fibre vs alloy

andrico · #1 30-12-2010, 02:03 AM

Hi guys,
I own at the moment a 390 Makocraft powered by a 30 Yamaha.
It is time for me to up grade but I am unsure as to whether I should go for a glass boat like a Prostrike or a 480 alloy from Quintrex or Makocraft.

Could anyone give me some advise as to the pros and cons, thanks.

BlackBreamer · #2 30-12-2010, 02:39 AM

Yeah how much do you want for your tub?? PM me im after an inbetween boat at the moment could be just what im after..Cheers

MR_T · #3 30-12-2010, 02:49 AM

Glass boats generally make for a smoother ride.

Maybe indicate what your intended use is and a budget guide - usually get more responses

ruski · #4 30-12-2010, 06:23 AM

Go glass! You'll never look back!!

Chamelion · #5 30-12-2010, 06:31 AM

I disagree... Glass has been a complete and utter pain in the arse. I'll go Alu next time.

ruski · #6 30-12-2010, 06:35 AM

Horses for courses I suppose. I'll stick to no banging and no back pain anyday

andrico · #7 30-12-2010, 07:27 PM

The limit would be 30K.

The Quintrex 480 or 500 would be the go. I like the fact that alloys have a shallow draft so I can hove into skinny water.

The glass boats are by far a smoother ride but sit deeper in the water. Also the speed they can move at. Another advantage I think is being heavier it will be harder for the wind to push it about.

That is some of the points I have been toying with.

BloodWorm · #8 30-12-2010, 08:07 PM

I think you will find that with the fibreglass being a heavier boat you will need a bigger engine so this will impact your budget.

I am an alloy man mind you I haven't had a fibreglass one to compare it to.

Frithy · #9 30-12-2010, 08:37 PM

30K, go polycraft.
I went out in a 6 metre poly up at coffs the conditions were less than desirable but it handled them just like a glass (they are about the same weight for similiar size boats). However they are even more durable than a Tinny, the one i went out in was an ex demo boat which had been driven over by monster truck! (no, seriosly, it had been)
and at a boat shop in Coff's there is a polycraft cut in half which you can belt with a sledge hammer just to prove how indestructable they are.
they have the benefits of a glass and a tinny, but not the disadvantages of them.
I'm in the market for a boat, and I'm goin for a tinny, but only because i cant afford a poly.
cheers

Frithy · #10 30-12-2010, 08:41 PM

I'll add this. When I first heard of Polycraft I thought '

who would buy a plastic boat ' but after being in one (that had been run over by a monster truck at a show) I know I'd buy a plastic boat (if i could afford one

)
all polycraft need to overcome is people's acceptance of a 'plastic' boat.

Track 'em down · #11 30-12-2010, 09:23 PM

I own an ally boat but if I was able to afford to spend $30K I would definately be looking at a glass boat, there are some really good second tournament boats around that price range.

Let us know what you end up with

Alex · #12 31-12-2010, 12:29 AM

I know that a 435 Hornet and Skeeter ZX190 are worlds apart, no doubt.
But after owning a Hornet and being able to become a navigator in Skeeter

, I would never ever go back to an ally (if I had a choice).

Get yourself a secondhand glass boat in good condition or better still, if you can stretch your budget a little further, talk to Spanito. He was selling a brand new Skeeter not long ago.

Cheers,
Alex

Gudgeon · #13 01-01-2011, 09:25 PM

I purchased my Seafarer Vantage 485 (aka Haines Signature 485SF) with Yamaha F60 on a Dunbier trailer for a fair bit less than 30K, new. If you hunt around and are prepared to wait and travel you there are always bargains available.
Sure it's a tiller-steer set-up, but for me that works better than a forward-steer. I've tricked it up with a few bells and whistles and it still comes in below 30K.

I think you'll find draft is more related to hull deadrise rather than hull weight. Some of the American flats boats are fiberglass but have an amazingly small draft. Quinny Hornets have a low draft because of the dreadrise is small. And yes my hull has a low windage factor, mainly because of the smaller freeboard.

All my mates have alloy boats, so for me the decision to go GRP was easy. They're great boats no-doubt, I guess it really depends if Glass has more pro's and less con's than Alloy, for your particular fishing style and locations Andrico.
As others have posted, there's also Poly. For me, I didn't like the way the internal mouldings reduced usable fishing room inside the boat.

ZX190 · #14 23-02-2011, 07:54 PM

Hey mate, how did you go,what did you end up buying Glass or Alloy?

Justin Boyle · #15 23-02-2011, 08:43 PM

I would struggle to buy a quinnie. If I was buying an ali boat it would be because I am getting a bay boat that can do some offshore work. A bay boat of course wouldn't have the punt style of most bream boats. I have a Tracker 175 which is an ali boat and comes from the US. Solid hull and none of the hull slapping and back breaking associated with Ali. I have hit wakes from ferry's full speed and the landing was soft. It has a 40hp 4 stroke and does 50kmh. That is pretty decent for a boat that measures in at 5.2m. If I was buying a boat for 30k it would be a Prostrike I think. The prostrike should be able to handle slightly rougher water than the average glass boat but it still has a reasonable top speed with a 150 on the back. If I had the money I would like to look at trackers top of the line ally boats.

The whole post sounds biased but what I'm trying to point out is that not all ally boats have the nasty characteristics generally associated with them. I should also point out that I haven't been in a glass bass boat to compare. I have been in a yamaha jet boat which has a reasonably flat hull like bass boats and that thing breaks the back.