Aluminum boat.

[6mm]

I am looking for a new boat. I have always had center console fiberglass boats. I have been looking at the G3 and Xpress boats. Does any one on here have these boats? How is the ride in the aluminum boat compared to the fiberglass? Will the lighter aluminum boat get pushed around more in the wind? I will have drift paddles to control boat in wind. I will be spider rigging and long lining out of the boat. If you have had both fiberglass and aluminum what are the pros and cons? This is the last boat I will probably ever own so I want to get it right. Thanks in advance for advice.

[quadlee]

If I was looking at brand new I would really have to look into the new SeaArk Flex

[Grainraiser]

I have owned both and like most things there are pros and cons for both. Aluminum is lighter so it is pushed around by wind more. Because it is lighter you do not need as large of a outboard or trolling motor. Fiberglass takes abuse much better and the ride is better than a aluminum boat.

[osok]

I have 2022 Xpress H-20 Bay with 115 HP. A fiberglass will ride smoother but having said that I have no problem with how mine rides. Yes it does get pushed around more by the wind than a fiberglass due to it's lighter weight and the fact it does not sit down in the water like a heavy fiberglass. Mine has mere inches sitting below water level so I can get very very shallow if desired. I am happy with my boat and have no regrets not getting a fiberglass. What you may also want to consider is the huge cost difference vs not as smooth ride and easier being pushed by wind. That cost difference will be tens of thousands of dollars. Fiberglass more expensive, probably dual axle trailer, larger engine more expensive, operating costs more expensive, insurance more expensive, taxes due at purchase more, larger vehicle to tow, etc. If your budget is unlimited then not an issue but for many people it is. I do not feel I sacrificed anything not purchasing fiberglass. A fiberglass of equal length and beam as mine will need 175+ HP to run at equal speed. IMHO Good luck in your search and what you get will be what you know will be best for you.

[Spoonminnow]

I sold my Ranger bassboat a few years ago and only own aluminum boats: 1-10' V-bottom and two flat bottom boats. At times I wish I had kept the Ranger but what osok said makes sense about expense. At my age, along with the current price of gas, the cost to run a boat matters to retirees.

Will a 90+hp engine get you there much faster when dealing with the wind and waves coming at you? Most certainly. But minus the wind, will you save much time getting there than using a 50hp motor to push your aluminum V.

What size waters do you fish? Many miles from the dock to fishing holding areas or less than two miles? A large motor is ovekill for smaller waters IMO in which case trolling motors do most of the work anyway. The heavier the boat, the more #thrust the tm and the larger the battery draw needed. Deep cycle batteris ain't cheap!

A much heavier boat and boat trailer requires more work from your tow-vehicle motor when it comes to wear & tear, maintenance and gas mileage - especially when going up hills . A truck engine won't even know it's towing anything with an aluminum boat in tow.

The only con I can think of using an aluminum boat is anchor weight. Fishing in a +20 mph wind will require a much heavier anchor along with a device (or strong back muscles) to raise it. Most likely two anchors - bow and stern - are needed to prevent the boat swinging around.

The lakes I fish are either no gas allowed or smaller. My buddy and I caught close to 190 fish last time we fished and did so in one area of the lake. Anglers fishing on the same day didn't catch near the number (and therefore quality that comes with numbers) fishing from their +$80k bass boats. Covering more distance doesn't equate to covering it more effectively.

My tm is only 36# thrust and did great using the first two speeds and in weeds. The 2.5hp 4-stroke gas motor did fine and used little gas over a distance of 2 miles at 3/4 throttle going between spots and back to the dock.

[Micanopy]

I bought my Xpress in Deland, FL. Nice folks.

My lakes are shallow affairs and I have taken my 20 footer into some skinny places. Lots to see round my parts so trailering figured into my final decision process. Lots of room to troll a dozen rods.

See if you can get the electronics upgraded by the dealership and added to the financing.

[Les Young]

I owned an xpress h-56 for a few years with a 135 mariner & it was a great boat other than the drifting in the wind & that was my only complaint about it at all. Weight had nothing to do with it because it weighed the same as a 18 foot glass boat that i had. The fact that the bow sits higher because of the design of aluminum is what makes catch more wind. They claim the newer trolling motors make them way more managable nowadays. If i go alumiunm again i'll be trying to find an xpress first because it was one heck of a boat & the best aluminum rig i've been in.

[J White]

These guys all have good points, got it covered. Only a couple of things I might add. About ride, there’s not just the pounding (or lack of) but how wet/dry. I went from a 18’ semi-v
to a 19’’ aluminum walleye boat, and it rode soft but still put a ton of spray in the air. A lot of it ended up back in my lap.
22’ glass cc now, I can’t remember ever getting more than a few drops.

And spider rigging, the sound waves make slapping under the bow
the semi-v was awful, the deep v much better.


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[happycaster58]

I bought an Xpress 190 H bay CC last year for my retirement boat. Pros- less gas, easier to add accessories, less to haul, less expensive, less worries about finish. Cons- wind push, rougher ride (standing with center console negates that), not as quiet as fiberglass. Mine is about 8' wide, so stability is not an issue at all. Overall, a great boat. I would have had to wait at least a year when ordering a glass boat like I wanted and paid 7-8K more. Nothing was available at the end of Covid. Good luck in your search.

[justinp61]

I've owned and fished out of aluminum and fiberglass bass boats, as others have mentioned they both have pros and cons. I've had my Triton 1860SC for close to 15 years and my only complaint is it's like a leaf on the water in a breeze. Even spot locked it will swing sideways in the wind. But this boat suits my fishing best, I usually fish from November until mid March. If the fish aren't biting and I get bored I can beach the boat and blunder around on the bank. I can also put out beds without worrying about scratching it up. A lot of the ramps I use are off gravel roads and I wouldn't want to pull a fiberglass boat down them.