Quote:
Originally Posted by jsm9437
thanks for all of the input. this gives me a new outlook. I always just thought of aluminum as a "lifetime" boat.
With all of the fiberglass bay boats on the market, the prices are much more competitive for a boat that would fit my needs.....decisions decisions.
looks like i need to go back to the pro's and con's list and weigh out the $$$ spent per years of use out of it.
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well it is in a way but it will need repairs and reconditioning over time.
the key with aluminum is it can be infinitely repaired where fiberglass WILL dry out and become brittle making the boat scrap over time. a well cared for fiberglass boat not left out in the sun should last you about 20 years but the same aluminum boat will last you 50-75 years or more. the thing is that both of these boats will need to be repowered, rewired, and the electronics replaced every 10-15 years or so.
aluminum boats do last forever but its not maint free so repairs and maint will be needed for any boat.
if you are rough on the boat and don't slow down in rough seas you beat the bottom and cause cracks on any boat. with aluminum you get the crack welded and your good as new, with fiberglass you get it patched and you are good as new but over time the fiberglass will get so dried out and brittle the boat has to be replaced. if you hit a stump or log and punch a hole in the hull of fiberglass the boat is trashed in most cases but with aluminum they can cut out the area and replace that section, you cant really do that with fiberglass because you cant access both sides of the hull to do a proper strong patch that will hold and you will never restore the same hull strength and flexibility so the area will not flex the same as the other side and the boat wont ride true anymore as one side gives while the other side doesn't making the boat want to turn when you hit waves.