Looking to get my first boat! Got my eyes on a nice Nitro Z7..

BUT! I've totally given Ranger and Tracker aluminums a look and I like what I see. Anybody here have experiences with both glass and aluminum? What did you gain or lose from one to the other (outside of the obvious). Doing all the homework I can to make the best decision possible. Will be fishing at least once a week so I'll get good use out of it.

You'll get more for the money with the Z7. Tracker's are ok but really rock back and forth while on the deck and not a dry ride at all. Ranger's are Ranger's but you gotta pay for it.

Got a friend with a Bass tracker, 19ft, 2014 w 115 merc. It will run about 55. Smooth ride for aluminum. Havent been on REALLY rough water with him but the ride has been comfortable and dry. Stable while fishing, good deck layout. Seems like a solid alum boat.

That being said, most any fiberglass boat will be better I think. If you're buying new you can get a heck of a fiberglass boat thats a couple of years old for the price of a new bass tracker that I think youll be happier with in the long run.

I dont have any input on your other options, though.

Forget aluminum.....rough ride....and get blown around on the water to where you have to stay on the trolling motor and positioning is difficult

I don't know about Ranger Aluminum boats, but I would be careful with the bass trackers. They're nice looking boats but don't seem to hold their value very well. And no matter what the guy at Bass Pro tries to tell you they aren't all metal. There is quite a bit of plywood in one of those boats, or at least there was two years ago when I looked at a new one at BPS. All you have to do is open up a couple lids and you will find wood in the deck. They do use good marine grade plywood but it will rot, that's all there is to it. I helped a neighbor replace the deck in his 2002(I think) model. Pain in the..... and it doesn't ride near like any of the fiberglass boats I've owned, nor is it as stable while fishing. Glass boats seem a lot wider and more roomy to me too. I've owned a 16 foot bass boat too, it even seemed more roomy than his Bass Tracker.

Best thing you can do is ride and fish out of both especially if your buying brand new

When I mentioned Ranger I was referring to glass Ranger not aluminum.

Ok, Thanks.

Is that an option? Can you test a new boat?

You better test it spending that kind of money. If they don't let you test it I would go to a dealer that does.

I meant find someone with an aluminum and someone with a fiberglass. Nitro not so much, but there is a big difference between aluminum and glass on the water

How do you fish? What kind of water? If you like to fish shallow, fish only small lakes or limit yourself to singular branches of large lakes an aluminum boat with a 90-150 can be great fun and easy to fish from. Lots of lakes in North and East Texas that fish great with an aluminum boat.

If you like to fish bigger water, don't want to be limited on range and will fish this same water regardless of weather or wind, you'll appreciate the benefits of a glass boat.

I have owned both. I was much more selective in where and when I fished with the aluminum boat.

My buddy has a 17' glass Ranger but he's the only friend I have that fishes so I would have to get lucky to ride and fish on aluminum. I like the glass and know that 18' is going to be even better on windy days on the chop.

Something to think about, yea. With this being my first boat I can only speculate as to how I would like to fish. I envision moving fast on the TM trying to find a pattern so if that means I gotta get out of that creek arm to hit main points or offshore then so be it. I've only been on Joe Pool with my buddy and it's usually been up to 20mph or more which was a struggle. That's a 17' boat though whereas I'll be in an 18' which will help. But JP is a small lake so I have no clue what a lake like Rayburn or Fork will fish.

I'm going to sell my 2008 Legend Alpha 211 with a 250 Merc Pro XS. Double console but have the console off right now. Very good condition. Asking $35,000 but I am negotiable. I got a sponsorship by Legend when I was fishing the Women's BASS but that was only a couple yrs and then I fished some of the regional Media Outdoors tournaments. Had health problems so haven't been able to fish much in the last several yrs. For more info call my boyfriend Steve at 903-563-9238 because I can't take calls at work. I have pics I can send. Karol Whitehurst