What kind of boat do you have, or would like to have?

I’ve been in the market for a larger boat for over a year. I’m not in a rush, and just been kicking the “props” on some to see what’s out there and figure out what kind I would like. I’ve been muddling over the options of fiberglass or aluminum. So I am going to put up a poll to find out what kind of boats you guys have or would like to have. So if you have a fiber or aluminum and you wished you had the other, please vote and write a little something explaining why you want the other. Or, if you like what you have and want to point out the pros, please post too.

I have a 2006 Bullet bass boat. I am a speed freak, so for crappie fishing it is way overkill. My next boat will most likely be aluminum, just because dont have to worry about scratches and banging into docks.

My old tub is perfect for the kind of fishing I do. I don't worry much about running into stumps, trees, rock, or the unseen. It's not the best in windy conditions but it gets me where I'm going and keeps there if I want it too.

I have a Lowe Stinger 190 aluminum and I love it. It has a 90hp Mercury. The boat is very roomy, lots of storage, easy to fish out of and easy to tow. Excellent on gas as well. The only draw back is being aluminum, in windy conditions it does have a tendency to get blown around, but learning the trolling motor better solves that. Good luck in your search, you should get a ton of info from the members on here to help you make the correct choice.:)

alum and fiberglass...... what ever your choice both fish well..... just don't be affraid to use it for fishing...... that is what I bought mine for.. but also fish out of Kaz's tin boat and like it as much as my fiberglass....:)

Couldnt pick a poll 'cause I fish out of a CC Carolina Skiff. Have always like my boat before I began spider rigging. A FLAT bottom doesnt work too well on a breezey day with a chop.....but I still use it.:o

The only time I think I would choose aluminum over fiberglass for fishing is river fishing. Aluminum is more durable in rocks such as the wingdikes on the Missouri or the gravel bars on the southern streams. Fiberglass rides the bigger water better and doesn't get blown around in the wind as bad. That's been my experience, but I have also fished out of some really nice aluminum bass boats too. You might also consider your tow vehicle. Fiberglass can be heavy.

I love the windshield on my fish n ski, expecially in the winter time. I do miss the deck space a little in front but all in all, I like it!

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...oods/boat1.jpg

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Originally Posted by ttwoods

I love the windshield on my fish n ski, expecially in the winter time. I do miss the deck space a little in front but all in all, I like it!

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...oods/boat1.jpg

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I have a Ranger 1760 and wouldn't trade my windshield in the winter either.

I fish out of a figerglass bass boat and like it but keep in mind the lake you normally fish should be taken into consideration. Good luck and I hope you get what you want.

Have always had fiberglass boats and when I sell this one will be buying a tracker 170 0r 190, as I,m changing species of fish that I will be after,as great lakes isnt any good for salmon any more so going to fish for panfish

i have an aluminum boat because that's all i can afford. don't have to worry about banging around as i mainly fish truman. easy on gas, but not good in the wind... if money was no concern, i would for sure have a fiberglass keeping in mind of future repair costs...

either way, you gotta be in something that floats to dip them trees where the hogs are :-)

good luck and happy hunting. post a pic if you get a new ride!

I have a Tracker ProCrappie 175. I just got it this spring and I really like it, it gets pushed around in the wind like the others have noted but I compensated with a larger trolling motor and learning how to run it better in the given conditions.

I have an Alumacraft Magnum 175 with a 115 Merc 4 stroke. They discontinued this boat model a couple years ago but I love it. It's more of a deep V model (we go north walleye fishing every year). Don't have a pic handy but it's roomy and great to fish out of; also it will take a lot of rough water if necessary. Great all around fishing boat. The model they replaced it with is the Dominator series which frankly I don't like quite as well.

Growing up my dad had an aluminum and it was a great boat. We caught a lot of crappie out of that old Tracker Tournament TX. With that said I now fish out of a fiberglass boat and really like. But don't think I will catch anymore fish in the glass than I did in the Aluminum one.

I had a 17' nitro fiberglass and traded it for a Lowe 180w with a 90. I kept having to fix the gelcoat because it would bang into the docks at loz. Don't have to worry about that with the alluminum, plus I like the 2 livewells up front and wider deck on my Lowe.

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Originally Posted by WantinCrappie

Growing up my dad had an aluminum and it was a great boat. We caught a lot of crappie out of that old Tracker Tournament TX. With that said I now fish out of a fiberglass boat and really like. But don't think I will catch anymore fish in the glass than I did in the Aluminum one.

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BRAGGER!!!!!

I've got a Gen III 1756. I like it pretty good, fits my favorite fishing really well. It's got a real short deck on it that puts me right up over the bow - good for jigging. I also duck hunt out of it, so it takes some knocks. I can handle it by myself pretty well which is handy if you get in too shallow of water to run. There are a number of things I like about it, but sometimes would like a little bigger boat for when the water gets rough. I've not fished out of a fiberglass boat but once, a fish and ski, which was a tank. It did smooth out rough water really well.

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Originally Posted by Pole Bender

BRAGGER!!!!!

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Guess you owed me one. :)

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Originally Posted by WantinCrappie

Guess you owed me one. :)

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Just to make sure there was no misunderstanding I was referring to this comment.

