Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

[bryanwess2000]

I have a 1982 sylvan sportster 16' aluminum deep-v and I'm happy with it
when the water is calm but it will beat your back to death if there is anything
over a slight chop. My question is are there any aluminum boats in the 16'-20'
range that ride well in choppy water? I would prefer a deep-v open bow as it would be an all around family boat. Also it would need to be affordable, although i would love to have an xpress deep-v now is not the time. I was originally wanting a 18' starcraft supersport but I don't know if they ride any better than what i've got. Suggestions and opinions welcome.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I was going to also say the Supersport but its the same as what you have.
I go slower but I have all the time in the world.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I am not saying there are none but I have been in quite a few aluminum sub 20 foot boats and they all beat the c---p out of you. Part of the problem is that most are set up as a dual console (what many here call a bow rider) and this puts the pilot station forward and to the side and worst, sitting!

Notice that almost all offshore center consoles have center line pilot station, well aft and STANDING!!!!

So, partly it is that the boats are aluminum and thus have little weight and second that the layout is incorrect for rough water usage.

BTW, aluminum boats designed for rough water like the Black Lab usually have standing positions. The sitting down thing just will not work in rough water unless the boat is freaking huge. Your legs can absorb a great deal of shock, sitting you just get beat up.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I have a 16' Sea-Nymph that is probably a little heavy and it doesn't do to bad but I have never been in a boat, other than a pontoon, that was smooth over chop, you want a rough ride get in a ski boat in 2-3' chop, yikes.

Maybe look into a toon, I have run 38mph over 3' chop and it rode like a Caddy, the tubes actually go through rather than over the waves so they ride super smooth.

hey really are the ultimate family boat, lots of room and throw on a troller and you can fish all day in super comfort.

But as high n dry said, I don't think you will ever find a smooth riding aluminum mono hull.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

slow down, change your angle of attack.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

My step-father just bought a Crestliner dual console with a gorgeous Merc 175 Verado 4 stroke. Think it's a 19 footer. Goes like stink, however, it has since earned a nickname in our family....The Crashliner.

Yep, despite all sorts of assurances by the dealer, in a chop it pounds like, well, an aluminum boat...

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

There are some heavy duty commercial grade hulls in aluminum that will work but in sub 20 feet, you just need a glass boat with real trim tabs, a standing station and a good sharp entry.

Several years ago we were on Table Rock Lake, our cottage neighbor had a huge 19 foot aluminum deep vee with a 225 on it vs our 19 foot BW Outrage with a 150 Merc. Yeah, his boat went like stink on the smooth water. We had met there for some diving on the lost city. A really bad thunderstorm kicked up and surprisingly to a saltwater guy like me, some pretty darn big waves and bad chop. In the run back to Indian Point, I just put my tabs down and we charged through the chop at 35 MPH only to look back and watch our friend struggle to stay on plane. He would get on plane and then get so beat up he would drop back off. So, we left him, what can I say, I was cold, my wife was cold. After I unloaded the lady folk I went back out for him and they were coming into the inlet out of the main lake by Jake's Point Island. Anyways, that has been my typical experience with these type of aluminum boats, fast when it is calm, hell on the body and boat when rough. But, hopefully I am wrong.

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

i had a 16ft northwood 1675 fisherman with a 40hp and that did preatty good in chop, it weighedin at about 800lbs

 

[SNye45]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I used to have a 16ft Smokercraft Lodge and just like yours it was great for a smooth lake, but any kind of chop it would bounce like crazy- it was too light.

I now have a 20ft Aluminum Thunderjet (3x the weight of the Lodge) with a steeper deadrise and spring mounted seats. It is like night and day. It can handle any chop and still stay on plane

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

my 18 ft ss beats you to death ,need a kidney belt and thats on the river with boat chop. i just slow down. trim the nose down, trim tabs might help will find out next year.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

"I think we're gonna need a bigger boat."

LOL

 

[gene8084]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

ok, help me out.

Seriously, why the attachment to Aluminum? I hear the pitfalls, what are then benefits?​

 

[Swishguy]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I have a 19' aluminum lowe deck boat that has been the best rough water boat I have ever owned...including a 19' glass inboard! With a 150 e-tech I can see 50 mph regularily.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I have a 19' aluminum lowe deck boat that has been the best rough water boat I have ever owned...including a 19' glass inboard! With a 150 e-tech I can see 50 mph regularily.

If you are running 50 MPH then the water is not rough by my definition.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

ok, help me out.

Seriously, why the attachment to Aluminum? I hear the pitfalls, what are then benefits?​

Less fuel consumption, less maintenance, much lighter when trailering, docking or working on boat. Tinnies require less HP compared to fiberglass so the cost of buying a bigger outboard is saved vs. fiberglass which saves fuel as well.

I agree with the comments so far on helm postition...that makes all the difference in the world escpecially when operating alone with nobody to balance the weight of the captain.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

ok, help me out.

Seriously, why the attachment to Aluminum? I hear the pitfalls, what are then benefits?​

Lighter. Easier to tow. less risk of damage if run aground or hit rocks. No concern over gelcoat. easier to rebuild. Easier to mount hardware to (downriggers etc.)

Check out the restoration forum on how much easier it is to replace the stringers in an older aluminum boat vs fiberglass.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

Smart Tabs helped considerably on my 17'6" Smokercraft but I still have to slow down some for a heavy chop.
I think that's just the nature of an aluminum boat in that size class.
I went tin because of the weight issue and trailering ease.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I always had Fiberglass, and loved the smooth rides, even on fair chop. This is my first aluminum. I chose because it met my requirements as
a) light enough my van could pull
b) can explore where I am unfamilar and not worry about gelcoat damage
c) outboard engine was a must for me
d) bow rider style, so I could take out people if needed

I never thought I would go with aluminum, and now I am an owner. I like it, on CALM days...

On any kind of chop, its horrible... my passengers get soaked and it feels like a rock....

So for all the reasons mentioned above, I actually love my aluminum now, I'm gonna look into what smart tabs are??

 

[BF]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

I'm not sure what you have, but when you say "deep vee", do you mean at the bow end, or the stern. Around here, many people often call flat bottomed, or almost flat-bottomed aluminum boats "deep vee's" b/c the bow is deep (and a vee).... what you want is as much deadrise as possible, without any reverse chine at the stern. That gets you a softer ride, in turn you sacrifice ease for getting on plane and top speed. Basically a modified vee or reverse chine gets you better performance for your horsepower on calm water, and sacrifices ride in rough stuff....

 

[109jb]

Re: Tired of bouncing off waves! Aluminum boats?

Aluminum boats being light in weight are going to be rough when the water is. When I had my Starcraft SuperSport I just took it a little slower. If you really want an aluminum to ride like a heavier boat you could always add some fat sacs to it.