I am an OLD, so take this with a grain of salt.

I started with an old used Bass Tracker III, and a 50 Evenrude. Flat bottom, typical Tracker layout. Drove it for two years, then moved up to an Alumicraft Super Bandit with a slight v-hull. That little bit of "v" made all the difference in the world. Moved the motor over from the Tracker to the Alumicraft. Love that boat and still have it. Could go 8 miles up the Brazos and back twice on six gallons of gas,. twin cylinder Evenrude purred like a kitten, even at idle. The motor froze up, and it sits out back waiting for me. I did hjave to watch out for the weather, and quite often had to trailer to the side of the lake where the wind wasn't beating everything up. Boat doesn't have much bow rise, and will take water over the bow if the waves are much over 2.5'.

So then I bought a used 18' Charger w/a Mariner 150. Good solid boat. But it only has two speeds. 3MPH or 30 MPH. I have has it up to 65 before, but I am old and have no need to go that fast.I can take this one out in ANY weather and ride through the waves. But it has less deck space than the Alumicraft. And the Aluminum boat trailers so easy, and is so easy to launch by myself.

Some day soon, when the Charger craps out, I will go back and rebuild the Alumicraft. Nothing in the hull to rot out sitting and waiting, It is rated for 90HP, but I will buy a new 4-stroke in the 70-80hp range. Nothing like getting that gas mileage..

All boats have had issues. But its easy to weld an aluminum boat. Costs more to reglass a glass boat. Lots of fiberglass boat repair businesses out there.

The wind was pretty ferocious yesterday but we were out there anyway. Like so many other times, we saw plenty of larger fiberglass boats fishing the leeward side of points (out-of-the-wind) while we fished the windward. Our boat was bouncing and getting pushed around, but we stayed within our limits and never felt unsafe. Every boat has a limit regardless of material, so does every boater. The aluminum vs fiberglass (or tin vs plastic) debate will never end. For me, the advantages of an aluminum boat far outweigh the advantages of a fiberglass boat.

G3 Sportsman 17, 90 HP Yamaha, 70 lb thrust 24 volt Minn Kota.
U.S. Coast Guard--Retired

I don't know why people always say this ^. I'm on my 8th glass boat and I've never had to take it in for glass repairs. Do most others wreck their boats into things?

I have had 17 glass boats, never been to a fiberglass shop. I do like some of the tin boats, they are very well made, really like the Vexus line.

I bought a Lund Pro Angler 16 in 2003 brand new, it was a beast of a boat, Tiller model, I loved that boat. I could be out in any bad weather and come back, did I get wet of course. I use to use it on Rayburn. Any ways, they do make heavy duty Aluminum boats 20' long Lund, Crestliner are two. These are Deep-V boats not bass boats, I am sure the technology has changed and boats have changed to some degree. I paid $15,000 for it and sold it for $9,500 a couple of years ago.

Uhhhh� OK, Tater Tot

I had an Xpress X19 with 200 Yamaha on it long time ago.. it was easily blown around ... and my transom did crack on the top.. and they did engineer a solution that looked like total hell and I sold it it.... told myself I was never going back..

However, I have learned a lot more about bass fishing.. and the technology has improved a ton since then.

After looking at the Xpress 21 pro,,, I would be hard pressed not give that rig it's due time of consideration, and I saw my first crestliner this weekend on Twok for Bass Champs.. it also looked like a fine boat
And the for the cost of these glass boats now... it is just insane to pay 90K to go fishing.....

Mo

Sure it's easy to weld aluminum but then it is just going to crack open again and again. After having my old hull repaired twice I sold it and never looked back.

Ok guys , all this good stuff about Aluminum Boats has me re-thinking about my 19 year old 202zx . Nope changed my mine , If you fish for bass , you gotta go with glass .

Went from a Z20 (glass) to a 19'10" G3 (aluminum). Yes, I miss the ride at 70mph of the glass over the aluminum, but aluminum wins 50% of my factors and it is a lot cheaper for a nicer/newer boat.

I'd take either one to tell you the truth.

Aluminum boats have their issues but I love em. I have been through quite a few stern to bow all the way to the bare hull and back.

If you want a high quality bass rig call Gator Trax and have one built for you, the owner is a great guy and believes in his product. I can tell you a lot of aluminum boat builders have failed geometry and do not know how to properly use closed cell foam.

A well built or modified aluminum rig will take a beating and come back for more, I don't even wash em, just vacuum sticks twigs, and saw dust out once in a while.