Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

zopperman

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Jun 22, 2011
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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I do believe the room got just a little brighter:D

It's a ways away, probably a graduation present (project) to myself. Maybe a 22-24 foot sylvan of starcraft that can go offshore a bit... :eek:
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
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Jul 27, 2007
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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I wanted a boat that I could fish out of and not scratch up in addition to the other advantages mentioned. Previous boat was a Ranger and I was always worried about scratching it up.

That's how mine started out as well. But then the restoration started and she got painted and added a brand new motor and custom striping and by the time I got done she was too purty to scratch up too.

Doesn't matter whether she's wood, plastic or metal, its not cool if your boat don't shine!
 

zopperman

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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I've never fished before, I don't really plan on it. Irregardless, ;) I would like a boat that won't get scratched.. I'd also like my next boat to be a bit quicker.. maybe able to top out at like 50... but i am pretty opposed to an I/O
 

jigngrub

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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

Scratches are battle scars and they give a boat character!
 

JimS123

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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I've never fished before, I don't really plan on it. Irregardless, ;) I would like a boat that won't get scratched.. I'd also like my next boat to be a bit quicker.. maybe able to top out at like 50... but i am pretty opposed to an I/O

No boat is scratch proof!
 

NetDoc

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
517
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I love the lines of my '68 Fibra (fiberglass) and am willing to put in a lot of effort to maintain her. That being said, some of my favorite dive boats are tin lizzie cats. In fact, I want to actually build one from scratch. I am proficient enough with welding and the whole project sounds like a hoot. I wouldn't even begin to think of building a wood or fiberglass boat: I just don't have those skills or the patience! :D

In the long run: get what you LIKE. Its easy enough to justify your desire one way or the other. What you like is rarely based on logic and facts and often runs contrary to them. Life is too short to do or use something you don't like. Go with your heart.
 

NetDoc

Chief Petty Officer
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Aug 20, 2011
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517
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

Sorry to hijack, but that's a COOL boat. What does FPB stand for?
 

roscoe

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Oct 30, 2002
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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I agree with this assessment. Aluminum boats are also very noisy (water against hull, metal against hull/deck). Drop a sinker on the floor and the fish are gone!

Fiberglass holds up better around salt water than aluminum.

I suspect aluminum is worse when it comes to electrolysis while moored, especially in salt water.

To me, the only advantage aluminum over fiberglass/wood is lighter weight. That needs to be important, and can itself be a liability.

Have to disagree with most of this.

While small open tinnies can be noisy, anything with a floor, and certainly any boat over 18-20', are solid and quiet in my experience.

Drop a sinker and the fish are gone? Hardly, but nice excuse for an empty cooler.

My nephew used to play the drums on the side of the boat while were fishing, all the while myself and his older brother were catching northerns and walleyes.

As far as a rough ride, certainly on a lighter boat, but on hull that weighs 1500# or more, it smooths out considerably.

A 200# rig with decent deadrise should ride reasonably well.
 

sschefer

Rear Admiral
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Nov 13, 2008
Messages
4,530
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

Most of ya'll know I've had tinny's and never a glasser. I've ridden in several glasser but when it comes to fishing it just doesn't seem right to me. I can get in and do a tap dance on the rocks with my heavy al. Jetcraft but was a little leary of doing that with my Starcraft. The Starcrafts deep v made for a very smooth ride and was still quick to plane but the draft was a killer. The Jetcraft has a delta pad bottom so with one person, it comes up on plane level and runs true. It is a little noisy at cruise speed but silent as a church mouse when trolling. The delta pad does give it a rougher ride but it's not horrible and something a fisherman doesn't mind. I could always throw in a set of air ride seats if I wanted.

Regarding corosion if the boat is made from 5000 series aluminum, unpainted it will out last any glasser on the water. Even 6000 series boats like the Starcraft don't suffer too badly and the certainly never have to worry about osmosis blistering.

