Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

[sqdqo]

Am looking to buy an 18'-19' boat for fishing. Am torn between fiberglass & aluminum. People have given pro's & con's for both. Am looking for experienced opinions. Who makes good smaller fiberglass boats?

 

[one more cast]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

It would be nice if you could find a boat show in your area and just check some different boats out.

 

[KCook]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

For freshwater or saltwater?<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[gatorboaterUF]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

can't use the aluminum in saltwater not even once

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

The Coast Guard new 47 foot boats are all Aluminum and they stay in salt water. There lighter than the old 36 and 44 foot, much faster and use less fuel. Only paint on the hull is the Coast Guard Strip. They also require less maintenance.<br /><br />My 1980 Crestliner has been used in salt water every year for 25 years and you can not tell it is not new. I guess the paint is a litte faded on the sunny side.<br /><br />The average aluminum boat will last twice as long as the average fiberglass boat. The Stringer will not rot. It is lighter and needs less power, gets better fuel mileage.<br /><br />I do not know how it is in the rest of the country but out here most police, sherrif, Fire boats are aluminum. Why they last longer, need less maintenance, use less fuel, with the same power are faster.<br /><br />How many Fiberglass boats have a lifetime hull warranty?<br /><br /> http://www.crestliner.com/ <br /><br /> http://www.crestliner.com/reasons/

 

[one more cast]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

One thing I just thought of is that if/when an aluminum boat is no longer useable you can always sell it for scrap. I have nothing against fiberglass boats I just seem to prefer aluminum. Also my 1984 fisher came from the Chesapeake bay area and seems to be holding up pretty well. It does have a few small pits above the water line from salt water but hey it's over 20 years old.

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

Salt or fresh water??

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

I like my aluminum 17' Basstracker for inshore fishing just for this reason, I fish around rock piles, pileings, and shallow water which is usually covered with different kinds of shells [usually oyster shells].<br />I have been known to drift right over a shallow rock pile on occassion with no adverse damage.<br />I sure am glad it wasnt fiberglass, as rocks and glass dont mix at all. Alot of the answers to your question depends on exactly where and what kind of fishing youll be doing. I will say I prefer fiberglass for offshore use, but would consider larger aluminum boat of liveaboard size, all welded, not rivited, without hesitation.

 

[BillP]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

Marine aluminum holds up fine in saltwater. I have an alum pontoon boat and a 17'ob glass boat and don't have to worry about rocks, etc where I boat. Aluminum is noisy compared to glass. Waves lapping the pontoons make noise, baitbuckets bumping the hull make noise, moving gear around makes noise...so my choice for fishing is glass.

 

[cwilt]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

hey sqdqo<br /><br /><br />i had an aluminium boat before my glass one now. the metal ones are thogher and handle more abuse. i ran into a bridge pileing running from a storm only cost 50 bucks to repair<br />if i did that in my glass boat probably thousand to fix. also the metal wont be as stable as a fiberglass. the metals are lighter and more fuel efficient.<br />salt or sweet water????<br />i still perfer fiberglass!!

 

[Lowranger]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

Better check out this link http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=020753#000000

 

[BillP]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

Don't scrub aluminum with steel wool like that guy did. It embeds tiny particles of steel in the surface and starts electrolysis. Same with sandblasting aluminum...use the correct sand.

 

[rwcreigh1]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

i love my bass tracker and it loves galveston bay(salt)it does leak a little around the ribbets but it is21 years old.and it is very fast.it is a lot lighter then glass and makes a big diff. at the boat ramp pulling out of water.

 

[KCook]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

It hurts just to think of running my old Bass Tracker on Galveston Bay!!! <br /><br />black-and-blue Kelly

 

[jtexas]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

Aluminum: takes abuse better, modern welding techniques allow more efficient hull designs executed in aluminum that once were only possible with fiberglass, lighter weight means better performance with smaller powerplant.<br /><br />Fiberglass: heavier weight means it handles better in rough water, possible to use shoot-thru-hull fishfinder, and most important of all: metal-flake finish!

 

[KCook]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

^

 

[tommays]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

I think you can find well made boats in both types AS WELL as BADLY made boats in both types <br /><br />Theres plenty of nightmare storys about both or just bad things done buy bad owners like useing the wrong type of bottom paint on and ALU hull <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

I vote for aluminum myself, I've had glass and aluminum and for all around use I prefer metal. If I was going to have a large boat and keep it in the water glass would be my choice but for all around fishing metal is better. As has been pointed out in this thread they are lighter and use less fuel, trailer much easier and are easy to repair if you hit something.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

If this will be a "trailer boat" aluminum will tow easier with less power. Had both types both big and small -- will never own another glass boat.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Fiberglass fishing versus aluminum fishing

I agree that aluminum (welded) is the way to go. I use mine for ocean fishing on the northern Pacific and I love being able to just give a quick scrub and hosing, flush the engines and then forget about it till next time I use it.<br /><br />But, if you only use your boat occasionally and find a fiberglass boat that is well made at a bargain price. I would seriously consider it. Around here there are lots of bargains to be found in glass boats.