texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,571
TexDawg 119,516
Bigbob_FTW 94,879
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,480
Mark Perry 72,282
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,820
Posts13,935,118
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? #8877811 04/29/13 04:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
M
Mudman63 Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
I'm planning to buy a NEW aluminum boat this summer, either Tracker, Triton or Ranger. I've been reading the discussion about the issues with aluminum boats and now I am questioning whether I should look at fiberglass instead of aluminum.

My logic for considering a new aluminum over fiberglass is 1) I fish in rocky highland reservoirs, 2) aluminum would handle nosing into rocky shorelines during launch and recovery better than fiberglass, 3) aluminum would be more durable than fiberglass bumping off submerged stumps and, 4) lake levels will probably keep dropping so more stumps and rocks exposed.

Anyone have any experience or suggestions as to whether aluminum is better than fiberglass in rocky, stumpy reservoirs?

Thanks for your input.

Last edited by Mudman63; 04/29/13 06:13 PM.
Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8878430 04/29/13 07:38 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,226
J
Jimfishes Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
J
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,226
Sent you a PM...

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8878621 04/29/13 08:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,046
sdavis24 Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,046
Make sure and factor in how windy the lakes you fish are.

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8878695 04/29/13 08:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
M
Mudman63 Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
sdavis24 - that's an excellent point and is one I have not taken into consideration. Thanks for your input. How would you take the wind into consideration? Would you want to buy a heavier boat, install a more powerful TM, or ???

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8880042 04/30/13 02:43 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 442
G
Going Green Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
G
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 442
Aluminum goes "boing", fiberglass goes "crunch". As far as the wind goes, hull shape has more to do with it than material when it comes to ride quality.


Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8880093 04/30/13 02:52 AM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,046
sdavis24 Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,046
The is just my $0.02, but if you fish very windy open lakes, which is a lot of Texas, in an aluminum boat you'll get blown around a lot more than a glass boat.

I'm sure a more powerful trolling motor will help a lot, my boat is a 12V system, and there isn't an easy place to stick an extra battery to get a more powerful 24V motor.

You can always anchor, just depends how you like to fish. If you search on here there are plenty of threads that compare the two types of boats. Once again this is just my opinion, and having my boat blown around in the wind while I'm trying a slow presentation is a pet peeve. It all comes down to personal preference.

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Going Green] #8880107 04/30/13 02:54 AM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,046
sdavis24 Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 12,046
Originally Posted By: Going_Green
Aluminum goes "boing", fiberglass goes "crunch". As far as the wind goes, hull shape has more to do with it than material when it comes to ride quality.

I'm no expert, but weight plays a big factor, an 18ft aluminum boat is lighter than an 18ft glass boat. Hurts in the wind, helps in the cost to tow it around on the truck.

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8880197 04/30/13 03:17 AM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 26,060
P
patriot07 Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
P
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 26,060
Aluminum boats will cost less to buy and less to maintain. Easier to get in shallow water and less susceptible to damage from stumps or rocky banks and generally cheaper to fix when they do get damaged. They'll also get blown around in the wind more and ride harder in rough water.

If you're fishing in a shallow river, aluminum is the obvious choice. If you're fishing on Texoma/Tawakoni/Hubbard with a 30 mph wind, fiberglass is the obvious choice. Where on that spectrum are you at?


Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
- Soren Kierkegaard
Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8880244 04/30/13 03:30 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
M
Mudman63 Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
Everyone has provided great insight. I fish Canyon Lake primarily, Lakes Conroe and Raven as secondary locations. Only river fishing would be the upper end of Canyon Lake. Wind is a big issue for me now on Canyon because I've been fishing out of a kayak on the main lake points. Early morning has been fine but once the wind picks up in the late morning my day is done.

What I am hearing is that fishing on windy lakes requires a heavier fiberglass boat with 24V trolling motor to overcome wind effects. Stumps likely to affect aluminum or fiberglass in similar fashion (boing or crunch) and I need to be careful how I beach the boat while launching and recovery.

Appreciate all the comments, folks.

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8886832 05/01/13 08:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 957
Pop1655 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 957
What size boat are you shopping for?
I'm jumping to the assumption that if you're shopping aluminum you're probably looking around 17'.
If that is correct, shop fiberglass before you buy.
Since all the "cool guys" think you have to have at least a 20' boat, there are some real deals out there on smaller glass.
I was Tracker shopping and ended up in a lightly used 17'6" glass boat with a recent 24V troller and a new HDS5 for about 10K less than I was about to drop on a new Tracker.


Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8887537 05/02/13 12:11 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
M
Mudman63 Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
I'm thinking in the 17-18' range for aluminum. Some of the feedback I received has got me to rethinking fiberglass. I need to do more research. Appreciate the feedback. Thanks.

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8887689 05/02/13 12:47 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
B
Bob Landry Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
I have a 18' G3 CC that I also use as a work boat on Travis. If the wind and chop pick up, it's a wet, rough ride, but the light weight makes it manageable since I'm by myself all the time.


2015 Seaark 1872 MV CC Etec-90
Two Helix 12 CHIRP SI's, , MinnKota Riptide ST80/i-pilot Link, Bob's Hydraulic
2020 Robalo R200 CC, Yamaha 150

Bitter Gun Owner
Bitter Clinger
Armed Infidel
Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: sdavis24] #8892530 05/03/13 02:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 442
G
Going Green Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
G
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 442
Originally Posted By: sdavis24
Originally Posted By: Going_Green
Aluminum goes "boing", fiberglass goes "crunch". As far as the wind goes, hull shape has more to do with it than material when it comes to ride quality.

I'm no expert, but weight plays a big factor, an 18ft aluminum boat is lighter than an 18ft glass boat. Hurts in the wind, helps in the cost to tow it around on the truck.


A heavy boat may be less prone to getting pushed around while using a trolling motor, but not really a factor when it comes to running on plane in terms of ride quality in rough water. An 18ft glass flatbottom skiff will ride much worse in a chop than an 18ft aluminum deep V even though it weighs more.


Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8893195 05/03/13 12:25 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
M
Mudman63 Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,803
The boat at the top of my list is the Triton X18. Modified V aluminum hull, would upgrade to 24V 72lb thrust TM and a 115HP 4-stroke.

Anyone own this particular boat that would share their experience?

Re: Aluminum or Fiberglass Boat? [Re: Mudman63] #8893265 05/03/13 12:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,551
F
Frank the Tank Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
F
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,551
Originally Posted By: Mudman63
The boat at the top of my list is the Triton X18. Modified V aluminum hull, would upgrade to 24V 72lb thrust TM and a 115HP 4-stroke.

Anyone own this particular boat that would share their experience?
.... If I am not mistaken, Bob's Boat Biz out at Lake Fork has this exact boat for sale, gently used. I think it's a 2010 or 2011.


Jesus loves all of us
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3