Fishermen: Recommend a good brand of aluminum boat

[Lazerus]

I can hook ya up with a man that has 30 years of boatbuilding/repair/reconstruction experience. Custom made wooden, fiberglass, or combo that will last longer than you will. Not cheap, but worth it.

[Ghosth]

Ripsnort,

Bout a mile North of  I94, the University exit in Fargo.  701-293-3537  Call me  when you have details.

[Mini D]

Is it just the AH board where you are taking this vote or is there other boards we can go vote on too?

MiniD

[Ripsnort]

Ghost, got your number stored. Will give you a call when we have the itinerary next June.

[nuchpatrick]

Alum. vs Fiber.

I'm not down playing Alum, but why? I mean how durable is it really. I know their great for Johnboats & cannoes. But can they take a beating recieved at a dock? I would be really worred about denting the sucker.  On the other hand fiber glass chips & cracks.

I have a  99' 17" Trophy center con.  w/ modifed - v.  I use for intercoastal salt water fishing. She' sound, but years of abuse by the prievous owner and my learning on her the bump rails and bow look like crap.  How would an alum have handled this type of abuse?

I'm really tempted to get a flats boat

[Ripsnort]

I've owned both Alum and fiberglass boats in the past.  Fiberglass requires alot of care to the gel coat to keep it in good condition and prevent it from bleaching out from the sun. Algae stains the hull.

Aluminum, OTOH, is about rinse and store. Very little work needed to keep it in good shape.

[Ghosth]

Aluminum hulls are designed to be reinforced at wear points.

When my parents bought a lake cabin some 15 years ago dad found a pretty sweet boat to use. Built back in the early 70's, it had some minor bangs & chips in the paint. Mostly sun faded,  interiror needed some work.

We spent a winter takeing it apart, sanded down & repainted the hull.
Reupholstered all the fabric, added some floation wherever possible.  Since then it has given hours & days & years of service.

You just don't see the same kind of durablity with fiberglass. It gets old, brittle,  stress cracks, delaminates, & just plain starts decomposing. UV helps this process along.

I'll take aluminum over Fibre anyday.

[Gadfly]

Actually, alumnium is a terrible material for big boats.  It stress fractures much worse than fiberglass, too.  I have been on several 50 year old fiberglass boats that looked like brand new, and been on several aluminum ones that were only a few years old that had problems.

For a little tow-boat though, it is not an issue.  Just be sure and carpet the whole interior if you plan on fishing, because they do make a racket.

[Ripsnort]

..because its just too damned expensive when I go..
Well, just finished the Seattle Boat Show yesterday...
Oh man, did I shift gears again..ended up going with glass again..and a (gulp) CANADIAN boat! Delivery in Feb., I'll post more pics then.

20 ft. Campion Explorer, set up for fishing and has a waterski tow bar attachment too. Added a 6 hp trolling motor to this package as well.

My pics of this boat from the boat show:





Website pics of the same boat...

[hyena426]

Damn, forgot all about Duckworth! Definately worth checking out at the boat show!

yes they are a very good boat company that alot of people dont notice,,but my buddys dad road in there rapid show boat,,had two 454 side by side,,,and he was sold,,,his is like 30foot with 351 winsor,,and it turns on a dime,,turns so good i guess it allmost threw him out of the boat while showing off to his freinds,,lol,,it can go max speed about 50 or 55 mph and you can turn it at max speed and face the othere way,,thing is amazing for a boat

only draft 5 inch in the water for a v desine thats pretty good,,goes up any rapids he ever wanted to get to fishing holes,,he even hit a few boulders before,,and never hurt his aluminum at all,,thing is tuff as nails

as for fiber glass and aluminum,,,,aluminum for me,,notice most rapid desined boats are aluminum mostly,lol,,,and he has owned his duckworth for over 15 years with hard service,,even had  a motor replaced over the years,,and still a nice boat,,as for stress i would give the edge to aluminum than fiber glass,<~~if aluminum can hold together a jet at mach 2 its tuff anuff for a boat,,lol,,its light and it doesnt break apart easly,,,,unless you just got cheap desined junk,,,fiber glass makes a good boat too<~~see some falling apart and some in great shape,,i guess its all in the luck of the draw and how ya treat your boat

[AdmRose]

Elco PT Boat