The glass boats have their advantages when it comes to style because the best built al boats do not have compound curves. Thinner alluminum boats may have press formed hulls but those are usually riveted boats. My Starcraft was riveted and my Jetcraft is welded. I have to say I prefer welded.
 

pmillar

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
298
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

That is classic, thanks for the link. So once this thread runs its course maybe we can get another rivets vs. welded going... strictly for entertainment value of course and only after confirming the superiority of tinnies first. ;)
whispers, "welded Crestliner..."
 

sschefer

Rear Admiral
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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

That is classic, thanks for the link. So once this thread runs its course maybe we can get another rivets vs. welded going... strictly for entertainment value of course and only after confirming the superiority of tinnies first. ;)
whispers, "welded Crestliner..."

Had em both... whispers (welded Jetcraft, welded Western, GluVited err Riveted Starcraft)...LOL....
 

zopperman

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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

Whats the difference? Are welds just less susceptible to leaks?
 

oops!

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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

ok....im in.

tinny owners are not real boat owners because they have never had to grind glass in there shorts and tee shirts :D

it all comes down to what you are using the boat for.....and how you use it. if you are running shallow river rapids at 50 mph.....a tinny jet is the way to go. a glass boat does not like that kind of stuff.

the company i work with bought a tinny....a 22 foot thunder jet.. they asked me to repair it.....(insurance claim)
the p.o had some sort of plastic screwed to the hull.....like star board (or cutting board material....it was there to soften the ride....quieten the boat and add stregnth to the hull if going over rocks.

when they welded this stuff on.....they never sealed the holes properly and it leaked....the p.o finally got tired of the two bilge pumps going all the time and ran it up on the rocks at 50 mph....the insurance paid out.

the craft was badily damaged just forward of the motor cage......i took it to the welders and used a 20 ton press to straighten the hull. i then gutted it and had all the holes welded....then ran an epoxy/galss over the inner hull to prevent any more leaks. put it back togeather (with other minor fixes) and sold it for 40k.

i got to test the boat for several hours....calm to 2 foot chop.

the tinny was way rougher riding in chop than a glass boat.......(thats why they have huge air ride seats in them. the kind that are worth 2 grand a pop)
it was also wayyy louder.....the shop owner had me spend several hours to sound proof the boat.
the boat drove like a sprint car....always sliding in tight turns...never positive control.....but that's a jet.
however....when you were in the boat.......you know it was built to take carp! very strong.

the glass boats just float over chop....very forgiving......and always positive control over the boat......they really bite in tight turns.
they are much quieter.....and if you want to modify and sound proof.....you can make a glass boat so you cant hear the motor.
a glass boat is a much more luxurious boat. smooth...clean....shiny.

so.....in short.......its what you want in a boat......how you use them.....and where you use them that makes the difference between a tinny and glass boat.

but.....chicks dig glass boats:D
 

jasoutside

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2009
Messages
13,269
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

tinny owners are not real boat owners because they have never had to grind glass in there shorts and tee shirts

Oh oops, I just wonder if there is any hope for you buddy. Maybe we need a "12 step program for glasser guys" or something. Step #1, admit you have a problem. Just throwing it out there:p;)

a glass boat is a much more luxurious boat. smooth...clean....shiny.

I think one of my comrades has termed them, "glitter boats".:D
 

Ray1958

Cadet
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
29
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

One has need to look for a boat that fits the need. There are "tinnies" meant for the salt and there are tinnies that handle big water as well or better than a glass boat. Have a look at these beauties. I have been on them in Lake Michigan in rough seas and they handle better than any glass I have been on. Now that being said, you are not going to get into one of these cheap.
http://www.hewescraft.com/large_ocean_boats/?p=1.1.5

Ray
 
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captaindale

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
46
Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

I am considering buying a Key West also. Seems to have a lot of standard features that are really good. I have heard a few negative things about thin gelcoat but I not convinced that is a present day problem. That might have been old posts. I like a boat with a walkthrough windsheild. They make some nice models. Let me know your researched feelings on this boat maker.
 

zopperman

Lieutenant Commander
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Jun 22, 2011
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Re: Fiberglass VS Aluminum hull

Keep the opinions coming!

DO people ground aluminum hulls? does that make them more likely to corrode?
 
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