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Posts: 48
| I am considering a new fishing boat and have a few questions. My brother and i have had a 17 ft crestliner for the last 10 years and have fished hard in it for multiple species. It has made the trip up to Canada and back each year. We have put some minor dents and scrapes on it but it still works as good as the day we got it. I recently moved to north central Minnesota (from Chicago) and I'm looking for a new boat. Some of the fiberglass models (Ranger/Larson) are very attractive but also come with higher price tags but so do some of the aluminum models (Lund/Crestliner). Question 1; Glass vs Aluminum on larger lakes (Mill Lacs,Leech,LOTW) Question2; What is more expensive your car or your boat? |
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Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | My truck and boat value are basically even, but my boat is 7 yrs older than my truck! lol |
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Posts: 115
| Glass boats, I have a ranger and the only other boat I would ever buy is a tuffy(cause of cost). also my boat is worth 15k and my truck is worth 11k |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | 1) Glass is beautiful, but new quality aluminum boats are pretty awesome too. If you plan on using this boat as much or more than your older boat than you will love a nicer rig. If you spend 30K on a boat and keep it for 10 yrs, 3K/year isn't so bad. Thats a typical economy car lease/finance.
2) Shouldn't matter. Guys own Rangers and drive 10yr old trucks, or drive Benz' and own a tinner. Shouldn't make any differece. What do you want? Most can't have both. Some do, they are lucky. .
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Posts: 455
| I prefer glass. However my ranger is a 1987 and my 4runner a 1999. They are not worth much but are so well maintained that everything works perfect. Went out with my buddy in his 2013 Ranger and a trailer light was already out. Once your gear starts getting used you have maintain it no matter how new. Just the way it is with boats and cars. With the new synthetic oils you can pretty much drive your truck until it rust out. I`d rather invest my money so I can retire early and pick up a pad on a muskie lake down south. Maybe one of those mega houseboats. |
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Posts: 1168
| You really need to consider what type of water you are fishing. I have a decent sized aluminum boat and some buddies who have similar sized fiberglass boats are jealous of where I can go with that thing. Mine can handle some pretty choppy water but there are days I wished I had a little smoother ride. In the end I'd rather sacrifice a little bit of comfort in favor of being able to get into areas that a fiberglass boat would prohibit me from going. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | If you can squeeze glass into your budget you won't be dissapointed... once you go glass you won't go back. night and day imo. Had a Lund, nice.... but Rangers... a whole different league imo. you only live once...get a Ranger! 
Edited by BNelson 2/13/2014 2:19 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | where are these places you can't go with glass?? same size or are you talking an aluminum john boat?? |
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Posts: 785
| Glass boats are much heavier and will ride better in rough water (Leach, Mille Lacs) then aluminum will. They also tend to blow around less when trying to control the boat on windy days. I prefer the look of glass boats hands down but there is practical reasons for getting one. Only time I'd consider aluminum is if you're fishing shallow rivers and know you'll be banging it on rocks a lot. |
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Posts: 1168
| jonnysled - 2/13/2014 3:42 PM
where are these places you can't go with glass?? same size or are you talking an aluminum john boat??
I still have the same boat I did a few years ago...so no, it's not a jonboat.
Shallow rivers with rock. Water is less than a foot deep at some points during the year. |
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Posts: 546
Location: MN | Just looked up comparable boats Lund Pro-V 2075 and Ranger 620VS and the Ranger is 150-200lbs more. That difference could be made up by some gear or an out-of-shape fishing partner. |
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Posts: 455
| I always hated that argument. The first thing to hit bottom will be your motor. Rocks are no friendlier to aluminum than glass. In fact it is easier to repair glass. The only time you buy aluminum is if you are running a jet boat. Even those need a Kevlar type bottom to protect the aluminum. Ranger has a new trailer system that sports a bank of rollers down the middle so you can launch even on crappy launches. So that argument is out the window too. If you can afford a Ranger buy it. I had a Tuffy and they are not a bad boat either. The ride is just so much better with glass. |
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Posts: 2376
Location: Chisholm, MN | My crestliner is worth more than twice my F150  No guilt! |
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Posts: 13
| My truck was quite a bit more than my boat (both purchased new), but I'm guessing in the near future the boat will be worth more. The truck gets a lot of use, and unfortunately not enough of that use is pulling the boat! |
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Posts: 785
| mtcook16 - 2/13/2014 3:01 PM
Just looked up comparable boats Lund Pro-V 2075 and Ranger 620VS and the Ranger is 150-200lbs more. That difference could be made up by some gear or an out-of-shape fishing partner.
