Are you interested in bay boats? Wondering what the pros and cons are of aluminum bay boats? In this article we’ll cover the pros and cons of aluminum bay boats and what sets them apart from fiberglass bay boats. Here are Day Break Marine and L&M Marine, one of our most popular brands is a brand that specializes in aluminum boats and we’re here to share our 30+ years of experience so you can learn more about aluminum bay boats and decide if they’re the right choice for your lifestyle.

There are many pros to aluminum bay boats such as they’re easy to maintain and fuel efficient, and there are cons as well such as the majority of aluminum bay boats are not self bailing. Here are the pros and cons of aluminum bay boats and how they’re different from fiberglass bay boats. 

Design

PRO: Some aluminum bay boats are based off fiberglass bay boat designs (V-hulls) while some utilize padded hull designs, which result in different ride qualities. Overall, aluminum boats are lighter, therefore you’ll get more speed and better fuel economy.

CON: The weight of aluminum bay boats is a double-edged sword as the lighter the boat, the more they get blown around in heavier winds. 

PRO: In calm conditions the boats are comparable, both aluminum and fiberglass bay boats will perform similarly.

CON: Generally fiberglass bay boats provide a smoother ride (especially in rough conditions) because they’re based on a true deadrise and this in conjunction with their extra weight and overall hull design make for a better ride. 

CON: The majority of aluminum bay boats are not self-bailing, while all fiberglass bay boats are self-bailing meaning if you take any water on, the water will drain itself out. 

Availability + Maintenance
Availability

PRO: Both aluminum and fiberglass bay boats are readily available for purchase, but quantity-wise, you could probably find twice as many aluminum bay boats than fiberglass. Brands like Excel and Xpress are extremely popular, with Xpress Boats being one of our most popular brands since our start in the 80s. 

Maintenance

PRO: Aluminum is a much more durable and forgiving material, if you hit something with an aluminum bay boat while docking, more than likely you’ll dent your boat. But if you hit something in a fiberglass bay boat, you could potentially chip or bust the gel coast which would be expensive to fix. 

CON: Although if you did put a hole in your aluminum bay boat, it would be expensive to fix it as it’d require someone to weld it to fix it. 

PRO: Aluminum bay boats require less maintenance than fiberglass. A fiberglass boat requires waxing as fiberglass can oxidize and gel coat can chip. You could leave a scum line on your aluminum bay boat for a week and easily get it off, but the same can’t be said for fiberglass as you’d likely need an acidic hull cleaner to remove the scum line.

Cost of Aluminum Bay Boats Versus Fiberglass Bay Boats

PRO: Overall, the cost of aluminum bay boats is lower than fiberglass bay boats. If you were to compare a 20’ aluminum bay boat to a 20’ fiberglass bay boat, the fiberglass boat would cost approximately 20% more. (Ultimately, this depends on the type of boat you’re buying.)

PRO: Both essentially have the same options for motors, your brand choice whether it’s Yamaha, Suzuki, or Mercury is available for both boats, and the same can be said for accessories too. 

Summary

Here’s a 22’ aluminum bay boat compared to a 22’ fiberglass bay boat:

Xpress H22:

• Drafts less because it’s lighter than the fiberglass bay boat

• Due to the lighter weight, the ride quality isn’t as good as the Blazer 2200

•  The H22 costs less

• Generally more fuel efficient than the Blazer 2200

Blazer 2200: 

• Smoother ride than the aluminum bay boat

• Better suited for rough conditions

• The Blazer 2200 costs more than the Xpress H22

• Generally less fuel efficient

Although aluminum bay boats and fiberglass bay boats will perform very similarly in calm conditions, if you get into a two-foot chop, the fiberglass will outperform the aluminum boat. Performance-wise, aluminum bay boats weigh less and, therefore, are faster and more fuel efficient, fiberglass bay boats of equal size and horsepower would most likely have less efficiency than aluminum bay boats. Aluminum bay boats cost less than fiberglass and there’s a vast selection of accessories and motors to choose from. If you want to take your boat out in primarily calm, shallow, protected waters, then an aluminum bay boat is the way to go but if you frequent unprotected, rougher, deeper waters, then the fiberglass bay boat is the best choice for you. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about aluminum bay boats or fiberglass bay boats (see our bay boat inventory here) at either of our locations and we’d love to set up a Sea Trial so you can see the pros and cons for yourself.