Aluminium to Fibreglass

[RINGSK]

This has probably been asked before but I would love some feedback:

Would like to know those that have moved from an aluminium hull to a glass hull, who is happy and who wish they had'nt changed.
Looking at unloading my 435 Hornet Trophy Eclipse and upgrading to a 16 and half footer glass bass boat.

[Brad Y]

Much better. Ally has its bonuses, but for better ride, comfort and I find easier to maintain- glass is better.

I would still have a tinny for bashing around northern creeks etc, but my last ali boat (US bass boat) wasnt built for salt and I had alot of work to keep it maintained. Upgraded to a 4.8m glass centre console for a bit more combo ocean and river combined and havent looked back.

[dpack]

It's expensive to repair the scratches you get fishing oyster leases.

[RINGSK]

Cheers guys.
Hopefully a few more posts will happen.

[Jules01]

Good topic mate, im interested in this too!

[Onthedrop86]

Have looked at this alot too, as Dad wants to upgrade our 435 Hornet Trophy to a glass.

The downside I have at the moment is I mainly fish oyster racks, and getting scratches (which is a likely scenario) cost alot to fix.

[Waiwurri]

I'm coming up to 10 months with the upgrade to my Nitro from a Stacer 435and for eveyday fishging I couldn't be happier, the ride is better, smoother, faster, dryer, easier to fish from, better storage etc but there are also a few draw backs for mine I too use to fish racks at any tide height . . . not any more only high tide, my fuel bill has doubled, heavier to tow and manour if you have to move into tight garage etc but would I go back? Never at this stage you just change your fishing ways

[RINGSK]

Thanks Waiwurri, good feedback.
Ride seems to be a big plus in the glass boats.
cheers

[Rhet]

I'm hoping to change too with my next purchase from alloy to glass.

I believe the comfort/quality of ride will outweigh the pro's that alloy is better known for.

[zaneofishing]

For the style of fishing I do I don't think I could ever own a glass boat (snag bashing) also I love to explore new ground which always has its unexpectedness

[andrico]

I upgraded from a 390 Mako to a ZX190 Skeeter.
Like the previous post, when on the water I would not go back to ali. Faster , smoother, larger storage, comforable at stable and at OWT but the draw back is heavier boat to tow so extra fuel and 8m long storage is tricky but would I go back, No way.
Might not fish low tide and explore low water level systems but you have other options like move spots and I mean move with speed.

[grichards]

great topic. Im looking to grab a boat this year. I have just read about the xpress17 boat in another thread. geez hard to pin 1 boat down. Cheers Gav

[Bobby Bass]

If you want to fish comps get a glass boat. Faster and more comfortable ride. The room you get to move around in is a big thing, I went from a 425m to a 5.66m and the amount of room blows you away. For the same price as a 5m Quinny with a 100hp you can get a sweet bassboat. You dont get passed by tinnies on the way to your spot (maybe if there is some monster tinney out there but not normally). You also get to fish a lot more spots and explore a bit more because you cover a lot more ground with the higher speed.



I take my boat into some skinny water and into oyster leases. I have only made one mistake and it did cost me a fair bit. If you want to fish leases get 2 powerpoles or just get two long push pole. One pole for you and one for your non boater. A cable steer electric so you have quick response will help too. When it gets windy its tuff but I wouldnt be in the racks in the wind in either boat, just too enoying.

I would never buy a tinny again, you just dont get the same value for money. Saying that, a tinny is still very good to get you on the water and out for a fish, you dont have to spend 40 grand on a boat to go bream fishing and do well.

Cheers
Chris

[Onthedrop86]

Fished in a glass boat yesterday... I want one now

[TheChief]

Originally Posted by Bobby Bass

If you want to fish comps get a glass boat. Faster and more comfortable ride. The room you get to move around in is a big thing, I went from a 425m to a 5.66m and the amount of room blows you away. For the same price as a 5m Quinny with a 100hp you can get a sweet bassboat. You dont get passed by tinnies on the way to your spot (maybe if there is some monster tinney out there but not normally). You also get to fish a lot more spots and explore a bit more because you cover a lot more ground with the higher speed.



I take my boat into some skinny water and into oyster leases. I have only made one mistake and it did cost me a fair bit. If you want to fish leases get 2 powerpoles or just get two long push pole. One pole for you and one for your non boater. A cable steer electric so you have quick response will help too. When it gets windy its tuff but I wouldnt be in the racks in the wind in either boat, just too enoying.

I would never buy a tinny again, you just dont get the same value for money. Saying that, a tinny is still very good to get you on the water and out for a fish, you dont have to spend 40 grand on a boat to go bream fishing and do well.

Cheers
Chris

It's a very hard choice I've found. Particularly for people like me who really fish the racks hard. None of this fishing the ends and around the outside stuff. I mean up and down the full length of each rack and up in the shallow stuff, fishing in the wind and tide as well. Fishing by myself a lot as well. So un hooking a fish is a issue when the wind and tide is going. With 2 power poles on a bass boat will it stay dead straight with the tide and a little wind pushing the boat? Most of the time I just rest the tinny up against the racks when un hooking a fish or retying a leader, obviously that isn't a option with a glass boat!

Also length my 4.3m boat turns around fine in the racks but I rekon 5m would be the limit in length. So for me I need a glass bass boat under 5m, with 2 power poles, cable steer leccie and would be nice if it did around 90kph. Any ideas???