Aluminum or fiberglass...?

[Redbelly]

What is your preference and why?

Do you use either now and wish for the other?

Happy with aluminum? Any drawbacks? Advantages?

Happy with glass? Any drawbacks? Advantages?

Who knows....I may write a magazine article....

[FUTCHCAIRO]

HEY REDBELLY, I AM USING AN ALUM . STARCRAFT AT THE PRESENT TIME. IT IS EXTRA HEAVY FOR A ALUM. BOAT. THE HULL IS MADE FROM 1/8 TH " ANODIZED ALUM. THE SOLE IS 3/4" MARINE PLYWOOD ENCAPSULATED IN GLASS, THE CAP IS MADE OF 3/16 TH " ALUM. IT HANDLES VERY GOOD IN THE CHOPPY WATER OF THE BAYS AND INLETS DOWN AT THE COAST AS WELL IN LARGE LAKES LIKE SEMINOLE. I ALSO HAVE A 14' ALUMACRAFT WHICH IS VERY LIGHT AND GREAT EVEN ON THE FLATS IF THERE ARE NO 2-3' SWELLS. HAVE HAD MANY GLASS BOATS FROM 10' JONS TO 36' OFF SHORE BOAT. THE ALUM. BOATS SHOULD BE WASHED OFF AFTER USE IN SALTWATER IF YOU EXPECT IT TO LAST LONG, IF YOU DO NOT WASH OFF WITH DETERGENT EVENTUALLY SMALL PIN HOLES WILL FORM AND SHE WILL LEAK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO TRY TO STOP IT. I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH BOTH GLASS AND ALUM. , YA JUST HAVE TO MAINTAIN A GOOD CARE OF EITHER. ONE GOOD THING ABOUT GLASS IS THAT YOU CAN REPAIR ALMOST ANY THING THAT GOES WRONG, HOLES IN THE HULL , ROTTED TRANSOMS, GOUGES IN THE HULL, REPLACE STRINGERS AND PUT IN NEW SOLES YOURSELF AND NOT HAVE A HUMONGOUS REPAIR BILL AT SOME SHOP. THE GLASS IS EASY TO WORK WITH EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT EVER DONE IT BEFORE, JUST READ UP ON THE APPLICATION AND ASK QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH GLASS BEFORE.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[MudDucker]

Until my last aluminum boat, aluminum was my choice. Now, I'm back to fiberglass. Had electrolsis ruin an aluminum hull for me. If you are willing to wash it down after every trip, unhook the battery after every trip, then you might avoid what I have experienced. Also, in my older age, I like the way the heavier fiberglass boat rides in the chop.

Your mileage may vary

[rocket]

Depends on where you plan to fish.

[Redbelly]

This is for a flats saltwater boat type question.

[rocket]

This is for a flats saltwater boat type question.

For the ride, you can't beat fiberglass. If your prone to fish areas where you're going to be bouncing off rocks, and oysters then aluminum is the way to go.

[Redbelly]

I am thinking a shallow water boat, with maybe 1 mile off shore max.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

REDBELLY- ALUM. BOAT WILL WORK GREAT, JUST MAKE SURE YA GOT AT LEAST 16-20" FREE BOARD, THEN YA CAN GO JUST ABOUT ANYPLACE YA WANT TO GO IN APPALACH. BAY WITH DUE CARE. BE SURE TO WASH HER DOWN EACH TIME YA GO IN SALT. I LAUNCH AT THE LIGHTHOUSE AT ST. MARKS MAINLY BECAUSE WHEN WE HEAD HOME AFTER FISHING WE BACK DOWN IN THE FRESH WATER POND AND RUN THE GAS OUT OF THE ENGINE AND GET IN THE WATER TO COVER WHAT WAS IN THE SALT AT LAUNCHING FOR THE BOAT AND TRAILER. WHEN I GET HOME I WASH IT DOWN WITH DETERGENT INSIDE AND OUT INCLUDING THE ENGINE AND GIVE THE BEARINGS A SHOT OF GREASE.
HOPE THIS HELPS YA TO MAKE A DECISION.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[Chalk]

I prefer Fiberglass, it's hard to design a quite boat (hull slap) with metal, easily repaired, no corrosion issues...Gelcoat will fade, must keep it waxed and covered, easily chipped, but easily repaired, metal is loud (dropping things)...Both have there advantages and disadvantages, but I would prefer fiberglass.....


I would rather take wood over the two choices though....

[Redbelly]

Futch I will probably settle on my 1544 aluminum, and launch at the lighthouse and spring creek, or aucilla. I had a go-devil on my present welded alumacraft and fished aucilla a lot for reds. Worried about all the salt that got up into the motor though and sold it before any problems.
I always sprayed that waxy 3m stuff that is saltwater corrosion prevention on it, Bellamy's boats in T'ville has it.

I will use my present boat. Gonna turn it over and fix a couple of "pits", small they are. Then I plan to put some teflon coating on the hull where it rides the bunks, and put teflon strips on the bunks. Should prevent a cumulative "pitting" action there. As that is the only place where it has occurred.

Chalk I too would prefer a wood boat, and may take that task on one day. A carolina skiff has been considered, but my aluminum semi-v hull now would ride smoother in chop, and has a 5" draft.

I will have to live with the "slap", and maybe that won't hurt me with those "bulls" too badly.
I will quiet down the insides with carpet.

Looks like very soon I will be "redding" again...

I have worried too much about this saltwater corrosion thing for some reason....

[AJ]

Get one of each, I did.

[Browning Slayer]

I personally have both. I would take my Carolina Skiff over any aluminum boat (I have a grizzly) besides a pontoon when you have a group of people.

Chalk has hit the nail on the head!

I prefer Fiberglass, it's hard to design a quite boat (hull slap) with metal, easily repaired, no corrosion issues...Gelcoat will fade, must keep it waxed and covered, easily chipped, but easily repaired, metal is loud (dropping things)...Both have there advantages and disadvantages, but I would prefer fiberglass.

I don't have the oppurtunity you guys have to fish the Flats like I would like too but I do fish my share.

Sounds echo along way and with fiberglass they don't bounce as far.

Not to mention, I don't wear shoes on my boat's and I just love the fiberglass on the bottom of my feet!

Fiberglass! And you'll never have to worry about carpet!

Fiberglass = freedom...
Aluminum = carpet....

And fiberglass is a lot easier to clean!

Just my .02..

[grim reeler]

Both have their advantages, most of which have already been stated.

But the one thing I will say, is that I would never take a fiberglass boat all the places I take an aluminum one. No matter how easy it is to repair gel coat, it still plain doesnt mix with oyster bars. By the same token, alum typically beats the mess out of you in rough water.

[Redbelly]

K Saraa K Saraa...whatever will be.....

For me, for now it will be aluminum.

Although I will be keeping my eye out for a carolina J16 in tiller config.