Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

salty87

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Aug 12, 2003
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

i didn't vote...depends on what you're doing with it
 

Solittle

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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

I'm with salty.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Use is moe important than material.<br /><br />You want lightweight, ease of maintenance-Aluminum.<br /><br />You want ride and pizazz-Fiberglass.
 

JB

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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Wood. :)
 

KCook

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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Good one JB :D
 

phatmanmike

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Oct 24, 2003
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

im going with hypalon or maybe even pvc
 

mattttt25

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Sep 29, 2002
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

i always felt safe on the steel ones.
 

cart7

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Jan 21, 2005
Messages
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Not enough info. Are you fishing big water or small? Lakes or rivers with nice concrete ramps or with gravel? What are you towing the boat with?
 

KCook

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Jan 24, 2002
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1,624
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

I've had both, though my fiberglass boat was slightly over the 18' figure here. In general I think fiberglass is overrated. Yes, I know lots of folks have moved up to fiberglass and like the ride better. But I bet they moved up in size and weight (see motor size) at the same time. The smaller the boat the less sense fiberglass makes.<br /><br />Kelly
 

monoshock

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Jun 20, 2005
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

KCook<br />I agree completely.
 

monoshock

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Jun 20, 2005
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

bump
 

tin

Seaman
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Dec 23, 2010
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Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Tin..........:D what else
 

26aftcab454

Lieutenant Commander
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May 12, 2009
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1,510
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

the best boats, like beers, are FREE.:cool:

i gotta 1957 year 18ft LoneStar El Dorado from my boss ( and spent $10,000+ on updates) for free.
He was gonna trade it in on a new ski boat in 1990 and the dealer told him he would give him $500 credit on it. Boss said he would rather give it to someone who would appreciate the boat for what it was. I still have it.:cool:
 

tx1961whaler

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May 31, 2008
Messages
5,197
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.
So I'm with JB. Wood.
 

tbird175

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Messages
253
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Depends on how you are going to use it. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
 

robert graham

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Apr 16, 2009
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6,908
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

Aluminum boats aren't the old riveted, leaking units they may have once been. Some of the modern, hydro-formed, all-welded aluminum boats are great and look good, also. Check out Sea Ark Boats and Express Boats for plenty of information. My 1999 Express 1872 MV jon boat, OD Green, ain't all that pretty, but is very rugged, dependable, light(compared to glass), functionally just like new and nothing to rot! Just remember,whatever you buy, make sure the deadrise matches the type water you're going to be running in. My boat is 6 degrees deadrise and it's a hard ride on a 12"chop.
 

trailking82

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
84
Re: Under 18' Which is best fiberglass hull or aluminum hull?

i guess this thread is good now as it was 5 years ago!!??


i like them both. my aluminum jon boat can go anywhere, do anything, and get beat to death in the process. my fiberglass no so much.. but its a great ride on the water.
 
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