Thread: aluminum or fiberglass

No aluminum boat is going to handle wind and rough water like a heavy glass boat. Some aluminum boats handle it better than others though.

No they will not handle the water nearly as well as a fiberglass boat. I did not have the 207 but I did have a 17 foot Cherokee and it was the roughest riding boat I ever owned. If I was out in the as much as a 20 mph wind I would have to turn and go with the wind about every 10 minutes of trolling so I could let the bilge pump catch up. I took more water over the front of that boat than any other boat I have had. I also did not care for the fit and finish of the Cherokee. I was continuously replacing screws all over that boat as they would either come out or break off. I did not like that boat at all, it just was not what I expected from Ranger. I suspect that the quality issues is why Ranger did not continue that model.
I finally sold it and bought an Alumacraft and could not be happier. Alumacraft is a much higher quality boat in my opinion.

would suggest you look at the newer models of tin boats, numerous advancements have been made in recent years, would be $$ well spent on a newer tin if that's what you prefer.

No!

I switched to fiberglass, it's a whole lot smoother ride than the aluminum. It's great for the big water, but now can't go on the smaller lakes close to home. I miss the aluminum but these old bones love the fiberglass.

If you want a aluminum boat that rides smooth and sits high enough to take rough water look into war eagle or seamark.i have owned both.right now I own a tracker and found that if I put weight in the front of it.it rides a whole lot smoother.but with the seamark or war eagle they ran smooth all the time.i have also owned glass boats but I fish mostly shallow and stumpy lakes.and cracked a few I think aluminum is the only way to go now.hope this helps you and good luck in finding a boat

Originally Posted by gtojoe

If you want a aluminum boat that rides smooth and sits high enough to take rough water look into war eagle or seamark.i have owned both.right now I own a tracker and found that if I put weight in the front of it.it rides a whole lot smoother.but with the seamark or war eagle they ran smooth all the time.i have also owned glass boats but I fish mostly shallow and stumpy lakes.and cracked a few I think aluminum is the only way to go now.hope this helps you and good luck in finding a boat

I just have a 1546 xpress duck boat now that serves as my fishing boat in the summer. But, after looking at and riding in glass and alum boats I think aluminum is for me. I also mainly fish shallow, stumpy waters and the glass boats that i have bass fished in sit considerably deeper than aluminum boats of the same size. I love the war eagle and xpress bass and crappie models, either one of these is what I would get. Probably the xpress before the eagle just bc I absolutely love my xpress duck boat, its a well crafted hull.

I have a Triton 176 magnum now that I am loving, bought a new monark 16 foot aluminum bass boat back in the days, there is as much difference in it and this triton as night and day. I never get out in this boat without being supprised at the ride and comfort compared to my last boat, a 350 Ranger...IMO,,its the best of both worlds. Not knocking Ranger, it was a very nice boat, but for a aluminum boat, this boat compares favorable to the ranger...just saying,,"Tin is IN" for me.