I know this has more than likely been discussed but I didn’t find anything through the search function. 
 

I would rather have a glass boat but my only concern is bumping stumps. One of the main lakes I fish is Santee Cooper and it’s a shallow lake. Can a glass boat stand up to bumping stumps throughout the day while on the trolling motor without damaging the fiberglass?

I can’t comment on the durability of running into stumps, but there are other advantages and disadvantages to both aluminum and fiberglass.

 

Aluminum generally costs less and weighs less. Therefore it burns less fuel. However, because of the weight, it doesn’t knife through rough water as well.

 

Fiberglass is heavier and usually costs more. Therefore requires more fuel to move. The extra weight helps in bigger waves. You don’t see many pro anglers using aluminum. It is mostly fiberglass.

 

Maybe someone who has a fiberglass boat will comment on how it holds up in stumps.

Dated a girl whose family had a couple boats at their lake house. The aluminum was for fishing in case you hit something.   According to her grandfather, the aluminum boat wouldn’t crack/break. Just bend. The fiberglass was for partying and tubing since it was more stable in rough water.  And it would definitely crack if you hit something. 

I fished Santee-Cooper and all the stumps made me nervous with my aluminum boat. Awesome fishing there but you really gotta pay attention. 

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I can’t comment on the durability of running into stumps, but there are other advantages and disadvantages to both aluminum and fiberglass.

 

Aluminum generally costs less and weighs less. Therefore it burns less fuel. However, because of the weight, it doesn’t knife through rough water as well.

 

Fiberglass is heavier and usually costs more. Therefore requires more fuel to move. The extra weight helps in bigger waves. You don’t see many pro anglers using aluminum. It is mostly fiberglass.

 

Maybe someone who has a fiberglass boat will comment on how it holds up in stumps.

I have rolled over several stumps and tree tops with my fiberglass ranger. there is not even a scratch on the bottom. if you hit something hard I am sure it would not be good. fiberglass is expensive to fix.

I hit a stump with my previous crestliner aluminum boat and cracked a weld.  it had to be welded, but did not cost much.

I have hit more stumps in my Triton (glass) than you could imagine. It has a few scratches but if you don't go where the fish are you might as well be skiing. 

4 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

if you don't go where the fish are you might as well be skiing. 

 

Or take up perch jerking!

 

I fish Toledo Bend, ya gonna hit stumps, your only choice is how hard.

6 hours ago, Catt said:

 

ya gonna hit stumps, your only choice is how hard.

 

Yup, here in Louisiana we raise sugarcane and stumps ?.

 

Speed is not always your friend: just 'cause you can't see it, don't mean it ain't there.

 

My aluminum boat tops out at 30 mph, but I spend most of my time at 16 or below. Lack of top end doesn't bother me a bit. And I've certainly never damaged anything running the trolling motor, which has hit its share of stumps and cypress knees.

 

On 6/2/2021 at 11:45 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

I have hit more stumps in my Triton (glass) than you could imagine. It has a few scratches but if you don't go where the fish are you might as well be skiing. 

Thanks man I know quite a few guys that have glass bass boats and they love them. I’ve only ever had an aluminum bass boat and never worried about bumping anything lol...as long as I was on the trolling motor. I figure if I’m going to spend the money or a nice bass boat it was either going to be a glass boat or Xpress(which is just as expensive). I’m leaning toward fiberglass. The other lake of fish often is Lake Murray in Columbia, SC, which has a lot of open water island points throughout and I was always getting blown around in my aluminum boat.

Hitting a stump in a glass boat while at WOT isn't going to end well....but it won't in aluminum either.  At that point you need to look at your insurance.  Is it worth a claim for a big dent in the metal boat or to fix the hole in the glass.  As for hitting them at trolling motor speeds, I think you are better off with the glass boat.  It will just bounce off them, perhaps with a small scratch where an aluminum if it finds the soft spot between the reinforcements it will dent.  Puncture holes are also more likely in aluminum.  

 

I hit a dead head at 60 in my Ranger (not the current one) and it didn't even leave a mark.  Had it been anchored to the ground I am sure the results would have been different.  Modern glass hulls are designed and reinforced well.  I personally would much rather have one for where you are fishing.  If you fish remotely where there are a ton of rocks then perhaps a dent is better than a hole, but that is more Canadian shield for me and I am just more careful when I go that way.