Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | LC has it right. Fiberglass is actually structurally more sound than aluminum because it requires no welds or rivets, so has no weak points. Weight is about the same between Fiberglass and Aluminum too. As far as surface damage goes, if you hit a Fiberglass hull hard enough to do damage, you most certainly will damage an aluminim as badly. The key is the ability to reasonably easily and inexpensively repair fiberglass to it's original shape and finish, which is not easily accomplished with aluminum.
The ride is usually better because fiberglass is molded prefectly to shape for good hydrodynamics, and aluminum, even when stretch formed, is more difficult to work with. All in all, both are good boat building materials.
For some reason, the idea that a fiberglass boat can't take rocky areas or impacts still persists. In fact, a keel guard on the boat will allow a glass boat to be dragged right up on the rocks with no problem, simply eliminating scratching and gouging that occurs in both materials when dragged onto rocks.
Fiberglass boats are built inside out, so to speak. The finish is applied to the mold first, then the woven roving and high tech composites are applied. Aluminums are built, primed, and painted much like an automobile. |
