Both materials have their advantages, but the premise that tin is tougher than glass is a myth, which still persists today, even though it's been clearly proven otherwise by folks like Ron L. and those who run much tougher navigitable waters than we have here in the NW.

I'll never forget doing a 3 day float down the Klickitat one September with a guide friend (MHRIP) and our wives. At the time he was very apprehensive about me taking my Lavro, as he did not think much of glass. Typical of that time of year, the river was very running low and was as brown as chocolate milk. With our boats loaded with camping gear I was still sliding over skinny stuff that he was pushing and pulling his way through. His wife wasn't pleased and he was totally thrashed by the end of each day. On top of that, due to poor visibility we both chunked a lot of basalt rocks really hard. The Lavro had one minor chip, the Alum....ld had numerous sizeable dents and a caved chine that caused him to sell the boat shortly thereafter. Although he bought another tin boat, he never doubted glass again.

From a functional and maintenance standpoint, I think glass and tin are pretty equal. For every advantage one might have, there is a contrasting benefit for the other. As an example, glass might manuever better due to rounded chines, but then an aluminum may track better because of it's sharper chines. It's kind of rock, paper, scissors depending on the water or your own particular situation.