What are the pros and cons of each?  Trying to decide which to buy.

For me, it's pretty simple. I fish mostly rivers and just a few lakes. Where I fish, you have to have an alluminum hull and a jet drive. I have scraped bottom and bumped into quite a few rocks. A jet drive and an alluminum hull will carry you from one hole to the next over anything from about 10" of water on up. About the only thing you have to worry about with a jet and an alluminum hull is thick, matted weeds.

If you never fish shallow, rocky water....Tracker has a sweet Walleye Pro model that's all alluminum and is considered a good boat for rough water. They are probably indestructable except for maybe crashing into a boulder.

I don't know much about glass boats, except for what others have told me or what I have seen. I've never owned a glass boat. Outboard props and glass boats are not the best choice around here for the shallow rivers. If you are fishing mainly lakes, fiberglass with an outboard might be a better choice. They are some pretty boats and I guess have no problems with the weeds.

I am a non-boater and i have ridden in aluminium and fiberglass rigs and trust me, Get a fiberglass one.

Aluminum is tough, easy to tow, inexpensive. Plus you can take it into the jungle without worrying so much about bumping the stumps and scratches! But theyre rough riding and difficult to control in windy conditions. Save your money and buy a fiberglass boat!

I would go with a figerglass boat. They are smoother riding and they are easy to control. Even thow the scratch easy and you have to take a little more care of them they are worth every bit of it.

take it from me, I bought an aluminum last year, because the wife didnt want me to spend 20K, so I spent 11K, and now next year I will have to sell or trade in, a loss of course and then spend 20K for what I wanted in the first place.  I love my aluminum boat but when the wind blows it is miserable.

I am a non-boater and i have ridden in aluminium and fiberglass rigs and trust me, Get a fiberglass one.

I have ridden in both and I would have to agree with Nick...get an Aluminum that rides like a Glass, like what I own.  You can man handle an aluminum a lot more than a glass boat and not worry about putting a hole in it.

Sorry Nick, but they are doing so much more with aluminum boats these days, that it will be hard to tell them apart untill you rub up against a metal dock stake.  Which will cost more to repair?  You can even max out with a 200hp on a 19 1/2' aluminum.  What will ya do when they have a 21' aluminum Bass boat, with a 250hp on it?

Their not far from that now. I was looking (noticeing, it, would be more like it) at one (can't remember the make) last year it had a 225 on it and at least 20'. The dealer bought it himself. He was going to use it guideing these area lakes. Sold it on the 2nd. trip out. That was one sweet ride. Said it was no problem to run 75. But it was priced up there with the fiberglass.

Back to the question - I also have an aluminum and for the most part it meets most of my needs. I would look at what type fishing and conditions you have. Smaller lakes, rivers or landings close to where you want to fish in rough weather, calmer water, stumps, sandbars, haveing to pull long distances, haveing to load in low water, there isn't alot of maintanence with the alum., you can pretty much beach where you want. some of these alum. hulls are pretty nice.

If you have to run larger bodies of rough water, they are more stable in heavy winds, smoother ride and handling. I would definatly lean towards fiberglass.

I own both and consider the glass boat a more stable platform on big waters.On the other hand ,the alum boat will go places that the glass boat can't.It's more of a small or shallow lake type of boat for me,at least.

Well, this topic has stirred multiple responses.  I have owned both at one time or another.  Anybody stating that Aluminum are rougher in the water hasn't taken a ride in the newer aluminums.  Now, I am talking about semi-v's or Modified V's for aluminum.  Besides the ease of care with aluminum, nobody has mentioned top end speed.  Being aluminum is lighter, your top end speed could be the same as a glass boat.  The difference would be the glass boat could have a 150hp and the aluminum a 135hp.  The aluminum will have higher top end speed for less cost.   Most aluminum are sound proofed now.  So that is not a issue anymore.  MY only issue is with painted aluminum.  It will scratch right down to the metal.  Wind is a consideration also being as aluminum is lighter and sets higher in the water.  Use a chute to control this movement.