I live in Louisiana and want to buy a bass boat. I’m going to be fishing for bass in false river, Lake Cataouatche, and maybe caney lake. I will also be fishing for reds and specs in the marsh. What kind of boat should I get?
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Aluminum. You are probably going to deal with a lot of stumps and shallow water. Fiberglass boats can get messed up pretty bad on stumps where as aluminum can bounce right off. Also aluminum boats draft less water making them better for shallow water. The 2009 Bassmaster Classic held on the Red River many pros brought both fiberglass and aluminum rigs with some going aluminum to get around better in the shallow stump fields. A nich center console aluminum would be cool. I’m looking at getting one myself.
The problem with aluminum is that salt water eats it. . . trust me. . . While you’ll save money, etc. , by going with an aluminum boat, you absolutely have to give it a good rinse down after taking it into salt water. . . fiberglass is much more forgiving when it comes to corrosion, but make sure all your hardware is stainless, otherwise any hinges or latches or anything will corrode from the salt, too. . .
Yes, aluminum is more forgiving when it comes to hitting underwater obstructions, but just wait until you have a few rivets give way. . .
Really it’s your call, but assuming you’re looking at two boats that are in the same price range and are both mechanically sound, I ~personally~ would go with fiberglass. . . but I also wouldn’t be blasting through areas that I’m not familiar with (not a great idea in an aluminum boat, either), and I’d also invest in a boat bumper or two (or three) for if I ended up tying up to any pilings. . .
Something flat bottomed with an inboard jet drive.
Although Gimme is correct (in many ways) about “cheap” aluminum hulls there are some great all-welded aluminum rigs out on the market today that work well in both salt and fresh water.
Look into getting something like this:
1. Sea Ark- http://www. seaarkboats. com/boat. php?measure=Standard&boat=X160+(CC)
2. Grizzly all-welded 1860 SC- http://www. trackerboats. com/boat/?boat=3272
3. Lowes Roughneck series- http://www. loweboats. com/showroom/welded-jon/roughneck-jon/r1860cc. php
If you get an aluminim boat that you intend to fish in saltwater it’s important to purchase an “all-welded” version. Riveted aluminum boats are fine in freshwater but for salt it’s got to be welded.
Can you USE a riveted AL boat in saltwater? Yes. But, continual use in a saltwater environment will eventually begin to corrode the rivets. . . . . . . . eventually turning your boat into a “leaky sieve”.
If you decide to go fiberglass look at these companys:
1. Carolina Skiff- http://www. carolinaskiff. com/listman/listings/l0016. html
2. Sundance – http://www. sundanceboats. com/submodel. php?submodel_id=MTQy%20&model_id=Nzc=
Hope this helps ya? Thumbs up to the regulars.