Glass vs. Alum - Noticable Difference IMO

[eyepatrol]

As some may know, I picked up my new/used Alumacraft Tourney Sport 175 on Wednesday. The seller, my wife and I took it out for a test drive, but it was on a small pond with only a little ripple.

Today I took it out to a small 300 acre lake that had some smaller whitecaps on the north end. Quartering to the waves and going sideways to turn around....wow what a difference aluminum is compared to fiberglass!!! My previous boat was a Warrior and it rode on top of the waves very well, but the biggest difference is the splash from the boat. Aluminum....splash is straight up from the sides and into the air. Fiberglass....splash is out and away from the boat, much lower to the water.

And one last, somewhat minor difference I noticed was hitting waves while going with the waves. The aluminum seems to have more feel in the "push resistance" (don't know how to describe it any better) when hitting waves while traveling in the same direction of the wave as compared to my former fiberglass boat. My former glass boat just seemed to cut through the waves a bit better.

And on a last note, when planed out and turning, the motor/prop will cavatate....create that air pocket that makes the rpm's run up and you can hear that void in the water. Not sure if this is because of the aluminum boat or if it has to do with the motor mount position.

Still, it's a very nice boat and I'm extremely happy we got it. It makes my future decision (8 or 9 years down the road) easy on what kind of boat to buy....fiberglass 100%!

[joe joe]

you like the alum craft? l like the storge on the gunlsides. i just got a 185 sport the a 200hp etec i know what you mean you feel the wave if you have a jonhson/etec the number 2 hole form the top and if it is a yamaha the bottom hole and if it isn't any of those baa huumm buugg i got it proped 3 blade stanless not sure on the size but it is what the etec guy said i should run and it goes 54mph second hole down on the motor

[knoppers]

the cavatation problem is most likely the prop you have. I have a 4 blade stainless, which you can trim out much more than a three blade. but still in the tighter corners, you must trim down some to get the bite.

I had a starcraft aluminum, and can say my skeeter glass boat is much smoother and drier.

[Ufatz]

Basscatcher: First, your glass boat is heavier than the aluminum,big difference in ride. Second, some of the things you identify have as much to do with hull design as the material used.The cavitation you experienced is a result of how the engine is mounted/rigged. You'll also find metal boats sweat more (condensation in compartments) and are far noisier than glass or wood. Ain't nothin' like a beautiful lapstrake built wooden boat....sweet,quiet, stable ride.

[eyepatrol]

My glass boat was not heavier than this boat. In fact, it was slightly lighter as it was shorter than this boat.

[Ufatz]

I am surprised! Generally a good glass boat is going to weigh more than the usual tin boat. This new one doesn't have I-beams and steel plate does it?

[primetime49]

Glass boats do not weigh more than aluminum boats.as the floors and storagage areas are also glass etc compared to the wood in boats built up to 5 years ago with aluminum they were comparible to the weight of those boats.The newewr aluminum boats now use aluminum on almost all components of build.I would always prefer a glass boat but still build a few aluminum custom boats for people every year.Its odd when they ask what i fish in ,but everyone is entitled to the kind of boat they want.Noone in the two fishing groups I am in owns an aluminum boat.But they help put food on the table for the family.

[eyepatrol]

Well, regardless of weight and things like that, I just had found it interesting that in my own experiences, there was a noticable difference between the two. I hadn't ever been in an aluminum boat that wasn't a tiller before so I had nothing to compare to when it came to larger aluminum rigs. And it had been over a year since we had sold our fiberglass boat. But, I had that glass boat for over 7 years so the ride was pretty engraved into my memory.

Anyway, I just found it interesting that I could easily tell the differences in the rides right from the get-go on Friday, especially in the waves. It'll take a little getting used to, but I'm trying to work on that before the ice hits.

[Northlander]

Comparing a glass boat to a alum. boat is like comparing apples to oranges. You knew going in the ride on the alum. boat wasnt what a glass boat was. Why did ya buy it then? Why didnt you get another glass boat? I know you looked long and hard for a boat.

[LovenLifeGuy]

Ya, I thought you were looking at one of those stratos walleye rigs? I saw one out on casino bay last night and it looked like a nice setup. Three people were fishing out of it and it looked very comfortable. So comfortable it looked like the guy had his wife with . Not sure I could do that unless it was heated.

LovenLifeGuy

[eyepatrol]

Ya know, the ride might be less than what a glass boat is, but overall I'm extremely happy with the boat. It's set up very well, is in excellent shape and it cost me thousands of dollars less than any other boat, glass or aluminum, that I was able to find out there. To me, that's a win-win. It has everything I want in the boat plus I got it for a good price.

I'm not saying that the ride completely sucks and is junk. I only wanted to post that it was a noticable difference to me. I've seen many posts about aluminum vs. fiberglass and I thought I'd just share my own experience. My family and I are going to enjoy this boat thoroughly for many years to come.

[iffwalleyes]

The hull design on your old warrior is probably one of the best for keeping you dry. The way the bow curls up makes a huge difference. It directs the spray out were as alum. it will follow up the sides. Lunds IPS hull has helped out a lot of this on there boats.

[Hoffer]

Can anyone comment on the ride of a Nitro boat?? I have been thinking of trading in my old 16 foot lund rebel for a 16 foor Nitro - with say a 75HP motor. I know this boat is a bit different than say a warrior or a triton - but it would also be a little more affordable to me as well. I have actually had the little Lund out in some pretty nasty waves over the years - and it has done well. I was just hoping to get some feedback from anyone who has owned or even ridden in a Nitro. Any feedback greatly appreciated. (The one thing that has been holding me back is the occasional trip to Canada where we sometimes pull the old Lund up onto the rocky shoreline for a lunch or shore fishing....cant do that with a Nitro I suppose