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| well built Aluminums now weigh in nearly as heavy as glass and in some cases, more, look em up.
if the Glass boat is well made, it will stand up to impact as well or better than an aluminum, and if indeed there is a fracture, you hardly have to 'start grinding and hope', repair is not hard to do.
Aluminum V hulls of equal deadrise will draw as much or more water as their Glass counetrparts. the way it is, a 171/2 foot aluminum at 1357 pounds won't launch or load easier or float in less water than a 1300# glass boat of the same hull deadrise.
An aluminum 17 1/2' boat should weigh close to what the Glass boats do in their category/ all measurements.
Horsepower on glass V Walleye boats VS comparably set up Aluminum V Walleye Boats usually requires less not more horsepower for optimum performance due to hull design.
The 175 CS Dual Console Navigator Sport is 1357 pounds at 95" according to the Alumacraft website. http://alumacraft.com/sport-fish-boats/navigator-175-sport-specs.ph...
The Tracker Targa (Aluminum) 175 Sc weighs in at 1325#.
The 1790 Skeeter, (yeah it's a tiller) has nearly exact measurements, and weighs 30# more.
The Tuffy 1760 weighs in at 1400, is deeper by 3" but not as wide.
The Tuffy 1890 is 15" longer, 2" wider, yet only weighs 225 pounds more. The Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 is shorter by 6" than the 1890 Glass boat, the same beam and 3" shallower yet weighs in at 80 pounds more.
The Tuffy X190DC dual console weighs less, is 19' plus long, but not as wide as the Alumacraft.
The Ranger 1760 is a little wider, and weighs in at about 230 pounds more, but has a dual console set for a WT windshield, accounting for much of that weight.
Treat a painted aluminum with one wax job a year, and as a work horse, and it will end up looking like one. the new Aluminums are 100 percent painted, and require as much care as an auto, IMHO, if you care what they look like down the road. If you bounce off things and dent the hull and scratch the side panels, etc, you have dents and scratches, plain and simple.
PLEASE...don't even try to compare a 1981 Bayliner to todays composite/glass fishing rigs.
A 1375# single axle Skeeter won't cost any more to tow than a 1375# Single Axle Alumacraft.
Just some research done on the boat builder's websites this evening. What's this all mean? Buy what you think is the best ride. Put a keel guard on a Ranger, a Skeeter or a Tuffy, and you don't have to worry about banging up the boat more than any aluminum. Buy a new Lund, Alumacraft, Triton, Tracker --whatever brand Aluminum, and I'd still be equal-careful.
I've owned every brand listed here and then some. All good rides. | |
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