I was surprised to fact check that after your post and come up with the same thing. I've fished out of 620's, 618's, 18' bass style Ranger & a 16' glass bass tracker and comparing all these boats to a 18' Deep V Lund, 16' Deep V Lund, 18' modified V tracker and 16' modified V Lund There seemed to be no comparison in how the glass boats performed in wind vs. the aluminum. I assumed this was entirely weight related but perhaps it's just a better hull design and a side design that doesn't catch the wind as bad, interesting. I agree though, the weight seems to not be an issue comparing a 20' Ranger to a 20' Lund.
Edited by musky-skunk 2/13/2014 4:35 PM
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Posts: 1168
| muskyrat - 2/13/2014 4:04 PM
I always hated that argument. The first thing to hit bottom will be your motor. Rocks are no friendlier to aluminum than glass. In fact it is easier to repair glass. The only time you buy aluminum is if you are running a jet boat.
Tin boats sit on top of the water more. Glass boats sit in the water more.
I'm not talking about going wide open. I don't care what you have, if you are clipping along at a high rate of speed you will have issues if you run into something. I'm talking about areas where you have to pick your way through obstacles.
This coming summer you bring your glass boat (if that's what you have now) and meet me. We'll make a run up to a specific area I have in mind in each and you can tell me how it's a moot point. And yes, you would be correct that the first thing to hit bottom would be the motor but not when you trim it all the way up, hop out, and walk your boat around and through some rapids.
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Posts: 532
| If you are fishing leech, lacs, and LOTW go with glass if you can afford to do so. I have owned several aluminum boats and several glass, I loved my aluminum boats (every one from a 10' tin to a 20' crestliner sportfish). But I have to say my 20 year old ranger is by far the best all around fishing boat I have owned.
I had a very nicely set up 14 foot aluminum boat with a console 40hp with kicker for the local lakes and rivers, I thought this is the rig for my area...until my ranger came home. My ranger does everything my 14 could do, weave, duck, slide in the smallest rivers, some rivers are so small I have to back out because the creek it not wide enough to spin the boat around. Also I am not scared to go on bigger water, been out on Lake Erie fishing. I find it more to be the driver than the vehicle when it comes to the tight spots
You will be happy with glass
Edited by anzomcik 2/13/2014 5:58 PM
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Posts: 201
| My situation is a little different because I fish the smaller waters of northern Wisconsin, with a yearly trip to Minnitaki in Ontario, a week on the Big V, and a long weekend on the Bay in Green Bay.
I was looking for a tiller boat because I wanted more room. I looked at a lot of different boats and decided to get a Pro Guide. I looked at the Ranger 175T and the Backtrollers, for me it came down to cost. By going with the Pro Guide I could add the 12 foot Talon, larger locators, and Wave Whackers; while still staying within my comfort range budget wise. If money wasn't a factor I probably would have bout the new Fiberglass Pro V GL tiller. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | I am a huge fan of super AL. boats have run and still own some Alumacrafts. But when it comes to big waters or long runs you just cannot beat the comfort and performance of a glass rig. Buy a bigger one than you think you need and you will have it for many years. I've run a 21' foot Triton for 13 years now and it is still performing great! If you figure about 20 years of ownership that cost isn't so high anymore!! |
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new boat guilt