aluminums catch more fish, go with a aluminum

Aluminum is not always lighter. You build a boat to perform in a specific enviroment. If you are building a blue water aluminum boat you use thicker metals to stiffen the boat and bring up the weight to benifit rough water performance. If you want a light aluminum boat you can build them as well. More like the river boat guys. But in BLUE WATER aluminum you can build some COOL BOATS>>> Self bailing welded in decks. Multiple bulkheads. Unsinkable.

http://www.specmar.com/boatpics/boat07.jpg

something like this in a center console..

With so many manufacturers of excellent boats, it would come down to design and layout.

If a OB powered center console for the NW is what you want, then I'd hands down chose this aluminum boat. Ride and stability in this 24degree deadrise hull is comprable to any glass boat I've been on in the 24-26' range. And just flat out one of the best trailerable fishing boats out there.

[img]http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/cgi-bin//uploader.pl?action=view&epoch=1153423042[/img]

Almar

(This particular boat belongs to a friend and is for sale up in Everett. PM me for contact info if interested.)

You guys that say Grady and Pursuit is better than a Whaler are high! You pay a premium but there really is no better glass boat than a Whaler (wish I could afford one!). Not to knock on Gradys though - they are right there behind the Whaler.

A fully outfitted new 24' whaler is gonna cost $100k but what the heck - it's just $$$

PAULs YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE OLDER BOSTON WHALERS... THE NEW ONES SUCK... LOOK AT THE HARDWARE AND THE CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW BOSTON WHALER...SECOND RATE AT BEST... BRUNSWICK HAS DESTROYED YET ANOTHER ONCE GREAT BOAT BUILDER. NEW BOSTONS ARE NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE WITH GRADY AND PURSUIT..THERE'S A REASON THEY COST SO MUCH MORE

Another Brunswick boat?? Man... It's like the Microsoft of boat builders. At least the Trophy seems to have improved in recent years.

Whaler for sure

I have a 17' montauk as well, it is way old school, they are so stable on the water, and I agree about resale... and talk about a fishing platform, mine is just fiberglass, stainless and rodholders... is there realy a reason to sit?Just kidding there is what is called a leaning post on mine

I struggled with buying another glass boat or a an aluminum boat for two years. I finally settled on the 20' Wooldridge Off Shore Super Sport. If I fished strictly out on the ocean I would have spent the bucks on a used Grady or other glass boat of similar quality. But, I fish everywhere so I got the Wooldridge and two years later I remain very happy with the decision. Its a true fishing machine. There is no wood in it and to clean her up all I do is put some Saltaway in my pressure washer and go to town.

I like the low maitenance and versatility, not to mention the quality of a Wooldridge boat.

Ditto Mike's comment.

Also, I have a vague recollection of an aluminum Boston Whaler being used by WI DNR in the 90s. Not sure if BW is still making them or not. It was a nice hull.