Why an Aluminum Bass Boat?

j102 · August 02, 2016, 09:20:45 AM

I might be opening a can of worms here, but I always wonder why professional Bass fishermen (or pretty much everyone) use an aluminum boat instead of a fiberglass boat for Bass fishing.
I'm looking at buying a fiberglass boat for Saltwater/Inshore fishing. Fiberglass makes sense for Saltwater.
Why are aluminum boats preferred for Bass fishing?

Princeton_Man · August 02, 2016, 11:30:21 AM

Glass boats don't bounce off rocks and stumps as well as aluminum while aluminum isn't quite as stable in wind and high speed. How's that for a one line answer?

Conditions and areas we fish have a lot to do with what type of boat we buy. Some folks have both.

Everything that can be a hindrance can also be an asset.

The lighter weight of aluminum boats make them easier to tow and launch.

The lighter weight of aluminum boats makes them easier to be tossed around in rough water and blown around by the wind.

The weight of a glass boat means you'll need a little more towing power and it will be more stable in rough water and wind.

Princeton_Man · August 02, 2016, 11:34:38 AM

I prefer my glass boat but I sure miss my aluminum boat at times. Ranger's new RT198 is making me think real hard about what my next rig will be.

Donald Garner · August 02, 2016, 11:42:59 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on August 02, 2016, 11:30:21 AM
Glass boats don't bounce off rocks and stumps as well as aluminum while aluminum isn't quite as stable in wind and high speed. How's that for a one line answer?

Conditions and areas we fish have a lot to do with what type of boat we buy. Some folks have both.

Jim you said it all

coldfront · August 02, 2016, 12:17:30 PM

Quote from: Donald Garner on August 02, 2016, 11:42:59 AM
Jim you said it all

there are trade-offs, some might use the term 'positives and negatives' associated with either hull material.

figuring out which is 'best fit' for the individual is always the biggest key to how happy you'll be with the choice.

love my aluminum. really don't want a glass boat. that's me.

Lee Smith · August 02, 2016, 01:22:24 PM

Quote from: Donald Garner on August 02, 2016, 11:42:59 AM
Jim you said it all

Or do like this guy, have them both!

Just can't hide $$

j102 · August 02, 2016, 02:49:43 PM

I understand it depends on the conditions. They both have pros and cons, so you would expect a 50-50 decision, but no, you see professional Bass fishermen using aluminum boats all the time.
Saltwater fishing is a difference case and a fiberglass/composite boat would be better.

LgMouthGambler · August 02, 2016, 03:06:42 PM

Lets just say whats already been said, they both have their place. If I wanted to run from one side of Lake Okeechobee to the other, I would want to do it in a nice glass boat. But, if I want to get into skinny water, not having to worry about bumping off something while trolling around, I want an aluminum rig. And believe me, there aint no glass boats anywhere near me when I am in my sweet spots on Lake O. Heck, even Lou cant get to where I can in his aluminum boat.

MUDPUPPY!

Oldfart9999 · August 02, 2016, 05:37:37 PM

The pros, use when they aren't fishing tournaments, they are their "play" boat, cheap, lite, easy to handle.
Rodney

Kris · August 02, 2016, 05:39:18 PM

I, like others in this thread, have both an aluminum and a fiberglass bass boat.
Here in Maryland and Pennsylvania are several reservoirs that will allow electric motor only. Some allow you to have the gas motor on the back and some do not.
I have a sixteen foot aluminum that I am redesigning for use in the reservoirs around here. I can also drop a 6 hp outboard on the back to fish Lake Marburg in PA. They have a 20 hp limit and mine is restricted to below 7.5 hp by MD Dept. of Natural Resources.
I can use the fiberglass boat in some but not all. Also, that means additional wear and tear on the bow mount motor. I wanted it more for tidal water like the Potomac.
Each have their applications, pluses and minuses. Neither can totally replace the other.

Donald Garner · August 02, 2016, 08:02:43 PM

Quote from: Lee Smith on August 02, 2016, 01:22:24 PM
Or do like this guy, have them both!

Just can't hide $$

Yep there is a place and time to fish out of either boat. And like mentioned there are Pros and Cons. For me I enjoy fishing out of both my Stratos and my G3 1548 Alwed Jon boat. I have learned through trial and error

where and when to fish out which boat. I know now that on the big water the G3 is not the boat to be in when high winds or a storm rolls in. I also know now that my Stratos is not the boat to fish in while running up into the heart of the Lampasas River.

Having read the article reference that new Ranger Alum Rig that posted here in UB a while back. IF I was going to buy a New Bass Boat I would really look hard at that boat. Its a dual console and rated for a 150hp engine.

bankinbass · November 05, 2016, 04:02:16 PM

it all depends on one thing, and that is personal preference.

