Aluminum bay boats---anybody have one or ever fished from one?

I've fished in multiple Gaudet boats offshore and bay boats, they ride well, fish well, and are quiet.

I had Lobells make me a 20’ custom craft 15 years ago. This hull is very deep V that’s cuts chop nicely, super dry ride. It’s been a great boat both salt and fresh . Had Rhinoshield put on entire inside. It does have some wave slap when going into the wind. But it’s perfect for what I do with it. Today you will pay 12/18K for same hull.

Thanks!!

I dont see why they shouldn’t. They look like lifetime boats

All of those guys build a great boat and will build to suit your needs. Add Scully to your list. They're not economy hulls like express that are built to a price point. Those boats are built to work and to last and they just cost what they cost.

Unless you know you need one, id go fiberglass personally. They are great work boats but you likely don’t need that. They are either going to be lighter and not ride well or like the work boats heavy, but then why for recreational use have a heavy metal boat?

Due to the inability to make the curvature like fiberglass, they also generally have more Hull slap and otherwise louder. But if you have the funds most of the above can be fixed.

My uncle has a 19’ Rockwell bay boat that I regularly fish out of. Great boat. Built like a tank. Was actually flooded in Katrina in his garage and he took it somewhere in Houma and they stripped, rewired, repainted and powered the whole thing. Only knock is when it’s choppy my glass boat rides a little nicer.

I’ve fished on a 27’ custom aluminum a ton of times. The boat is awesome, 20 years old and looks brand new. Indestructible boats. That being said, they definitely don’t ride as well as fiberglass but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one

I have owned or fished out of dozens of alum. boats. With all things being equal like shape of hull "deep or modified V" in the gulf the fiberglass will ride a little better. For fishing the bays, you probably won't notice any difference in the ride because generally the waves are a lot smaller. I believe Metal Shark, Hanko, Scully and American Aluminum Marine all make a deep/modified V bay boat.

Many alum boat builders do make a shallow v hull that is more designed for running the rivers and these can be a little rough riding if the wind picks up in a large lake.