sneak_e_pete Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Hi there, just wondering what the pros and cons are of fiberglass vs. aluminum boats. I really like the Fincraft boats (fiberglass)...but know nothing about fiberglass. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 This should be a long thread!! Unless you are pounding the great lakes day after day... I'd never go back to a fiberglass boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecmilley Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 as long as you got the vehicle to tow it buy what you like, glass is a little more in the care department and weighs more but usually they ride smoother than aluminum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 I've had them all Pete, wood, tin & glass and I'll stay with the glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 I love my aluminum... Light...easy to launch... Planes fast... But glass rides nicer...smoother...dryer...handles rough water better... My dream boat is a ranger 618t with a 90 Yamaha... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twocoda Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 This should be a long thread!! Unless you are pounding the great lakes day after day... I'd never go back to a fiberglass boat. Wayne nailed it ...if you fish the shallows alot then tin is what you want although they will handle the great lakes quite nicely...they ride the top of the water creating a bouncier ride and the rougher water on the great lakes will limit a few days that heavier boats can still go out...ive had both tin and glass but since i only fish the great lakes anymore...its glass all the way for me to smash through the waves as opposed to being launched over them....there are definatley times i miss the tin boat for sneaking into shallows but since my primary depths range for 60-140 FOW ill sit back in comfort...but honestly...a tin boat will teach you to respect the lake...where a glass boat will teach you to get into trouble..(me anyways) Good Luck with your decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 If you like fishing bass, pike etc and like to beach your boat and get out pick aluminum. If you will be fishing the great lakes for sammins and troots, go glass. If you will be doing both pick aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufus Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Rocky in Northwestern Ontario so aluminum outnumbers fiberglass 100 to 1 around here it seems. If I had a fiberglass boat I would never again have a shore lunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Rocky in Northwestern Ontario so aluminum outnumbers fiberglass 100 to 1 around here it seems. If I had a fiberglass boat I would never again have a shore lunch My buddy has a glass boat and I cringe every time he beaches it on the rocks up here. It's bad enough doing it with an aluminum boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Rocky in Northwestern Ontario so aluminum outnumbers fiberglass 100 to 1 around here it seems. If I had a fiberglass boat I would never again have a shore lunch No sand beaches anywhere?,If not,I agree 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneak_e_pete Posted May 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Thanks. It will mainly be used on Erie. Have 3 boys and want to use it for skiing/ cruising when they get older too. How does fiberglass hold up? I plan on having it for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave524 Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Fibreglass doesn't like ice or vice versa if you ever plan on hitting the Niagara River for winter steelhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Do you plan to leave it in the water(at a marina or your dock...) or on a trailer? Cause letting glass soak in the water all summer for years will take its toll... Aluminium can handle sitting in water a lot better... In my opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleheader Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 There is a lot more to how a boat rides than aluminum vs glass. Boat weight, hull design, driver skill, how the boat is loaded, and proper motor height are all very important. There are a lot of good reasons to buy glass, just like there are a lot of good reasons for tin. We all have our preferences, mine is tin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Grant Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 (edited) . Edited January 30, 2014 by XxX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hirk Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Weight has zero effect on how well a boat runs rough water guys,its all hull design drivers excluded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 (edited) I've had many aluminum boats, the last one being a Lund ProV. My last 2 boats have been glass, including the current one you see in the picture. As has been mentioned, each have their place. If you are bumping it against rocks and such aluminum is the way to go. A dent in aluminum is relatively easy to repair, not so in fiberglass. Fiberglass cannot tolerate any flexing, so if you have a poorly build glass boat you'll get a lot of cracking of the gelcoat which is expensive to repair. Glass boats tend to be heavier so you need more power to push them. However, the well built, high-end aluminum boats are almost as heavy as a glass boat. As far as ride goes, I would say that glass boats are generally smoother. I agree with what some have said in that it depends on hull design. If you're jumping waves the subsequent pounding will be better absorbed in a glass boat... at least, that's been my experience. If your playground will be L. Erie then I would strongly suggest to get a quality glass boat. Some aluminum boats are very well made, i.e Lund, so they will also do well on the great lakes. But they tend to give a wetter ride mainly because of the way the hulls are designed. As far as the "absorbing water" comment....well, I didn't know glass boats were sponges. Edited May 14, 2012 by Gerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleheader Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Weight has zero effect on how well a boat runs rough water guys,its all hull design drivers excluded. With respect I disagree. Interestingly enough the question was posed on The Hull Truth website. Although opinions vary as to the degree or significance of the hull weight on ride, I found it more interesting that all things being equal, weight can have a positive impact, but as speed increases weight can have a negative impact on ride comfort. http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/199019-weight-vs-ride-comfort.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 As far as the "absorbing water" comment....well, I didn't know glass boats were sponges. i was talking more with older boats i guess...once you start getting any hairline cracks in the gel coat water can penetrate... i was told that the gel coat is you 100 percent waterproof barrier... and fiberglass/resin isnt 100 percent water proof... this is just what i was told mind you...it could be wrong... however our older fiberglass boat... water started to penetrate and water-log any floatation and wood... the boat gained a couple hundred pounds....and i know a few others that experienced the same thing.... and these were all people that leave there boats in the water all season... thats just my experience.... and what ive been told... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hirk Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 With respect I disagree. Interestingly enough the question was posed on The Hull Truth website. Although opinions vary as to the degree or significance of the hull weight on ride, I found it more interesting that all things being equal, weight can have a positive impact, but as speed increases weight can have a negative impact on ride comfort. http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/199019-weight-vs-ride-comfort.html well I was thinking in terms of 1-2k lb. fishing boats and they are talking about 25-50k lb. boats but I would guess the hydro dynamic principles would be the same.If you took a light boat and loaded it down the ride would not improve, conversly there are some boats that are heavy for the hull length but are horrible in rough water. Would they be even worse if they were lighter? I dont think so just as putting weight in your boat wont make it better. Hulls designed with a sharp deadrise keel running too the bow will improve ride a ton, putting 4 fluffy guys in a 18' boat full of gas an gear wont make it run smoother than when its light. Im talking about running on plane not plowing waves at 15mph though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Resale I would think is better with a aluminium vessel... I have fished Lake Ontario and Lake Erie for the last 27 years in my 16' Grumman without any issues....except maybe a small leaking rivet here or there.....When I fished tournaments I would stay out in 6' waves....but that was when I was much younger.....LOL..... IMHO aluminium has many more advantages then glass does.....much light, less outboard needed and smaller tow vehicle needed.....with today's high gas prices I wouldn't consider a glass boat.....but if you can afford it and have a marina to dock it.....well then you might want a glass boat. Good Luck and have FUN in your new vessel. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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