First Boat: Aluminum or Fiberglass

[Hatty]

What do you recommend my first boat be made of Aluminum around $9K or Fiberglass around $14K.  

I understand aluminum boats tend to rock back and forth more when you walk around on them.

[BassnMan Mike]

If you can afford the glass one then I would suggest going with it because chances are you will be upgrading to it shortly there after

[Catt]

First off the stability of any boat at rest is the bottom width; narrow bottomed fiberglass boats will rock just as much as an aluminum one.

The decision between fiberglass vs. aluminum boils down to personal preference both having pros and cons attached to each. The number of boats available in your price range is huge so I would suggest personally looking at both models and selecting one that you are comfortable with. At $14,000 one could find entry level boats in both fiberglass or aluminum while the number of quality used boats is unlimited.

[Hatty]

Why do you think I would upgrade from Aluminum to Fiberglass?  What reasons do you like fiberglass more than aluminum?

[old bassman]

Hatty, I fish out of a tracker Avalanche,which is an aluminum boat, with a Merc.XR6 150. This boat is stable and as equipped as any other 18' bass boat. Our club has Rangers,Tritons,Skeeters,Stratos,gambler's etc... I have no issues with my boat vs. there glass one's. Aluminum is fine and also weighs about 200 lbs. less so you get a little more performance!!! Just my 2 cents.

[burleytog]

If you aren't anal about cleaning, I would go with an aluminum.

[Hatty]

What aluminum boats do you recommend; knowing I would like a very stable boat in the water?  I don't want to walk around the boat and the things is rocking so much I get sick.

[Catt]

Xpress  

[Hot Rod]

What kind of water are you fishing?  i.e. river vs lake, big lake vs small lake, etc.

One of the lakes I fish has tons of boat traffic from big cruiser type boats.  Every day I'm on that lake I am very greatfull for my glass boat over my previous aluminum rig.  The heavier glass boat is more stable than a lighter boat (all other dimensions being equal) in all that wake/waves.  I love the look and big water capability and stability of the glass boats.

But....

Another smaller lake I fish has limited HP allowed so my glass boat is at a disadvantage there.  (I still fish it but can only run the TM)

There are lots of pros and cons to both material types.    But for what I do and where I fish, I prefer glass.  Now if I was mostly fishing smaller lakes and/or smaller rivers, or had a smaller tow vehicle I'd go aluminum.  

In fact I'd have one of each type if I could afford it ;D

[Way2slow]

If you have something to tow it with, can afford buy and run it, I wouldn't have anything less than a 20' fiberglass.

Now, as for what boat you should buy, that's totally your call. Consider what you have to tow it with, how comfortable you want to be, how much you're willing to spend each trip and the size water you will be fishing. Most aluminum boats will beat the hell out of you on rough, choppy water.

Glass boats are going to ride better, but weigh a lot more for the same size. Takes more truck to pull them (= more gas), takes a bigger motor to push them (= more gas), but if none of these are a problem, I would go with a glass boat.

[Fishing Rhino]

First boat.

I suggest aluminum.  While I prefer fiberglass for all the same reasons as the previous replies, an aluminum boat will take more abuse without the consequences.

Scuff the bottom on a ramp, no problem with aluminum.  With fiberglass, you damage the gel coat.  In addition to appearance, the gel coat protects the laminate from water penetration.

Contrary to popular belief, fiberglass can, and will absorb water when the gel coat is damaged.  

In colder climes, moisture in the composite can freeze, causing more damage, and making the laminate more vulnerable to water penetration, and further damage.

If you're going bass fishing, it means getting in and around rocky places.  Until you get experience in handling a boat, you're likely to end up making contact with a few rocks.

Minor dents and dings are not as noticable on an aluminum boat, and do not need the expensive gel coat repairs associated with fiberglass.

First and foremost, a boat is nothing more than a fishing platform, to get you where the fish are, or in some cases, where they ain't.

For a first boat, aluminum is more practical.  It may be more practical period.

