Which is the better boat building material, aluminum or fiberglass? aluminum vs. fiberglass. get a snook sharpie from florida, a walleye angler from minnesota, a salmon guy from alaska, and an offshore aficionado from new jersey, then put them all in a locked room and pose the question: which are better, aluminum boats or fiberglass boats?. What you’re buying with aluminum is a different boat owning experience altogether. aluminum or fiberglass: an ownership story. the biggest difference between today’s aluminum and fiberglass boats is the inherent properties of the material. aluminum can bend, but it won’t crack.. Aluminum vs fiberglass boats. the comparison between aluminum and fiberglass boats is an age-old battle of fiberglass versus aluminum. boat-building material, if is compared on behalf of performance and value, then aluminum boats are cheaper and fiberglass boats are more expensive..
New techniques in boat building on the aluminum side of things has allowed for more rounded edges, more advanced coatings and paint and creature comforts that fiberglass manufacturers had been utilizing for years.. Fiberglass is heavier than aluminum, and it will provide a solid ride with less pounding. a lightweight aluminum boat can feel less grounded during high-speed maneuvers. fiberglass has the advantage in weight savings for smaller boats. with any racing application, you are going to find composite boats, as seen in high performance sailboats.. Aluminum boats are "usually" less expensive, but with the addition of flat floors, casting platforms, etc., the prices on many of the major manufacturer's boats are rapidly becoming the equal of many fiberglass boats. aluminum boats can "take more punishment" than fiberglass. true, but with some hedging..