Looking at my first decent bass boat to run some tourneys this summer. I'm considering a 19-20' aluminum compared to a 18-19 glass. Glass is heavier to push, heavier to pull and you gotta be more careful around stumps. So why do most guys run glass? Smoother ride, but is it that much smoother? Weight wise, would a 20' foot aluminum be comparable to a 18-19' glass? Kind of looking at the G3 HP 190 or 200 or the Xpress x19 or XP200. Thanks guys

You will not beat the Xpress Hyper Lift ride!

been in a g3 a bunch. unless the water is really rough. the ride is pretty smooth

The only 2 tin hulls that will give you a ride comparable to glass is the xpress hyper lift and the new lund pro v bass.

7 minutes ago, slonezp said:

The only 2 tin hulls that will give you a ride comparable to glass is the xpress hyper lift and the new lund pro v bass.

I'm eager to find out my dern self . . .

A-Jay

In years past the layouts have been lacking in a lot of aluminum rigs. The weekend angler would be fine with them, but if you look at most guys who fish tournaments, they have more gear than your average guy. Most aluminum's are marketed to the entry level crowd, so a lot of them are in that 16-17' range and lack space and storage. They aren't made to handle as big of water as the 19-21 foot boats. My friend has a Tracker 175 txw with the "smooth ride hull" it was anything but smooth when it got choppy. My old 16' Ranger ran smoother in rougher water than that did. Another plus for the glass boats is that they're normally rated for higher HP and are able to run faster. Another example including the Tracker 175 of my friends is that his has a 50 on it and will run 31 to about 33. It's rated for a 75 and even with that it'd max out at about 40. My 17 foot Ranger is rated for a 130 and will run into the low 50's. 

As far as durability is concerned, with fiberglass you need to watch out for rocks and metal. Wood generally doesn't bother either. Paint or decals on aluminum can be scratched just as easily. 

In recent years the aluminum boats have become better boats than before. Brands like Xpress, and Lund have been out to get a market share in the higher end bass market. They've adopted the size and layouts of the glass boats and are very competitive in the market  In the mean time the entry level boats have gotten better as well. There are a few guys who fish out of tin's in the bass club I'm in and they do just fine. Definitely nothing wrong with them and they should be seriously considered, but in a lot of cases glass will offer you a few more options and amenities.  

10 hours ago, WIGuide said:

In years past the layouts have been lacking in a lot of aluminum rigs. The weekend angler would be fine with them, but if you look at most guys who fish tournaments, they have more gear than your average guy. Most aluminum's are marketed to the entry level crowd, so a lot of them are in that 16-17' range and lack space and storage. They aren't made to handle as big of water as the 19-21 foot boats. My friend has a Tracker 175 txw with the "smooth ride hull" it was anything but smooth when it got choppy. My old 16' Ranger ran smoother in rougher water than that did. Another plus for the glass boats is that they're normally rated for higher HP and are able to run faster. Another example including the Tracker 175 of my friends is that his has a 50 on it and will run 31 to about 33. It's rated for a 75 and even with that it'd max out at about 40. My 17 foot Ranger is rated for a 130 and will run into the low 50's. 

As far as durability is concerned, with fiberglass you need to watch out for rocks and metal. Wood generally doesn't bother either. Paint or decals on aluminum can be scratched just as easily. 

In recent years the aluminum boats have become better boats than before. Brands like Xpress, and Lund have been out to get a market share in the higher end bass market. They've adopted the size and layouts of the glass boats and are very competitive in the market  In the mean time the entry level boats have gotten better as well. There are a few guys who fish out of tin's in the bass club I'm in and they do just fine. Definitely nothing wrong with them and they should be seriously considered, but in a lot of cases glass will offer you a few more options and amenities.  

The interesting thing about this is that there was a series of Crestliners in the early 2000s (culminating in the CMV) that was exactly what you discuss above.  Size and layout were very similar to a lot of current bass boats.  Why they didn't sell better is beyond me.  I'm really, really pleased to see them coming back (in the form of the new Lund Pro-V Bass) with all the improvements that the intervening years have brought us.

2 hours ago, Further North said:

The interesting thing about this is that there was a series of Crestliners in the early 2000s (culminating in the CMV) that was exactly what you discuss above.  Size and layout were very similar to a lot of current bass boats.  Why they didn't sell better is beyond me.  I'm really, really pleased to see them coming back (in the form of the new Lund Pro-V Bass) with all the improvements that the intervening years have brought us.

This is not the first go around with the Lund bass boat either. They had versions in both the 80's and 90's

Pro V

          Pro V

                      Pro V

                                     Pro V

                                                     Lund 1875 Pro V Bass

just saying.

A-Jay

Xpress X21 Team Package

length: 21'

beam: 95"

Vmax 250SHO

Minn Kota Fortrex 112#

Humminbird 999CI HD SI

Humminbird 959CI HD DI

Humminbird Ethernet Cable

Humminbird 12' Talons (2)

Be fishing in the morning

11 hours ago, Catt said:

Xpress X21 Team Package

length: 21'

beam: 95"

Vmax 250SHO

Minn Kota Fortrex 112#

Humminbird 999CI HD SI

Humminbird 959CI HD DI

Humminbird Ethernet Cable

Humminbird 12' Talons (2)

Be fishing in the morning

I like the way you roll . . .

A-Jay

12 hours ago, slonezp said:

This is not the first go around with the Lund bass boat either. They had versions in both the 80's and 90's

Yeah, I'd forgotten that - what did their layout look like?  The one I recall was sorta just like their normal rig with a bigger back deck...but that could easily be an attack of CRS.

1 minute ago, Further North said:

Yeah, I'd forgotten that - what did their layout look like?  The one I recall was sorta just like their normal rig with a bigger back deck...but that could easily be an attack of CRS.

Remind me what that is again . . . . .

A-Jay

4 hours ago, Further North said:

Yeah, I'd forgotten that - what did their layout look like?  The one I recall was sorta just like their normal rig with a bigger back deck...but that could easily be an attack of CRS.

Big front and rear decks on, I believe a 17-18ft platform. Actually saw one being trailered last October.They've also had a few different versions of the Predator over the last 30 years

5 hours ago, Further North said:

Yeah, I'd forgotten that - what did their layout look like?  The one I recall was sorta just like their normal rig with a bigger back deck...but that could easily be an attack of CRS.

 

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Remind me what that is again . . . . .

A-Jay

I've forgotten.

45 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Big front and rear decks on, I believe a 17-18ft platform. Actually saw one being trailered last October.They've also had a few different versions of the Predator over the last 30 years

There was one for sale not far from here last fall (down near Stevens Point)  thought it would have been a good starter boat for someone.  It was an 18 footer, set up with a 150...I thought I'd saved pictures, but I can't find them.