No doubt the fiberglass boats are nicer, better to fish from on windy days, and are more impressive.

There's a reason most driving schools use econoboxes for student drivers.  

[Catt]

Aluminum boats with high-performance pad vee-bottom designed hulls will offer just as dry, smooth, bounce free ride as any glass boat. Where many boaters make the mistake is comparing flat or near flat bottom aluminums to glass. Take a Triton, Xpress, G3, or older Tracker Avalanche for a test ride and you will never look at Tin boats the same.

[bigtimfish]

my first boat i just got about 3 months ago. i actually bought a sea chaser 17'5rg bay boat fibergalss.  i love it. a small bay boat and all i do is bass fish out of it. i liked it more than any bass boat i looked at. there were some nice xpress  boats but this one fit me better.  both fiberglass and aluminum have there good and bad. aluminum makes a lot of noise from water slapping on the sides.fiberglass boats are usually heavier. i like them both to be honest. but good luck on your decision, it took me a year of searching to find the one that was perfect.

[detroit1]

My first boat was aluminum. My current boat is aluminum. My next boat will be aluminum. (unless i win the lottery, in which case i will buy 1 of each)..later

[Olebiker]

If you aren't used to operating a boat, get aluminum. It is more forgiving. You will make some mistakes until you get some experience. DAMHIKT

If you want to spend your time fishing rather than polishing, get aluminum.

If you would rather spend that $5,000 difference on better electronics and tackle, get aluminum.

If you want to save gas running the boat and towing it to the ramp, get aluminum.

If you don't mind a little spray if your face once in a while, get aluminum.

I fish out of an old Bass Tracker and, if it was the only boat I could ever have, I would not feel mistreated. That being said, I still want a glass boat. Bass Cats, Triton, and Rangers haunt my dreams. (I remember when it used to be women.)

[Fishing Rhino]

If you aren't used to operating a boat, get aluminum. It is more forgiving. You will make some mistakes until you get some experience. DAMHIKT

If you want to spend your time fishing rather than polishing, get aluminum.

If you would rather spend that $5,000 difference on better electronics and tackle, get aluminum.

If you want to save gas running the boat and towing it to the ramp, get aluminum.

If you don't mind a little spray if your face once in a while, get aluminum.

I fish out of an old Bass Tracker and, if it was the only boat I could ever have, I would not feel mistreated. That being said, I still want a glass boat. Bass Cats, Triton, and Rangers haunt my dreams. (I remember when it used to be women.)[/quote]

Then you're doing just fine. It's when you have trouble remembering.................................what was I going to say?

[BassnMan Mike]

I tend to fish bigger water lakes that quite often have very windy conditions. On my "Home" lake during spring and fall 3-5 foot swells are common and they come up fast because it sits in a canyon. There are also tons of pleasure boats on the lake. Its times like those that I love my fiberglass boat. Yes, its heavier, yes it takes more gas to haul it to the lake, yes it takes more time to clean, yes it is more expensive than an aluminum but when the wind picks up I feel confident that I'll make it back to the launh ramp safely.

Just my .02

[done]

I went aluminum, but it is because when I weighed  all the pros/cons that these guys here are listing, Aluminum weighed out better for my situation.

Compare to shore fishing in NC, I would take a hollowed out old log and a paddle so aluminum/Fiberglass it is all good from that perspective.

I needed something light that I could easily tow and manage with my TrailBlazer and/or Van, something that used less gas, had to be <= 18 ft in length to fit in my driveway. I was looking for LOW maintenance and  being a bass fishing boat noob (which is a lot different than the big water trolling boats I have experience with) something I could run into a couple logs/sandbars/rocks without killing it.

Aluminum made sense.

[Catt]

Handling a boat in rough water has more to do with the operator than the boat; anyone can run a boat when it's calm.

[done]

Handling a boat in rough water has more to do with the operator than the boat; anyone can run a boat when it's calm.

From some of the stuff I would see, I would change that to "...MOST ANYONE...". LOL.