I am interested in gathering opinions on purchasing a new boat in the 18' to 20' range. I will be fishing around Port Aransas in the bays as well as fresh water lakes. I have been looking at Express bay boats and Excel bay boats which are aluminum. Does any one have personal experience with the aluminum boats. They are $3000.00 to $4000.00 less expensive than fiberglass equipped with the same features and engines. Thanks in advance for your replies.
Aluminum vs fiberglass
jtdoss
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Or you could go all out and get a lagoon cat. All welded 3/16 plate aluminum, and its a cat so it cuts the chop like a champ
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I have a real soft spot for aluminum boats. I like em. The thing i don't like is that (generally speaking) the aluminum boats are not self bailing, and don't have the positive flotation to stop it from sinking if the bilge pump(s) quit, or can't keep up.
On the other hand, not all fiberglass boats are self bailing and foam filled, but most of the modern ones are.
I've had enough close calls with boats full of water, i like to know the boat can be swamped, and not sink.
On the other hand, not all fiberglass boats are self bailing and foam filled, but most of the modern ones are.
I've had enough close calls with boats full of water, i like to know the boat can be swamped, and not sink.
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I've had my excel 21ft since September and couldn't be happier. Been in some spots that I could of never pulled off in a fiberglass boat . Safe floor is a must . Worth every penny. With 115 I top out at around 40 loaded.
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Not sure what you mean by sinking, but all recreational boats under 20' and mfr'd after 1978 are required, at least in the U.S., to NOT sink. They may become swamped and float at water level, but will not sink unless it is a commercial-rated hull or the previous owner removed the floatation. Doesn't matter what it is made out of.
Express
I have the Express c20' this boat runs skinny in 3" and has great hole shot. Buddies have been grounded trying to follow me in there Haynie's and Shaolwater. Takes rough water better then any of the cats ive been on only wish I would have got 150 hp. I did have problem with hull cracked and Express was horrible with repairs, I was without a boat for 7 months and had to even get an attorney to get them to fix it. The boat was only 10months hold when developed crack along a weld. If there service was anygood I would rate them the best. But service sucks I even had to drive to Arkansas to get my boat back.
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I have the Express c20' this boat runs skinny in 3" and has great hole shot. Buddies have been grounded trying to follow me in there Haynie's and Shaolwater. Takes rough water better then any of the cats ive been on only wish I would have got 150 hp. I did have problem with hull cracked and Express was horrible with repairs, I was without a boat for 7 months and had to even get an attorney to get them to fix it. The boat was only 10months hold when developed crack along a weld. If there service was anygood I would rate them the best. But service sucks I even had to drive to Arkansas to get my boat back.
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7,590 Posts
That's a good looking boat and I love the looks of that Excel posted above too. I'm looking at a used aluminum boat (Alumacraft) and it had a crack in the back of the transom just above the tunnel (not along a weld) that he had fixed/welded. The seller said cracks are common in all brands so I've been looking at all these aluminum boat threads for indications of such and yours is the first one I've seen. I guess this is as good of a thread as any to ask in, are cracks at all that common on these things?
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Go here >>>> http://www.wooldridgeboats.com/ to see tough boats.
And here is my ride, a Pacific23CC [www.pacificboats.com]with 1/4" plate one piece bottom and 3/16" sides with an 18* dead rise. She can carry a 4000lb load.
And here is my ride, a Pacific23CC [www.pacificboats.com]with 1/4" plate one piece bottom and 3/16" sides with an 18* dead rise. She can carry a 4000lb load.
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And if you want Killer beef from Louisiana check out , www.metalsharkboats.com
You're the man I want to hear from. If it ever quits raining and you get to take her out, start a new thread and let us know how she handles chop compared to you Bluewave and a more common flat bottom aluminum. I would also be curious how much it drafts.
That pad hull has my interest.
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