Well, which way would you go? I mean for a General Purpose Fishing/Family machine, but I like T-tops and center consoles.

Lets say 24' outboard.

depends on what aluminum boat, but boston whaler wouldnt be among my top 5 choices for a glass boat.......

can the poll have a choice for 24' Parker?....maybe that wouldnt be familly oriented enough. hope ya find the right boat

Grady?

Campion.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

The Boston Waler is to much for what you get in a glass boat hell if you got the bucks get a Grady White thats the best. Glenn

Whaler, just to be different Finist fishing boats ever made!

But that's just me who's logged a lot of Whaler time!

I think the answer really comes down to if you will be mooring the boat or keeping it under cover.

If moored the glass is probably a better chioce. For a family boat though you may want to avoid a Whaler as it's just way too much fishing machine for most families

If the boat will be stored on a trialer I'd get an Al. boat and would look at Wooldridge and Almar.

If anybody has had a bad experiance with new Whaler's I would love to hear about it as all of my experiance is with the pre '92 "classics."

Whalers and Grady's are damn expensive, but an Aluminum or a Campion would be A LOT less expensive, especially at 24'

It's a whaler thing thing, you wouldn't understand...Love my whaler

I own a whaler so I am biased, but one advantage identified by one of the guys who have fished with me is that whalers are more stable underway in rough water than many aluminums. When drifting with the current whalers seem to be less affected by the wind..

Glass boats are heavier, and have a better ride in the slop. Gotta go with the Whaler guys, one heck of a boat. Alum boats are easier to keep up, and a little more family forgiving to damage. If your looking for a boat that will have a nice ride, and keep the family comfortable, I would go with the Whaler. Alum boats tend to ride like corks in the slop, and are apt to make your passengers sea sick. I am assuming this would be a primarily salt boat. Thats just my two cents. Good luck with whatever ever you get.

I like the Pursuits as a family fish boat. Lots of deals online especially if you will truck from Florida etc. If its on its own trailer not to bad. Prices on boats in the PNW are much higher than other places. Alloy boats are lighter in general and would be more economical.

$ for $ it's sure tough to beat an Arima for a salt water boat in the NW.

I've owned two Whalers and am currently on my second Grady also. As stated earlier, you pay a premium for these two boats but they are premium boats, they are absolutely indestructable tanks and will ALWAYS get you back no matter the sea conditions. Go for the Whaler. In 24' there's going to be lots of family room.

You wimps!! Get one of these:

http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/1104christensen155/index4.html

That's what Tiger Woods bought. I wonder what size kicker he has?

Oh come on stlhead you can dream bigger then that After all you need a garage for that shiny new 24' Whaler under the basketball court.

Paul Allen's boat:

Ichtyyoid,

The options are endless! 24' outboard? Well, I could suggest the obvious, but first your post does not state a budget, dayz you plan to fish each year, years you plan to own this craft (is this your dream boat?), will you fishing exclusively in the Saltchuck, do you want to take this boat to the San Juans w/a small family to moor and camp? and are you mechanically inclined?

Let's go for Door #3 your dream boat: A 22' Shamrock w/a 4 banger Yanmar Diesel (shaftdrive w/weighted keel). Nothing compares under the wheel on a following sea at 8' coming in over the bar at the Big "C" or Westport. A very doable boat for albacore as well*.

5000D

*Provided you have a GMC/Chev 2500 Diesel w/Allison Transmission to pull it!

The nice thing about them Whalers is that they are unsinkable...Anyone see that ad/commercial where they cut a Whaler in half and its filled with like foam and they still drive it at full speed? Incredible with what they can do now..

Fish Hunter,
Ask and you shall receive- http://www.whaler.com/Rec/default.asp?content=legendmovie

I like this gem from the BW website, "Boston Whaler began producing military, law enforcement, fire/rescue and commercial work boats in 1983. To validate Boston Whaler's claim of unsurpassed unsinkability and strength, the United States Marine Corps fired more than 1000 rounds of .50 caliber and 7.62 millimeter ammunition into a 22 foot hull which remained afloat - seemingly unscathed except for the savage pattern of bullet holes."

Apparently Whaler's are bulletproof!

What sold me on them was when I was in Jamaica and seeing all these 20+ year old BW hulls that have been sitting neglected and beat to pulp..in the tropical heat, humidity and sea air...the guy would clamp on a F'ed over and rebuilt outboard, hook it up and go tearing off across the bay.
Any other glass boat would have rotted apart in those conditions.

Ichtyoid,
Your forgot to mention the 100#'s of Pelican poop