We caught a lot of crappie:D

I have fished out of both alum. and fiberglass alot over the last 20 plus years. I am currantly running a Skeeter zx225 and love it. It is one of the most stabil boats you can fish from. It has a large front deck that up to 3 people can fish off of and does not tip or roll when you walk around in it and it handles the wind great. I also fished out of alum. Xpress bass boats for 8 years and loved them as well. The wind was the only draw back. If I had to choose, I would most likely buy another skeeter just because of the stability and I pearsonly would run nothing but a Yamaha. You can look at Smithville Marine and compare both the Xpress and the Skeeter.

I fish out of a Tracker Tournament v18 and love it. I can bump trees pilers run it a ground (not fast) And do not have to worry about craking it or scrathes. A mercury 115 gets me where I want to go 48 mph. Tons of storage and nice Live well. Good luck.
Vince

:)Lowe Stinger 175 with a 50 hp. not the fastest i have ever had. 30 mph with 2 in it. i have had bigger and faster [older now] but gets me there and uses little gas. lots of storage,big deck, built in beer cooler in the back:)

I fish from a Tracker 1754 with a 40 HP tiller and love it. I have fished in everything from one of those little plastic Bass deals to my dads big Champion. Him and I both fish from Jons now. We use them like hammers and dont have to worry about a scratch. They are light enough to do whatever you want.

Thought I would throw my opinion in. Even tho' I live in Oklahoma I used to live in Leavenworth, KS and fished up that way. Over the years I have owned everything from a homemade flat bottom wood boat (as a kid), canoe, kayak, aluminum bass boat, professional fiberglass bass boat, pontoon boat and my current choice (course that covers about 55 years) When I lived in KS I discovered a Crestliner all species. Loved it. Saw some Lunds at the time but couldn't swing the $$. After moving to Lake Eufaula, OK a gentleman offered me more than it was worth and I sold it. Bought a Skeeter fish & ski and regretted selling the Crestliner every day. A couple of years ago I was able to swing a deal on a Lund 1725 Explorer w/90hp Merc 4 stroke.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...o/IMG_0430.jpg and that's what's in my garage. I've never had or fished out of a better boat, in my opinion.

I currently own a Alumacraft MV Tex ,but I would go back to a fiberglass bassboat again in a heartbeat . I like the ride much better on choppy water.
I had a Javelin bassboat but I sold it a few years ago , and regret it now .

I feel alot of it is where you will be fishing and how comfortable you want to be. I've owned both, but will never go back to a metal boat. I fish alot of big open water and want to feel safe doing so. If your fishing a lake like the LOZ than you need a big boat and there are alot of times unless you have a 40' boat you still can't make it. It's just what you want or need. I'am not putting down metal boats but I just feel better in a fiberglass boat. Just my two cents worth.

I have a 17' alumminum boat, it would be plenty for truman, or mark twain. But I only fish LOZ, so its not big enough, I'm saving for a wide glass boat. I'm looking at a Nitro X5. They are only 17.5 but are super wide, and not outragously expensive. They only come with a 90 hp, top speed around 50. Which is plenty fast for me. I dont need a huge boat, just somthing more stable

I haVE a 19 8 Polorkraft deep v with a 200 4 stroke and a 8 hp 4 stroke kicker on it and it is a fine boat. Runs good and rides good and it is great to fish out of. it has lots of room .:):):):)

190 pro tracker 90 hp merc works good for me on loz

Champion 188 CX F150 Wish I had put the 200 merc on I hate being out run by a certin 18x 150 merc Triton.

Those Tritons are fast but....... Champion 187 Elite Merc. 175. Love it. Next one will be another Champion but just a little bigger and a little more motor. I have fished out of 20 to 25 different boats and they all have there good and bad traits. I still keep going back to Champion everytime I upgrade.

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Originally Posted by Just Jiggin

Champion 188 CX F150 Wish I had put the 200 merc on I hate being out run by a certin 18x 150 merc Triton.

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I'll trade you a Skeeter 195 with a 200 merc on it. You won't be out run by the certain Triton then.:D

I have a 1989 Champion 184, I bought the Champion becuase they are well built and ride well too, I bought an older boat becuase it was less expensive and I didnt want to worry much dings and scratches. There are several areas where the newer boats and engines are better than mine, but while it's not pretty it has been reliable and served me well thus far.

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Originally Posted by Pole Bender

I'll trade you a Skeeter 195 with a 200 merc on it. You won't be out run by the certain Triton then.:D

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No thanks Tom but I would sell you My Champion:D

Well.... I have a 15 42 Lobells custom made Bateau with a broke 25 merc on her I LOVE this boat its a perfect crappie rig. cheap to run when she ran lol and fished great. I have a 18 54 Gator Trax with a 35 Mud buddy it will go ANY WHERE, mud, stumps, grass, though trees I mean any where but the wind will blow her off the water. My newest addition is a 285 XL Stratos with a 150 and I have to say I will never ever never ever not have a glass boat!!!! the wind doesn't bother it every much. You are not as tired from fighting the wind. I just love it

Getting ready to head for the city today in case the weather gets bad. So here is my boat for the next 5 days. Looks to be sunny and mid 80's in the Bahamas next week. Sure will beat the forcast for here. Hope to get in some flats fishing down there on Wed. during one of our excursions.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...ing15/boat.jpg

Lowe 175 with a 70 hp Yamaha...like it very much.

I have a 2006 tracker 175 TX, with a 60 hp Merc, 4 stroke, it hardly uses any gas, and the boat works great for my crappie fishing

That is a couple very nice black Arkansas slabs.