deep V. Don't have to worry as much when running over debris as you do with glass and aluminum will out live glass I have a friend that has a 1968 Mirror Craft and it's still in service no glass boat will live that long. If you intend to keep the boat for a long time go with aluminum. Quote
bob101 Posted May 18, 2007 Posted May 18, 2007 Well I have a less than 2 month old Triton aluminum boat that is sitting at the dealer for the 2nd time to have cracked welds rewelded.......boat goes up for sale the day it comes home. Talk about taking a big hit money wise....boat has around 5 hours on it and 2 different places have cracked and leaked. It's yet to even hit a stump with the T/M, the bottom looks like the day I picked it up. Welds just weren't prepped right. You look at them after they crack and you can tell they tried to fill in with the weld instead of having no gap which isn't how you weld. Quote
HunteR Posted May 19, 2007 Posted May 19, 2007 :-?WOW I am sorry to hear that! I have been running my Triton 1650 HARD since it was purchased in Feb. Tis not often I hear bad things about Triton's, however, coming from the Ford Assy Plant I can tell you that not EVERY item that runs past it's workers is completley defect free, to be modest! We are campers and deer hunt via our boats, so we are beaching them alot. Aluminum has my vote! And if the money was right, for the storage capability, I would have gone G3! Quote
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