Besides dont throw rocks!
Anyway I have been running a tin boat for a while, Lund in particular. Well I am looking at upgrading in the near future.
Well I was going to go with Lund again, but for 07 there are some changes happening that I dont care for, the way they a packeged, with out getting out of the packege.
I have also been looking at a glass boat.
I have heard how they are smoother drier etc…. Any thing that you glass can tell me about durability etc…
…just don’t want to change cloths in one…
Sorry…going back in my corner now 
Good question though…
I’ve been toying with the idea, but I keep comming back to the thought about high maintance ie; maintaining the finish of a glass boat, and the thought about beaching a glass boat scares me, yeah they have guards and such for that, but still. Higher cost, normally. Then there is the issue of weight, I’m pretty sure glass boats weigh way more, which in some cases it’s a good thing, but in the case of powing the boat, I think you’re going to have to get a bigger, more expensice, and probably less efficient (gas wise) motor compared to what you would get on a aluminum. The the whole idea of the canvas cabins, think about how nice that would be on cool fall or spring mornings… not sure you can do that with many glass boats. I also love the big deep boats with high sides, and you can find those in glass, but they seem to be more scarse. I’d probably go stratos, if I went glass, as of right now, we’ve decided to keep our boat a couple more years before we decide which direction were going, but I’m leaning back towards an aluminum boat again, mainly maintence and “durability” (quotes for lack of a better term, but check the outdoor gear forum for glass boat repair topics…).
Not to bash anyone’s boats or anything, this is just how I see it for myself, feel free to pick apart any misconceptions you may think I have. I’ve been tossing this idea around in my head for the last 2 years fairly often. I like this topic.
Bsanders really got my wheels turning 
the other day looking at his ranger , man I love those boats…. I’m just not convinced of which way I’d go either, glass or aluminum… 
Hows Bruce doing?
I run a fiberglass boat and will never run tin again.
Put on a keel guard, use as if you own it and not as though you stole it and you will be just fine.
I will say this, if you put a DEEP scratch into glass it will cost some dough to fix it. Weight wise, durability ect all compares favorably to tin.
As in everything else you can spend what you want if you shop around. (Assuming you are not looking for a 12′ or 14′ glass boat)
Good luck and enjoy the hunt!
Well, here’s my .02 on glass. I was a Lund guy all my life until I made the switch to glass. The biggest thing holding me back from making the switch years ago were the same things that Nick was talking about. I did a lot of research and found many of these generalizations to be untrue.
One of the biggest misconceptions of glass boats is that they weigh so much more than aluminum. This may have been the case in the past, but it is not so any more. One of the biggest reasons is that most glass boats now offer 100% molded interiors instead of the wooden floors, which weigh so much. Take a look at a few of the glass boats web sites and compare the weights to a comparable Lund or Crestliner. While the glass boats may still weigh slightly more, it’s usually not a huge difference. And the glass boats usually offer a higher HP rating as well.
The ride of glass is unmatched, especially in the rough stuff. And yes, glass can take a beating as long as you don’t drive like a maniac. You can do almost anything with a glass boat that you can with aluminum. You just have to be a little more careful about scratches.
As far as maintenance goes, if you spend a good chunk of money on a new boat, does it really hurt to dry it off after use? It takes 2 minutes. I give my boat a good waxing at the beginning of the season and maybe once more if it needs it. That’s not too bad either.
There are situations where the glass boat doesn’t make sense. For example, if you are only running a river and not going out on rough days, maybe a glass boat is more than you need. If you like hooking on the wall at a damn and banging up against the concrete, maybe glass isn’t the best. If you want to chase blue-gills in 1 foot of water, maybe glass isn’t the way to go (unless it’s a bass boat).
Here are the advantages to glass.
1. Awesome ride in rough water
2. Higher HP Ratings in some cases
3. More aggressive hull shape (can be a faster ride)
4. Can actually be easier to repair hulls
5. Great for drifting with wind
6. If taken care of, your boat can look great for years and years.
All in all, glass has plenty of advantages. Go look at both and decide what fits your style.
If you plan on fishing 12 months a year from your boat then I would suggest sticking with aluminum. Ever notice how you don’t see many fiberglas boats out on the river in the winter? I have a friend who has a nice Javelin. He took it out in January a few times several years back. He had some scratches and abrasions on the hull which held some of the water. The water ended up freezing in these scratches and we all know what happens to water when it freezes, it expands. This caused the scratches to widen and the gel coat to separate and pop off around the scratches. He ended up having to have the hull refinished which was not an inexpensive venture. He now has an aluminum boat that he uses in the cold weather months.
If you are fishing a river I am convinced that aluminum is the way to go sinply because of all the crap one can run into from rocks and sandbars to submerged trees and logs. If I did a great deal of lake fishing, especially large lakes, then I would probably go with a nice big fiberglas boat. Some of the lake waves can toss a lightweight aluminum boat around much more than a heavier fiberglas boat. Just my 2 cents.
Eyehunter
I am obviously running a different type of glass boat. (Bass) But I have had the opprounity to run plenty of glass walleye boats. Most recently an 06 Ranger 620. I am extremely impressed with what manufactures have been able to do with deep great ride hulls. They are far more responsive and come out of the hole far better than those in years past.