West6550 · November 05, 2016, 06:22:04 PM

Quote from: bankinbass on November 05, 2016, 04:02:16 PM
it all depends on one thing, and that is personal preference.

I agree and your fishing style. I have had several of each. I will always own an aluminum from now on though. It fits my fishing style and the area I fish. I will never have to worry about a deck going soft or gel coat needing redone. My boat is all welded and for the areas I fish it is perfect. If I lived up north.. I'd have a bigger deep v aluminum :-)

Will my boat get blown around.. sure.. but that is what the big TM is for ;-)

I loved my Stratos and going 65mph.. but I rarely went that fast and if I did I ran out of lake normally before I hit top speed.. or hit it and had to slow lol

FloridaFishinFool · November 05, 2016, 06:50:36 PM

I use only aluminum boats. I won't buy or even consider a fiberglass boat.

Weight is one issue. A 14 foot aluminum hull can weigh 300 to 400 pounds while the same size boat in fiberglass can weight about 1,000 pounds more.

But the real reason I prefer aluminum is durability.

The boat I have right now is a restored 1974 AlumaCraft. How many fiberglass boats from 1974 are still in use today? Probably not many.

Another big reason I prefer aluminum only is because I can go into some very shallow waters where heavier deeper drafting boats can not go and I like it this way.

In other words I can leave fishermen in fiberglass boats far behind and go places to fish that I have all to myself and I want it this way.

Having a fiberglass boat means I have to be more concerned about depth and this limits where I can fish and I would rather just avoid that problem all together.

So only aluminum V-bow for me.

Oldfart9999 · November 06, 2016, 02:33:35 PM

Quote from: West6550 on November 05, 2016, 06:22:04 PM
I'd have a bigger deep v aluminum :-)
Will my boat get blown around.. sure.. but that is what the big TM is for ;-)

I own a 16 foot deep v multi species boat, I'd trade it for a 16-17 foot aluminum bass boat in a heartbeat, it's a nice boat and it rides nice but it's a kite in the wind, turn off both motors and still outrun a sailboat.
Rodney

West6550 · November 06, 2016, 10:30:50 PM

Quote from: Oldfart9999 on November 06, 2016, 02:33:35 PM
I own a 16 foot deep v multi species boat, I'd trade it for a 16-17 foot aluminum bass boat in a heartbeat, it's a nice boat and it rides nice but it's a kite in the wind, turn off both motors and still outrun a sailboat.
Rodney

My Ranger VS1780 is deep v. I love it and my only wish is it had a 200 not a 115 lol but it is perfect for me. But most lakes here are small not reservoir's and escaping harsh winds is normally easy if needed. Foam fill probably help's though it's heavier than most tins.

Oldfart9999 · November 07, 2016, 05:48:48 AM

Quote from: West6550 on November 06, 2016, 10:30:50 PM
My Ranger VS1780 is deep v. I love it and my only wish is it had a 200 not a 115 lol but it is perfect for me. But most lakes here are small not reservoir's and escaping harsh winds is normally easy if needed. Foam fill probably help's though it's heavier than most tins.

The weight help, I have a 95 Tracker Pro DEEP V 16 and it's light. It was all I could find at the time, it's not a bad boat, specially if you like to troll or fish deep water along an edge but trying to be precise on a shoal, weedline, dock or other shoreline targets it can be troubling and frustrating. Better than nothing though and I'm glad I have it, it get's me away from shore and the lack of places to bank fish here.
Rodney

Pferox · November 08, 2016, 07:44:56 AM

Around here you see a lot of glass, especially bay boats. But the guys that actually fish the bayous and back creeks opt for metal flats boats that look like a modified jon boat.

It is to shallow and just too much debris around to risk busting up glass. It does keep you out of the bays on many days, but there are enough sheltered areas around here that it doesn't keep you from fishing very often.

West6550 · November 08, 2016, 09:35:30 AM

My dream boat is a "Big O" boat.. they are a local boat that are built for Big O and flat's nearby for inshore salt. They are all aluminum and have no max HP. There is a local guide that had an all black one. He won it about 15 years ago in a tournament. He repowered it about 2 years ago with a Merc 300.

Oldfart9999 · November 08, 2016, 04:15:54 PM

A 17 ft. Tracker bass boat with at least a 50 would be my ideal boat. Can fish very shallow and still deal with the wind better than I can now. I tow with a 2 wheel drive 4 banger and it would be an ideal boat for that also perfect, no but then what boat is?
Rodney

Goldstar225 · November 08, 2016, 08:37:10 PM

For the areas I fish the most, a tin boat is my best option. On a typical morning of fishing I'll crawl my boat over 5-6 stumps if not more. I shudder to think what a glass boat would look like after a year of this. I do fish bigger lakes on occasion but not enough to justify a glass boat.