I have spent a lot of time in a drift boat, Right now I am in a 17x60 Willie. Last winter I did a demo on a new Clack over on the Oregon coast. Needless to say I would not buy one. After dropping it of the first slide it had a chip in the jell coat. The second day we had to drag it and the Bottom was all scratched up. You wold not have this Prob with a Aluminum. Just my two cents.