Being a skinny water guy. I can attest to the durability of glass. As was stated before. Slap on a keel guard and don’t beat you rig. Every thing will be fine.
Good luck. It’s a fun decision to make.
I have to stick with my Crestliner. The $55,000.00 Ranger I want is not in the budget.
I ran a Lund 1800 years ago and loved the boat. As good of a “all around” boat as was ever made. Then I went over to glass walleye boats, wow. It was like going up to a spaceship in features, ride, dryness, etc. I did find myself not fishing in the winter as much, babying it more around the bank, spending more time waxing, cleaning, etc. No I run a Tundra which seems to be the best of both worlds. Durability and Ride.
There is no best boat, or best material. It’s all in the eye of the beholder and the use you envision. There are a ton of good choices out there.
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If you are fishing a river I am convinced that aluminum is the way to go sinply because of all the crap one can run into from rocks and sandbars to submerged trees and logs. If I did a great deal of lake fishing, especially large lakes, then I would probably go with a nice big fiberglas boat. Some of the lake waves can toss a lightweight aluminum boat around much more than a heavier fiberglas boat. Just my 2 cents.
I agree with that!
-J.
The only thing I don’t like about glass is that it scuffs and scratches.
You will get a drier, better ride and the bow doesn’t seem to float around as much when your trolling and drifting.
It would be tough to go back to aluminum after owning glass.
The one thing about scratches, gel coat cracks, holes, damage, etc, etc, etc………A wise man once told me: “ANYTHING CAN BE FIXED ON FIBERGLASS”.
Even an accessory hole you drilled for a rod holder or a graph mount can be fixed as though it never existed.
You just can’t do that with Aluminum.
But let me ask you this question:
If you purchase a $40,000 Lund, would you be more careless around rocks or other hazards? Would you beach that $40,000 Lund on sand, where there are rocks to beat, scratch, and possibly put small dings in the hull?
Nope, I’m not going to beach my glass rig on rocks, but you won’t either…….”bald face”, smooth rocks I will, but so will you.
Sanbar,
A $55,000 Ranger is out of most of our budgets.
Compare a Pro V 1800 to a same size glass boat and there isn’t much if any of a price difference.
I understand Koldfront. When you load up a high end Cliner or Lund, the price difference isn’t that much. I was just being a little sarcastic, besides if I did have the $$$$, my Ranger would probably cost closer to $60K. 
I have a ranger and my dad has a tuffy <–also glass both of these boats hit the water all monthes of the year here on pool 4 Neither boat has ever had a trouble doing so!
I didnt pay over 30,000 for mine.. But it sure looks like it! 
IF you run a glass boat into a deadhead your going to damage it if you run a aluminum boat into a dead head your going to damage it.
I like glass because it is an all around better ride Cleans easy and holds resale$$$… If you take care of it!!! 
Hey , thanks for the input, I am really leaning to a 18′ Glass boat right now
Bruce is still bruce, buying all sorts of toys still.
All good points, I’ll have to tag along with some more of guy guys with glass boats 
before I decide, atleast at this point I have a couple years.
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Bruce is still bruce, buying all sorts of toys still.
All good points, I’ll have to tag along with some more of guy guys with glass boats
How many motorcycles does he have now?
I fish over 175 days a year for walleye and bass and I ran my lst glass boat 9 years. My dad now has it and it still looks great. Just got to wash em up from time to time. I went with a Skeeter this year after comparing a lot of boats. There 1880 is a real nice multispecies boat that falls more than just a couple dollars under a Ranger rigged the same. The Stratos is also another nice boat in the same price range, but it didn’t seem to have some of those finishing touches.
Mike;
Your Skeeter is an AWESOME rig too! Fishes great and has a great floor plan/lay-out!
I’ve been in an aluminum boat all my life – summer and winter – until this past winter – when I switched to a glass boat (Skeeter 1880). So far, I’ve been to all the same places and done the same things that I have done with my metal boats and have had no problems. I had it out right after buying it in late March. Granted, there was not a lot of ice then, but I had no problems running the river. (I’ve also seen plenty of glass boats out on P2 and P4 in past winters too!)
No doubt they’re a bit more work to keep clean/polished, but that’s fine. I hate fishing from a dirty boat. ….Always have and always will.
As for cost, I believe the Lund 1800 Pro V SE is close to what I paid for my Skeeter when loaded with the same stuff. When looking for a new boat this past winter, that boat was my first choice – until I met Skeeter 1880 and moved into glass. So far, I really love the glass boat. …Very happy I made the move.
Splitshot
My advice is to set the anchor down gently or you may sea yourself sinking to new lows! 
I believe he is at 5 bikes (last I knew anyways, hes been a vacation) and 3 scooters.
yes i beach my lund on sand gravel and rocks .
Bump, new glass boat in my garage
Well??????????
Pics please!!!!!
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Bump, new glass boat in my garage
OH OH another Bruce except boats, I suppose you will be riding moped type boat around also?
Been there done that, we got a ranger 190vs reata, with a 200 yamaha on the back, bruce approves, I’ have to go take some pics, it’s hot in my garage too.
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Well??????????
Pics please!!!!!
Here she is!
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