Aluminum Boat Vs Fiberglass Boat – Which is Better?
What is a better way there to spend your free time than hitting the waves? But finding the right hull material is not an easy decision for some boat prospects. New and experienced boaters alike are often not clear about when it comes to which material to choose for their vessel, Aluminum or Fiberglass.
The main question is, what are your boating needs? You need to analyze your priorities first to understand which type of boat will suit you better. Both Aluminum and fiberglass have their own merits and demerits.
Why Choose Aluminum?
- Cheaper material compared to its counterparts.
- Lightweight and hence more power, control, and tow around, resulting in lesser motor power requirements and fuel consumption
- Aluminum boats often dent instead of breaking or cracking. Hence for all those rookies out there, it is a perfect choice to learn the trade.
- Maintenance cost is lesser, and you don’t have to spend half a day scrubbing and waxing the boat.
- Best suitable for anglers.
The aluminum boats usually come in three types: Jon boats, Mod-V or Multispecies, and Deep-V boats.
Jon boats are mostly used for fishing in the shallow area with a considerable amount of speed, and the saltwater aluminum fishing boats are mainly Mod-V or Deep-V type. It can be as essential as just a bench inside a bare hull as a seating arrangement to the more prominent center console type arrangements.
Why Choose Fiberglass?
- The weight of the material can be used to the advantage when going off into deep waters. The boat has better stability and won’t be easily swayed by the high tides or the strong winds.
- This boat can easily double up as a family-friendly boat, to take your ski toys to the water for a spin or maybe to enjoy a trip around the cove with your loved ones.
- The boat comes with a lot of features, including navigation and cabin facilities. The design is mainly the center console or available types of pilothouse boats for sale in BC.
- The sleek and shiny finish of the fiberglass is a great bonus too.
As you can see, both of these options have their advantages. Like we said at the beginning of this article, it is all about your personal needs.
For example, if you are a working parent looking for a fun and relaxed family weekend or have the time and money to spend on offshore or blue water fishing, fiberglass boat is what you might be looking for. A boat with the center console type has the steering station in the center with a two-seater arrangement for the captain and their mate. Bigger vessels also have viewing and swimming decks, additional seats, a galley for cooking, and even a shower unit known as the head compartment.
Moreover, a fiberglass boat contains more polished stainless steel & woodwork compared to the alternatives. So, when it comes to aesthetics, fiberglass boats win by a significant margin.
On the other hand, if you are looking towards a challenge to catch the big games, but have a limited budget, the aluminum boat might suit you the best. They start cheap, excluding the safety gears and the motor. It is best suited for shallow water, coastal & offshore boating. Depending on the aluminum hull and its surface quality, efforts on maintenance could be significantly lower compared to fiberglass hulls.
Conclusion
Now that you know all these, we hope you can now purchase your dream boat. Before you go shopping, make sure your budget includes safety gear and equipment too.
With over 30 years of experience in the field, we at Alberni Power and Marine understand that every boater is different and can have unique needs. Our experienced team can help you get the best result according to your priorities. If you are searching "best boat dealers near me" on Vancouver Island or anywhere in Canada, please contact us for further details or queries.