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I have a simple question I am 50 ish years old and have owned my first bass boat for 4 years now. It is a 1982 17 foot Venture tri hull with a 115 hp Mariner. My question is I fish Truman and LOZ a lot and my friends keep telling me to get an aluminum boat. Dont get me wrong I fish hard with this boat and don't abuse it, it has never failed me yet. Is there any other reason than aluminum having a stronger hull for going aluminum.theysaid
As a general rule glass boats are heavier and typically draft more, in turn they don't get blown around as much in the wind. Glass boats also are generally a smoother, faster ride. Aluminum boats can take more abuse in stumpy lakes like Truman. A lot also depend on what hull design you go with. Flat bottoms draft really shallow but are rough riding and not really made for big water and big waves. V hulls are made for big water and don't really go shallow. Mod v are a cross between the two and are a good option for a bass style boat but they have trade offs of both styles. The other thing about aluminum is they are light and will get blown around a lot in the wind. It reall depends on your style of fishing. I fish Truman a lot and also on the Missouri River. With the stumps in Truman and pulling up on rock dikes on the river a glass boat isn't an option for me.
The advantages of aluminum is lightweight (easy on gas), and you can bang them around trees without worrying about poking hole in them. The main disadvantage I see with my grizzly is it is hard to control in the wind because it is so light and being a semi v is doesn't handle waves well. These disadvantages can be solved with a deep v aluminum but hey if you're happy with the one you got why change invest in electronics instead.
You use less gas towing from lake to home also.
I just sold my aluminum deep V and bought a fiberglass boat. I liked my deep v but the wind blew it around like it had a sail on it and it didn't ride very good in rough water either.
If what you have works for you and you catch fish out of it why change.
I got a alu. 17'5",60 horse , wide front sorta heavy, bass tracker trx or txr something like that, and I love it, I just put a big trolling motor on it and to heck with the wind, only problem with the wind is for the guy fishing out of the back when we fish brush, takes waves very good, does not scare me in big water, fished Truman with it several times no problems at all. but I would like to have a fiberglass boat once in awhile.
AMEN brother that is what I tell my buddies.Quote:
Originally Posted by cray
Do know if this is true or not but heard third hand of a guy that built a deck in the rear of his alum boat unk type length what ever, He then flooded his boat for extra weight.
find you a good used 16 ft jon with a wide bottom and a good 9.9 hp motor, trailer and all in good shape and reasonable. That way you can take it once and a while and you can fish any 9.9 restricted lakes you have around.Keep what you have for other fishing. I don't even always take my bass boat to Kentucky Lake. If the weather forecast is good especially in the fall when fronts aren't as rough I just take it a lot of the time. I actually fish out of it more than I do the bass boat. I never have a jon that isn't pretty much a beater and I never think twice about a dent or scratch or anything I just fish. Ride it hard and put it away wet.Besides if one breaks down you have a backup.
I have an aluminum one, all I have ever owned. I fish Truman a lot great boat easy on gas and you can get it into some of these dirt road boat ramps where you couldn't get a glass boat. Again like everyone says wind will blow you around, not ideal for spider rigging, my opinion.
They don't make a perfect boat for everything. I had a G3 1860 with a 90 Yamaha four stroke for about 10 years. Like others have said, the wind kicked my butt in it. Loved that boat though. Very versatile. As I got older, I wanted a more comfortable boat to fish from. I sold my G3 and bought a Ranger glass boat. I absolutely love the way the Ranger rides and its stability in the wind. However, I'll burn as much fuel in a weekend than I'd burn in a month in my tin boat. Both have their applications and I kick myself all the time for selling the G3, but I couldn't justify 2 boats.
Had a ranger bass boat loved it,it was a starter a 17-1/2 '. Went to a alumacraft 175 , has more room will seat 6 have spider rigged , snagged for spoonbills, great boat. BUT you need to decide what is really bothering you about your boat. My ranger was built for 2, great to bass , crappie fish out of. My deep v I wouldn't be afraid to take it anywhere, been in some pretty rough water and did great...BUT I have a not so good back and getting ready to have my third grandchild my boat will work just fine there's plenty of room for everyone. But I don't like to be cramped in a boat and safety is a big priority so I'm moving up in size just because I want to and I want the extra room. My alumacraft gets blown around with the wind like any other but to compensate I put a 80lb terova on the front and it can Handel any wind you want to fish in. If you like your boat you can always re power with a new motor, trolling motor and electronics