Boating Trends

[troy]

Just arrived home from a 6 month stay at my beach place and i have seen hundreds off boats during that time.
I do not know the situation else where but here i am mainly seing new aluminium boats and heaps off them but hardly any new glass boats.
I am aware of what people on this site have to say about quintrex boats but they are by far the biggest seller of all boats in my area.
The Burdekin used to have the most boats per head and population in Australia but this has probably changed.
And no i do not own a Quintrex.
Plate boats today are just as good as a glass boat in certain sizes and i believe i am experienced enough to make that comment having owned haines hunters and crusie crafts but not a Cat.
Just looking at all the boats that have gone by me in this period and my pick would be a modified 21 haines half cabin made into a center console.
As i said just looking at the way it rides when it goes past it seems to look like it is doing it a lot better then the others but i was not in it so i could be making a bad call.
Troy

[Nicko_Cairns]

a lot of people look past plastic boats too, rumours of cracking etc, my poly is the best non-glass boat of the same size that i've ever been in, rides beautifully and i'll happily get another in the future if i don't get a bigger glass boat.

not a fan of quintrex either..

[Lucky_Phill]

Many reasons for this Troy.

I think alloy boats are more afforadable these days, particularly when you want " custom " design and bigger boats.

New technology and R & D have lead to very very good sea boats in alloy with all the creature comforts, including ride, that you can't get in a Glass boat... for the same price.

Also, with the recent addition of big HP 4 bangers ( 300hp etc ), you can get a much bigger boat without the expense and also the inboard & leg, that was an institution years ago.

I recognise people want a fishing boat and knowing thier mates or crew and how they treat / handle the hull, gunnel with sinkers etc, an alloy boat is far better than glass, in this area.

You can get a 7.4mtr fully customised cab, alloy boat, fully fitted out for around the 100k mark, when an " off the shelf " glass boat will be dearer and you still haver to customise it to your requirements.

With the adaptation of body deadener, wraps, floatation and more, alloy boats are much more an attractive prospect, than a limited use glass boat. IMO.

One last item is the weight............. for towing. Bigger alloys up to 7.2 mtrs ( and more ) can weigh in under the 2.5 ton, that most 4 x 4's are compliant to. This also leads to better fuel economy for the towing vehicle, than that same vehicle towing a glass boat of the same length.

It all adss up, and probably why I have a large... OK,, big... OK average size alloy boat. Apart from the beach launching, sand bar scraping, reef hitting capabilities.


LP