- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
aluminum or fiberglass for inshore skiff?
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:02 am
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:02 am
I am looking to buy a 16-17 ft beater skiff for reds, trout, bream, and some light bass fishing. Will be doing some floundering also at night with lights. May use it to duck hunt, but not a reason to buy. River camp, etc. Probably be used 75% for flats and inshore fishing in salt and brackish, with 25% or so for fishing rivers and small lakes.
Looking to spend around $5000. This is not my primary boat, just want a small skiff for ease of use with one or 2 kids, with one friend, or by myself. Also want an easy travel boat to pull down the road.
I've got a decent amount of experience in both but never owned an aluminum boat I've used in salt routinely. I'll also have a 20ft fiberglass bay boat that's why I'm leaning Aluminum.
TLDR; 16 ft boat used 75% in salt 25% fresh is aluminum or fiberglass preferred?
Looking to spend around $5000. This is not my primary boat, just want a small skiff for ease of use with one or 2 kids, with one friend, or by myself. Also want an easy travel boat to pull down the road.
I've got a decent amount of experience in both but never owned an aluminum boat I've used in salt routinely. I'll also have a 20ft fiberglass bay boat that's why I'm leaning Aluminum.
TLDR; 16 ft boat used 75% in salt 25% fresh is aluminum or fiberglass preferred?
This post was edited on 1/25/19 at 10:02 am
10
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:15 am to baldona
Personally I would go with fiberglass.
Think it would be quieter for what you are looking to do.
Think it would be quieter for what you are looking to do.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:23 am to baldona
quote:
16 ft boat used 75% in salt 25% fresh
Fiberglass that's SPECIFICALLY made for salt.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:23 am to baldona
If I went with aluminum, it would have to be an all-welded one and not one put together with riveted seams like some of them are.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:33 am to baldona
I am looking for something similar and have been drawn to the stumpknocker and griff craft models for what you are describing.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:34 am to baldona
I’ve had two fiberglass boats and two aluminum,I prefer fiberglass,quieter and easier to control if wind blowing.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 10:39 am to baldona
quote:
beater skiff for reds, trout, bream, and some light bass fishing
Aluminum gets my vote for the intended use. I've got a little 14ft aluminum that I have specifically for doing the above. It's sole purpose is to fish marsh and dock lights in the area. It's great and I don't worry about it getting dinged up. It's old and ugly though.
ETA: I think you'll find many more options in that price range for aluminum as well.
This post was edited on 1/25/19 at 10:41 am
Posted on 1/25/19 at 11:01 am to baldona
I had a 16 ft Carolina Skiff when my kids were small that fit your description. Tough boats (ask the crabbers). Not as hot as aluminum in the summer. Not as cold as aluminum in the winter. Beat the hell out of you in rough water, just like an aluminum. Definitely quieter to fish out of than aluminum. Heavier than aluminum but not too heavy.
Find an older one that just has bench seats, no console, tiller steering and it should be in your price range.
Find an older one that just has bench seats, no console, tiller steering and it should be in your price range.
This post was edited on 1/25/19 at 11:03 am
Posted on 1/25/19 at 11:39 am to baldona
Campagna skiffs, fiberglass, are very popular for inshore on the MS coast.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 12:07 pm to Gaston
The problem is any decent fiberglass v-hull skiff in the 16 ft range is $10,000.
So now I'm down to Stumpknockers, J16 Carolina Skiff, or aluminum V-hull. Is a J16 really that much quieter and easier to ride in a very light chop than aluminum? I'm thinking they are pretty equal really? The benefit to aluminum is the weight here too.
I'd love to buy a $15,000 Fiberglass but I have a bay boat. So that's pointless I think.
I'd like something small enough to fish bream and bass in 20 acre ponds and small rivers.
So now I'm down to Stumpknockers, J16 Carolina Skiff, or aluminum V-hull. Is a J16 really that much quieter and easier to ride in a very light chop than aluminum? I'm thinking they are pretty equal really? The benefit to aluminum is the weight here too.
I'd love to buy a $15,000 Fiberglass but I have a bay boat. So that's pointless I think.
I'd like something small enough to fish bream and bass in 20 acre ponds and small rivers.
This post was edited on 1/25/19 at 12:09 pm
Posted on 1/25/19 at 12:18 pm to baldona
I'm going to go take a look at a Weldbilt 1654 with a poling platform and front casting deck with a 25hp for $4,000. Again for a beater skiff, I'm thinking that's a heck of a deal and I can't come close to that with fiberglass.
Again my biggest issue, and I clean boats well after use is using an aluminum heavy in saltwater.
Again my biggest issue, and I clean boats well after use is using an aluminum heavy in saltwater.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 2:37 pm to baldona
Pull the carpet off the trailer, put some teflon pads or plastic decking boards on top of the wood on the trailer and rinse it off when you're done. It'll outlast you.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 2:47 pm to baldona
You can find a 16' aluminum boat with a 25hp-40hp tiller handle all day on Louisiana Sportsman for your price range. I'd go aluminum for most versatility and utility of hunting/fishing/crabbing. No problems with saltwater except make sure you have a good trailer.
Posted on 1/25/19 at 2:49 pm to baldona
Def All weld aluminum for those needs.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News