If you own a fiberglass boat and use it hard, gel coat repairs will be part of your maintence plan every couple of years so just expect it. Treating a metal boat the same way will eventually leave you with dents and/or obvious scrapes.

Fiberglass IS easier to push over rocks.

In the end, if you own a good boat (either metal or fiberglass), you will like it. I like my Clacka. I like Coley's Willie boat.

"Willie" Simply the Best.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

"Miller High Life". The champagne of beers.

As far as weight the two boats are about the same. I have a Picture of my boat sitting High in a downed tree.. so either one is Movable, I will tell yo what though after lugging that boat up and over this huge Oak I am going to know what on or across the river.

I am pretty happy w/my 17x60... I previously owned a 16x48 alumaweld and the new boat rows noticebly better w 3 clients then the old one did w/2... I have only rowed a glass boat a couple of times (Clack) ... as for options i kinda went a little overboard... I went w/prety much all the storage i could( I dont think you can go wrong w/storage) I also did the UHMW bottom... well this was really expensive but i think it was worth it.. I also went w/level floorboards front and back.. you wont notice a difference but your guests will ... and I used to have 10' Cataraks which I loved.. now i went w/9'6 Sawyer MXSG they are both really nice oars as for which one i prefer... the jurys still out...

hope this helps..
fish-on

if you want to row it give me a call