aluminum or fiberglass

**skeetbum** · 02-04-2012, 07:40 PM

I have fished out of aluminum boats of many variations, except the performance hulls. Owned a Lund, Sea Nymph, Alumacraft, Feathercraft, and a few more over the years. A friend had a Tracker Targa, a high sided, walk thru windshield boat. He and I both don't care for the aluminum boats since fishing in wind over 15mph. We both have Glass bass boats now and I wont, and I doubt he, will ever go back. Weight, sail area, and hull design differ from the aluminum to the glass. The weight of the glass boat and the v of the hull going deeper into the water, keep it from blowing in a stiff wind. It will blow but it takes longer for it to begin to move and therefore isn't near as reactive. The sail area I speak of is the amount of the boat stuck up into the wind. The metal boat sits mostly above the water catching wind, with not much below the water line. When running in rough water the added weight of the glass cuts into the waves better and smooths the impact. The less weight of the aluminum stops abruptly and makes for a long rough ride. My aging bones didn't like my stick steer that I owned last, but I miss it all the time. We're comparing apples and oranges and there really isn't any middle ground. I have to say that both have their place, and we get what fits our style and wishes, and we smile on the way home to filet our catch. For me, from now on, I'll probably own glass for the slower reaction to wind, waves and wake. It's easier for me to keep up with.

**Hanr3** · 02-05-2012, 12:38 AM

Go ahead and buy your glass. It's your money.
I have been on rough seas, the Bearing Sea, the Pacific, the Atlantic, and 2 of the Great Lakes. Trust me, your glass boat can't handle rough seas.

You might want to care. I didn't make it up. I even linked to the source. Care to do your own research, go ahead. Google it. Boat designs for rough water. Let me know if you find anything about glass boats being superior in rough water, something done by an expert. Good luck!

Here, try this link.
http://www.docksidereports.com/rough...amanship_1.htm
It is written about oceans, however there is a ton of information in the articles.

**skeetbum** · 02-05-2012, 08:29 AM

Not doubting what you say, or trying to agitate you in any way. I just know that at the end of the day I can do other stuff, where in my last boat my back ( crummy lower back) would be so sore that all I could do was drive the recliner, losing the second part of the day. I'll buy my glass along with it's limitations and just be more comfortable when I get home. It's all about comfort and enjoying what we do, pain isn't in the equation. Good info, BTW.

**strmwalker** · 02-05-2012, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by skeetbum

I have to say that both have their place, and we get what fits our style and wishes, and we smile on the way home to filet our catch. .

very well said!!!!i own and love my aluminum boat it does what i want even on windy days and rough water!!!but what skeetbum says he dead on point!!!Thumbs Upits all up to what you want!!!!

**PIGINTHEPIGPEN** · 02-05-2012, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Hanr3

Go ahead and buy your glass. It's your money.
I have been on rough seas, the Bearing Sea, the Pacific, the Atlantic, and 2 of the Great Lakes. Trust me, your glass boat can't handle rough seas.

You might want to care. I didn't make it up. I even linked to the source. Care to do your own research, go ahead. Google it. Boat designs for rough water. Let me know if you find anything about glass boats being superior in rough water, something done by an expert. Good luck!

Here, try this link.
Rough Water Seamanship Part I: Boat Handling
It is written about oceans, however there is a ton of information in the articles.

I guess we are just on a different page in our thinking. I'm talking about Crappie fishing. I don't fish for crappie on rough seas. Bearing, Pacific, Atlantic or the great lakes for that matter. My research is fishing out of my 17 aluminum for the last 12 years 2 days a week 8 months out of the year. I'm happy with my boat. I'm just saying that when I fish out of my friends Glass boats. Weather it's a Ranger, Stratos, Trirton or Champion. The ride is like night and day diference in rough water on my Home lake. Not an Ocean. The wind does not blow us around like it does in my aluminum. What makes you think your Aluminum boat is better than a 21' Ranger on lake Superior in 5-6' waves?

**Hanr3** · 02-05-2012, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by skeetbum

Not doubting what you say, or trying to agitate you in any way. I just know that at the end of the day I can do other stuff, where in my last boat my back ( crummy lower back) would be so sore that all I could do was drive the recliner, losing the second part of the day. I'll buy my glass along with it's limitations and just be more comfortable when I get home. It's all about comfort and enjoying what we do, pain isn't in the equation. Good info, BTW.

I hear ya, and no your not agitating me. Im just trying to help clear the air about stereotypes that aren't based on facts. I could care less waht others buy, its a free country and your free to buy what you like. We all buy what we think will work best for us in the places we fish the most. Weight does play a small role in rough water, however all boats can weigh the same depending on what you load them with, or how they are built. Some people still dont get it and think its a personal attack. Nothing could be further from the truth, just trying to educate so we make decisions based on FACTs. Yes glass boats will weigh more than a typical jon boat, however weight isn't the determining factor when it comes to boat control in rough water. I use examples in the extreme to take the logic to the its full potential. Most people get hung up when the decision is close, taking it to an extreme puts things in perspective.

I'll say it again, the number one factor to determine how a boat handles rough water is the design of the boat. EVERY boat gets pushed around by the wind and waves. EVERY boat! Even a Battleship gets pushed around by waves. Like the article says, there are two basic hull designs, those that ride on top of the water (waves) and those that plow on through. If your going to fish rough water, get a boat that will push trhough. Sure your glass boat may absorb some of the rough water compared to a light weight aluminum boat, however a deep v boat will ride even smoother than that planing boat. Hell buy a glass Deep V.

**Drum_Master** · 02-08-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Hanr3

Hell buy a glass Deep V.

My point exactly. Hence my comments earlier about GENERALLY speaking, glass boats handle rough water better than tin boats. By generally, I mean same size, hull design, etc.

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